Now that I’ve gone through a semester of school, I feel I can finally evaluate some of the teachers at SVA. I remember being so nervous about taking some classes because I was so afraid the teacher would be horrible. Furthermore, there aren’t any REAL sources that could tell me if they’re any good or not. So here it is kids: my two cents on teachers I’ve had this semester.
Teacher Reviews (Fall 2007)
John Ruggeri
Drawing I (for Graphic Design BFA)
He’s a great teacher and that’s an understatement. He’s very specific with what he wants out of you, and you will really learn a lot from him. If you want an easy A, just show up to his class ON TIME and don’t have any absences. Because he’s so generous with the A’s, he has to mark you down for tardinesses and absences. Another perk of having John: he provides a lot of the supplies you’ll need for the first few weeks of the semester.
Yumi Hamano
Computer Studio I
She’s a really nice person, and she’s a very professional graphic designer. Sadly, she lacks an authoritative attitude, so it’s a little difficult to take her lessons seriously. If you can motivate yourself to really listen and learn, you can get a lot out of her teaching. Yumi really does know a lot about the design industry, but she just doesn’t relay her knowledge very well in her class.
Richard Wilde
Visual Literacy
I can’t really say too much about Richard that could dissuade you from taking his class; Visual Literacy is a required class. But I will say that Richard is an awesome guy and the class really pushes you to think creatively. His grading isn’t too harsh but you should definitely take this class seriously. If you manage to get an A+ in this class, he personally recommends you for scholarships. Come on, you want to look good for the head of the Graphic Design and Advertising department.
Micaela Martegani
Chelsea Project
This class is a joke. The course description gives you a feeling that you’ll be making public artwork and learning about that aspect of art world. Instead, all we did was listen to her lecture about different artists for the first 3/4 of the semester during which each student has to make a presentation of a public artist. Then we planned an art project to work with these kids at the Clinton Middle School. And finally you work with the kids and present to the class about what you did. Not only did she just leave us in the wind about working with the kids, but she’d literally disappear and leave the room while the you and your group members are trying to figure out what to do. I highly discourage taking this class. The only real perk that came out of it was the short time we got to work with the kids at the middle school. They are SO creative and uninhibited, it’s amazing, but you could just volunteer outside of class at some center for the same kind of perk.
Sara Giovanitti
Basic Type I
Sara is another great teacher and a truly accomplished woman. She has a no nonsense approach when it comes to Typography and good design. All of her projects really focus on getting you to know and understand type. Her critiques are unabashedly straigt forward and geared to help you improve. If you are serious about becoming a great typographer, she’s the one.
Frank Young
Basic Graphic Design I
The only word I can think of to describe Frank is “difficult.” He doesn’t necessarily teach you any real elements of graphic design like how to make book covers, magazine spreads or good compositions. He’s more about personal development rather than skill development. You’ll be meditating in class, listening to him ramble on about God knows what and…you never really know what to expect; you just know that he’ll work you to the bone and expect you to keep up. He’s definitely not for everyone, especially for those who want structure and consistency. His grading system is a mystery and everyone who is taking his class just hopes that somewhere down the line they’ll appreciate they did.
Jimmy Diresta
3D Graphic Design I
Jimmy is an awesome guy and he’s all about exposing students to new processes and materials for making anything three-dimensional. The class is pretty casual; he’s not too hung up on getting in your projects every week or being on time. As long as you have all of your work by the end of the semester, you’ll be fine. He’s also REALLY cool about letting you use his stuff. A lot of the stuff we use in his class (liquid latex, polystyrene, plasticine) is hard on the wallet, but he’ll let you use whatever he has instead of making you go out and buy your own supplies. Also, his studio is open to any student to come in and work. He’s a fun guy and it’s a fun class away from the computer monitor.Looking back now, I wish I worked harder in some of my classes, but it’s too late for that now. I’m definitely looking forward to this long(er) winter break and hopefully, I’ll have some fun stuff to post.
