CHAE HO LEE

Chae Ho Lee is a Professor of Art and Design at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, renowned for bridging graphic design with cultural research. His work spans advertising, exhibition design, and typography, with a focus on transnationalism, oral history, and participatory design methodologies. Lee has held academic leadership roles in the Middle East and taught courses including Design Studio and Typography sequences. He received the prestigious 2011 Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching, recognizing his innovative pedagogy and scholarly impact.

Education: MFA in Design from Rhode Island School of Design (with Honors). His research explores the intersection of design with cultural narratives, including projects like 3D mapping of UHM campus collaborations and transnational marketing studies. Notable publications include chapters in Handbook of Islamic Marketing and Writing Design, as well as articles in Design Principles and Practices. Exhibitions of his work have appeared in venues like the Brno International Biennial of Graphic Design and Makerbot.

• Research Highlights: Skeuomorphism theory, language dormancy preservation, and interactive historical interfaces
• Professional Experience: Over 6 years in Middle Eastern academic institutions, NYC/Dubai design agencies
• Grants/Awards: CASE Silver Medallion (2010), CIBER Research Award (2007)

Lee’s creative practice includes a Hawaiian Island Series featured in Scripted: Custom Lettering in Graphic Design and experimental 3D printing projects. He has organized events like the Geographics Conference and presented at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design’s DMI Conference.