Joe Quackenbush

Joe Quackenbush is the Chairperson of the Department of Communication Design at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) in Boston, MA, where he has been a core faculty member since 2005. He teaches courses in typography, interaction design, information architecture, design research, and professional practice. He also leads design initiatives in the Creative Continuum: Business and the Creative Process, a collaborative program between MassArt and Bentley University.

His educational background includes an MFA in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BA in English from Oakland University. Prior to MassArt, he served as an adjunct professor at RISD for nine years and has also taught at Clark University, Bentley University, and the University of Hartford.

His research and professional interests center on communication design, design thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration between design and business. He founded Quackenbush Design in 1997, focusing on strategic design for educational, non-profit, and corporate clients.

Although no recent publications are listed, his work in curriculum development and field-based design case studies reflects an applied, practice-driven approach to design education.

• Founder, Quackenbush Design (1997–present)
• Lead Design Faculty, Creative Continuum program (MassArt & Bentley University)
• Field case studies led for: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Constant Contact, Converse, Dunkin’ Donuts, Fidelity Investments, Hill Holliday, N-Star, Reebok, Staples

He has played a significant role in shaping design pedagogy and bridging design with business strategy through experiential learning. While no formal advisees or grants are mentioned, his leadership in academic programs and professional practice underscores his impact in design education.

He is affiliated with the following institutions:

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design (current)
• Rhode Island School of Design (former adjunct)
• Bentley University (collaborative)
• Clark University (former)
• University of Hartford (former)