Courses
Design Capstone
This final design course serves as a capstone experience for the design program. Students will author their own project where they will identify a problem and design an appropriate solution. Students are encouraged to choose projects that will propel them to the next stage after graduation.
This course includes a final exhibition which is reviewed by outside design professionals. On completion of the course, each student must submit a process book for final project and documentation of work completed in the senior year.
Data Visualization & Presentation
This course introduces design students to the fundamentals of data visualization design and public presentation skills. Students will learn how to transform complex data into clear, compelling visual narratives that are both informative and visually engaging. Through hands-on assignments and case studies, students will explore best practices for designing charts, graphs, and infographics that communicate data with clarity and impact. In addition to the design-focused content, the course emphasizes the importance of effectively presenting processes and outcomes to a public audience. Students will develop public speaking skills, learn how to tailor their presentations for different audiences, and practice delivering data-driven insights with confidence and authority. Emphasis will be placed on balancing visual design and verbal communication to ensure that the audience not only understands the data but is also engaged by it.
Data Visualization & Presentation
This course introduces design students to the fundamentals of data visualization design and public presentation skills. Students will learn how to transform complex data into clear, compelling visual narratives that are both informative and visually engaging. Through hands-on assignments and case studies, students will explore best practices for designing charts, graphs, and infographics that communicate data with clarity and impact. In addition to the design-focused content, the course emphasizes the importance of effectively presenting processes and outcomes to a public audience. Students will develop public speaking skills, learn how to tailor their presentations for different audiences, and practice delivering data-driven insights with confidence and authority. Emphasis will be placed on balancing visual design and verbal communication to ensure that the audience not only understands the data but is also engaged by it.
Data Visualization & Presentation
This course introduces design students to the fundamentals of data visualization design and public presentation skills. Students will learn how to transform complex data into clear, compelling visual narratives that are both informative and visually engaging. Through hands-on assignments and case studies, students will explore best practices for designing charts, graphs, and infographics that communicate data with clarity and impact. In addition to the design-focused content, the course emphasizes the importance of effectively presenting processes and outcomes to a public audience. Students will develop public speaking skills, learn how to tailor their presentations for different audiences, and practice delivering data-driven insights with confidence and authority. Emphasis will be placed on balancing visual design and verbal communication to ensure that the audience not only understands the data but is also engaged by it.
Creative Entrepreneurship
This course provides students with the theoretical and practical framework they need to confidently navigate the professional world of the Creative business. The course covers three main topics: (i) creating, maintaining and growing a business through business concepts and business law; (ii) commercial, employment, and intellectual property through law and contracts, and (iii) intentional development of Self and the Creative Professional by solving legal and ethical dilemmas. With a human-first focus, students will develop a deep self-awareness of who they want to be as a professional. Using this knowledge, students will make professional and business decisions in an interactive, reflective, and engaging environment that intentionally calls upon their personal mission.
Creative Entrepreneurship
This course provides students with the theoretical and practical framework they need to confidently navigate the professional world of the Creative business. The course covers three main topics: (i) creating, maintaining and growing a business through business concepts and business law; (ii) commercial, employment, and intellectual property through law and contracts, and (iii) intentional development of Self and the Creative Professional by solving legal and ethical dilemmas. With a human-first focus, students will develop a deep self-awareness of who they want to be as a professional. Using this knowledge, students will make professional and business decisions in an interactive, reflective, and engaging environment that intentionally calls upon their personal mission.
Creative Entrepreneurship
This course provides students with the theoretical and practical framework they need to confidently navigate the professional world of the Creative business. The course covers three main topics: (i) creating, maintaining and growing a business through business concepts and business law; (ii) commercial, employment, and intellectual property through law and contracts, and (iii) intentional development of Self and the Creative Professional by solving legal and ethical dilemmas. With a human-first focus, students will develop a deep self-awareness of who they want to be as a professional. Using this knowledge, students will make professional and business decisions in an interactive, reflective, and engaging environment that intentionally calls upon their personal mission.
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Bio
Ellen is an award-winning design and strategy consultant. With 25 years of cross-industry experience, she blends design thinking with storytelling to help clients and collaborators articulate challenges, generate ideas, and explore solutions. She has designed exhibitions for the American Museum of Natural History, workshops for Fortune 500 executives, innovation strategies for big box retailers, apps and digital products for start-ups that she saw through acquisition. As a former lead of IDEO NY’s Communication Design practice, she worked in multidisciplinary teams translating complex systems into smart, visual narratives.
After 15 years in New York City, Ellen relocated to New Orleans and established a nimble consultancy supporting clients who value design as a strategic force. Pulling from her wide range of in-house, agency, and startup experiences, she continues to help organizations across the country develop the internal resilience and expressive brands needed to grow and thrive. Ellen holds a B.F.A. from WashU in Communication Design and has lectured and critiqued at universities in Boston, New York, and St. Louis. She is currently a faculty member in the design program at Loyola University New Orleans and serves on the program's advisory board.
Ellen is an award-winning design and strategy consultant. With 25 years of cross-industry experience, she blends design thinking with storytelling to help clients and collaborators articulate challenges, generate ideas, and explore solutions.
She has designed exhibitions for the American Museum of Natural History, workshops for Fortune 500 executives, innovation strategies for big box retailers, apps and digital products for start-ups that she saw through acquisition. As a former lead of IDEO NY’s Communication Design practice, she worked in multidisciplinary teams translating complex systems into smart, visual narratives.
After 15 years in New York City, Ellen relocated to New Orleans and established a nimble consultancy supporting clients who value design as a strategic force. Pulling from her wide range of in-house, agency, and startup experiences, she continues to help organizations across the country develop the internal resilience and expressive brands needed to grow and thrive
Ellen holds a B.F.A. from WashU in Communication Design and has lectured and critiqued at universities in Boston, New York, and St. Louis. She is currently a faculty member in the design program at Loyola University New Orleans and serves on the program's advisory board.
Ellen is an award-winning design and strategy consultant. With 25 years of cross-industry experience, she blends design thinking with storytelling to help clients and collaborators articulate challenges, generate ideas, and explore solutions.
She has designed exhibitions for the American Museum of Natural History, workshops for Fortune 500 executives, innovation strategies for big box retailers, apps and digital products for start-ups that she saw through acquisition. As a former lead of IDEO NY’s Communication Design practice, she worked in multidisciplinary teams translating complex systems into smart, visual narratives.
After 15 years in New York City, Ellen relocated to New Orleans and established a nimble consultancy supporting clients who value design as a strategic force. Pulling from her wide range of in-house, agency, and startup experiences, she continues to help organizations across the country develop the internal resilience and expressive brands needed to grow and thrive.
Ellen holds a B.F.A. from WashU in Communication Design and has lectured and critiqued at universities in Boston, New York, and St. Louis. She is currently a faculty member in the design program at Loyola University New Orleans and serves on the program's advisory board.
Contact
easitkin@loyno.edu
easitkin@loyno.edu
© CTRL+Z
Agile Development Team, Fall 2025
© CTRL+Z
Agile Development Team, Fall 2025
© CTRL+Z
Agile Development Team, Fall 2025