Brett Yasko

Brett Yasko is an Associate Teaching Professor in the School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), specializing in Communications. He teaches seminar- and studio-based courses for undergraduates and Master’s students, including 'Human Experience in Design' for non-design majors. Since 2005, he has been actively involved in academic advising and mentoring through Independent Studies. Beyond academia, he operates a design studio collaborating with artists, curators, and educators on projects such as exhibition commissions and publications housed in prestigious institutions like the Whitney Museum and Carnegie Museum of Art.

Educated at The American University (BA in Visual Media), Brett’s work spans design, curation, and community engagement. His research interests prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration, public art, and the intersection of design with social narratives. Notable projects include the John Riegert portrait initiative, which involved 252 artists and resulted in a 700-page publication, and the Explode Every Day catalog for MASS MoCA, exploring themes of wonder through art and science.

His design work has been featured in exhibitions like the Cooper Hewitt’s Designing Peace and publications such as Designing Obama and Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual. He emphasizes celebrating underrepresented voices, exemplified by projects like The Braddocks, which recontextualized local artifacts, and Deliciously Disposable Earth, addressing global mining impacts. Brett’s contributions to academic and artistic communities highlight his dual role as an educator and creative provocateur.