Faculty Profile

Joseph Schaeffer

Assistant Professor, Graphic Design/Art Gallery Director

Joe Schaeffer (b. 1990) is a graphic designer, artist and educator. He was born in Santa Barbara, CA, raised and currently resides in Sioux Falls, SD. Schaeffer currently maintains an art & design practice and serves as the Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and Gallery Director at the University of Sioux Falls. 

His work is grounded in his background of design. He works intuitively with ink, oil, acrylic, and various other media to create works that reference elements of Calligraphy, Typography, and Graffiti. Schaeffer’s use of black ink in his painting compositions is a distinctive feature of his visual language. He continues to investigate ways in which elements of his paintings may translate to other output such as digital design, sculpture, furniture and clothing.

Education

  • M.F.A., Graphic Design, University of South Dakota, 2019
  • B.F.A., Graphic Design, University of South Dakota, 2013

Courses Taught

  • ART120 - Introduction to Design
  • ART220 - Graphic Design: Typography
  • ART221 - Graphic Design: Layout
  • ART460 - Senior Thesis
  • SDV100 - The USF Experience
  • ART331 - Graphic Design: Brand Identity
  • ART425 - Graphic Design: Advanced Study
  • ART300 - Communication Arts Colloquium

Expertise

  • Graphic Design
  • Typography
  • Branding
  • Publication Design
  • Environmental Graphics
  • Information Graphics
  • Packaging Design
  • Painting
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Curator

Scholarships and Creative Work

Presentations
  • 2021 | Student Portfolio Review | Portland State University | Portland, OR 2019 | Artist Series | Sioux Falls Design Center, Sioux Falls, SD 2019 | Design For the Senses | South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD 2018 | Artist Talk | South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD 2016 | Design Research Presentation | Intelligent Human Systems Integration Conference | Los Angeles, CA 2016 | Expressive Type Workshop | University of South Dakota | Vermillion, SD

Service/Volunteer Work

Sioux Falls Visual Arts Commission

Chair

2022 - present

Washington Pavilion Visual Arts Center Board of Aquisitions

Board Member

2022 - Present

AIGA South Dakota

Co-President

2015 - 2017