J. Blake Johnson is a Professor of Graphic Design at Saginaw Valley State University and has taught at SVSU since 2007.


Prior to SVSU Johnson taught at the University of Idaho as an Instructor of Record from 2003 to 2006.


Professor Johnson holds a BFA from ArtCenter College of Design, an MFA from The University of Idaho, and an Associates degree from Brigham Young University – Idaho. Professor Johnson has 25+ years of professional experience in corporate and freelance settings.


Prior to teaching design he worked for a number of design firms on the West Coast. Clients included Nike, Sony, Disney, NBC, X-BOX, Microsoft, Adidas, and Columbia Sportswear, as well as hospitals and universities in the Pacific Northwest.


Professor Johnson has been designing websites for clients since 1998 and enjoys working with code. Starting in 2006 Professor Johnson has worked as a freelance Graphic User Interface Designer for several companies including Pillar Data Systems and the Oracle Corporation.


Professor Johnson currently teaches a broad range of classes such as: Typography, Graphic Design History, Web Design, Portfolio Design, Graphic User Interface Design, App Interface Design, and Experiencial Learning. In 2013 he served as an Exchange Professor at Shikoku University in Tokushima Japan and as a Visiting Professor at Shenyang Aerospace University in Shenyang China in 2016.


In 2013 Prof. Johnson founded SVSU Cardinal Solutions an interdisciplinary team of SVSU students and faculty members that serves local nonprofits and businesses through a collaborative research and design teams that functions like a consulting and design firm.


To date, Cardinal Solutions has provided services to over 60 nonprofits and local businesses. Cardinal Solutions has also awarded over $75,000 in student scholarships.


Cardinal Solutions has now worked with students from all five colleges at SVSU. Students from the following majors have participated: Education, Graphic Design, Technical Writing, Art (Photography), Art (Illustration), Marketing, Management, and Health Science.



Education

University of Idaho

  • Moscow, Idaho

  • Master of Fine Art

  • 2007, Emphasizing Graphic Design


    • Art Center College of Design

  • Pasadena, California

  • Bachelor of Fine Art

  • 1997, Graphic and Packaging Design, Honors Graduate


    • Art Center Europe

  • La Tour-de-Peliz, Switzerland

  • Fall Term 1995


    • Brigham Young University-Idaho

  • Rexburg, Idaho

  • Associate of Arts

  • 1993, Arts and Sciences, Honors Graduate



    • Experience - Educator

    Saginaw Valley State University

  • University Center, Michigan

  • Professor

  • June 2007 - present


    • Shenyang Aerospace University

  • Shenyang China

  • Visiting Professor

  • June 2016 - July 2016


    • Shikoku University

  • Tokishima, Japan

  • Exchange Professor

  • April 2013 - July 2013


    • University of Idaho

  • Moscow, Idaho

  • Instructor of Record

  • August 2004 - April 2007



    • Experience - Designer

    Whereable Technologies / RiskBand

  • Redwood City, California

  • Graphic User Interface Designer

  • Feburary 2017 - 2019


    • Oracle Corporation

  • Redwood City, California

  • Graphic User Interface Designer

  • July 2011 - February 2013


    • Pillar Data Systems

  • Denver, Colorado

  • Graphic User Interface Designer

  • June 2006 - June 2011


    • IDL Worldwide

  • Portland, Oregon

  • Senior Graphic Designer

  • April 2002 - August 2004


    • Anderson Krygier Inc.

  • Portland, Oregon

  • Graphic Designer

  • March 2001 - March 2002


    • Th!nk Design

  • Portland, Oregon

  • Freelance Designer

  • November 2000 - Present


    • Spectra Entertainment

  • Simi Valley, California

  • Senior Graphic Designer

  • May 1998 - October 2000


    • San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group

  • Pasadena, California

  • Marketing/Promotions Graphic Designer

  • October 1996 - May 1998


    • Graphic Services

  • Rexburg, Idaho

  • Graphic Designer

  • September 1991 - April 1993