Matthew Rolston

Matthew Rolston serves as a Senior Lecturer in Product Design at Otis College of Art & Design (appointed 2024) and Adjunct Professor/curricular advisor at ArtCenter College of Design's Film Departments (since 2015). His academic roles bridge professional practice with education, emphasizing real-world industry applications.

His educational background spans multiple institutions:

• ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, CA (1989) - Film Program
• ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, CA (1978) - Photography & Imaging
• San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA (1976) - Drawing & Painting
• Otis College of Art & Design, Los Angeles, CA (1975) - Drawing & Painting
• Chouinard Art Institute, California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles, CA (1974) - Drawing & Painting

Rolston's research centers on Product Design—especially luxury fragrance packaging—and Visual Communication, critically examining the "glamour industrial complex," celebrity culture, and ethical branding. His work integrates Photography, Film, and Creative Direction to explore narrative construction, societal beauty standards, and the unity of opposites in visual media, while advocating for social responsibility in commercial aesthetics.

His publications reveal evolving scholarly focus: early works (1991) established commercial foundations, while later projects (2008-2021) advanced conceptual portraiture examining historical contexts (Hollywood, Sicilian mummies) and interdisciplinary narratives. All works emphasize lighting techniques, large-scale presentation, and cultural critique within visual arts and communication disciplines.

Rolston actively supports academic development through two endowed funds: the Matthew Rolston Scholarship for Film/Creative Direction at ArtCenter (1998) and the Matthew Rolston Scholarship Fund for Product/Fashion Design at Otis. He mentors students and co-develops curricula like "Vessel of Dreams: The Packaging of Perfumery" with Jonathan Fidler, focusing on object-based storytelling and industry-aligned pedagogy.