Heather D. Freeman

Heather D. Freeman is a Professor of Digital Media in the Department of Art & Art History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, part of the College of Arts + Architecture. She has taught at UNC Charlotte since 2006 and previously held teaching roles at Allegheny College, The University of Kentucky, and Clemson University since 2001, alongside professional work as an art director, graphic designer, editor, and animator.

• Education
  • BA in Fine Art and German Studies from Oberlin College (1997)
  • MFA in Studio Art from Rutgers University (2000)

Freeman’s research and creative practice bridge traditional and digital technologies, exploring intersections of science, magic, mythology, and popular culture. Her work spans 2D/3D animation, video art, mobile app design, game design, and digital fabrication, with a focus on storytelling through hybrid media. Since 2001, she has taught courses in digital print, motion graphics, and visual rhetoric.

Freeman’s creative projects include the 2020-21 documentary film series 'Familiar Shapes' and the podcast 'Magic in the United States,' funded by a $389,000 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant in 2023. Her works have screened internationally, earning accolades at festivals like the Bristol International Short Film Festival and Charlotte Film Festival.

As acting director of Charlotte Night Owl Interactive, a games and XR cooperative, she leads collaborative efforts in interactive design and extended reality technologies. Freeman’s book, The Moving Image Workshop, provides practical frameworks for animation and visual effects. Further details about her work are available on her website.