Dave Gottwald

Dave Gottwald is an Associate Professor in the Art and Design Department at the University of Idaho's College of Art and Architecture. His research focuses on thematic design, the built environment, and the intersection of virtual and physical spaces. He teaches courses in interaction design, typography, and experiential design, emphasizing user experience and spatial storytelling.

Education: B.A. History (California State University, 2001), M.F.A. Graphic Design (Academy of Art University, 2009). His work bridges academic research and practical design, including co-editing Virtual Interiorities and co-authoring Disney and the Theming of the Contemporary Zoo.

Notable awards include the 2012 Excellence in Exhibition Award (AAM) for the Oakland Museum of California's Coming to California exhibit and the 2017 Civic Engagement Award for the ALTERED STATE: Marijuana in California exhibit, which explored cultural, legal, and social aspects of cannabis.

His research and publications address thematic design's genealogy, spatialized animation, and the influence of cinema on built environments. Gottwald's design projects, such as the Profiles in Architecture journal, showcase his holistic approach to design education and practice.