Ellie Cochran

Ellie Cochran is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Graphic Design at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCA&D), where they also earned their BFA in 2019. As a part-time faculty member, Ellie teaches and mentors emerging designers while maintaining an active freelance practice focused on the intersection of art, technology, and inclusive design.

• BFA in Graphic Design, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design

Ellie's research and creative work span interaction design, creative coding, retrofuturism, and queer-centered design. Their practice emphasizes accessibility, data privacy, and the democratization of technology. Projects like Digital Shoebox Dioramas and Bloombox explore how vintage and modern technologies can be reimagined for emotional and functional resonance.

Their recent creative outputs reflect a strong trend toward interactive, community-driven, and socially conscious design. From AR-enhanced brand systems to wireless audio retrofits and LGBTQ+ community spaces, Ellie’s work bridges digital innovation with human-centered values, often incorporating salvaged technology and open-access principles.

Ellie has been recognized with multiple awards, including:

• Health + Wellness Design Award (2024)
• American Graphic Design Award (2023, multiple)
• American Package Design Award (2019)
• Graduation Student Speaker (2019)
• Honoree, Branding Identity/Unique Marketing Campaign (2021)

As a creative director and designer, Ellie has led impactful projects for the Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition and The Loop, advising on branding, interior design, and digital systems. Their work has been featured in AIGA Philadelphia, GDUSA’s Students to Watch, and state-level leadership initiatives. They have also presented at the Central PA Tech Innovate Conference, expanding their influence beyond academia.

Ellie leads interdisciplinary creative teams and labs focused on experimental media, often utilizing tools like THREE.js, GLSL shaders, and LIDAR scanography. Their future work aims to explore Gaussian splatting and lenticular displays to enhance depth perception in digital art.