Jonathan Cooper

Jonathan Cooper serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Graphic Design within the Department of Art, Art History and Design at Oakland University. His studio-based pedagogy emphasizes conceptual development through iterative design cycles, critical critique, and experiential learning to cultivate student mastery of visual communication principles.

His academic foundation includes:

• Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, Oakland University (2015)
• Master of Arts in Graphic Design and Visual Experience, Savannah College of Art and Design (2022)

Cooper's research explores the intersection of design practice and social systems through a multidisciplinary, research-driven methodology. His work critically examines how graphic design, branding, and illustration can address community needs and cultural structures, prioritizing empathy and social impact in visual communication. This approach manifests in both client projects and self-initiated studio work.

As co-founder of ghost co-op studio with partner Erika, he develops projects that challenge and reimagine societal frameworks through design intervention. His teaching philosophy centers on "thinking through making" where students engage in rapid prototyping, embrace productive failure, and develop fluency in design discourse to build robust visual storytelling capabilities grounded in theoretical rigor and practical application.