Ken Tanabe is a university educator
Ken Tanabe leading a discussion at a conference at Harvard University
Photo by Pearl Shavzin-Dremeaux

I have been a member of the adjunct faculty at Parsons School of Design since 2003, where I teach on the graduate and undergraduate level. I design and teach courses in managing creative teams, data visualization, thesis work, and design for print, digital, advanced motion graphics. I have been a guest critic at Yale, the School of Visual Arts, and Parsons. I also taught an intensive class on interface design at Altos de Chavon, the top design school in the Dominican Republic.

Many of my speaking engagements are at educational institutions.
Ken Tanabe receiving the Distinguished University Teaching Award from New School University
Recipient of the Distinguished University Teaching Award
This annual award recognizes four Distinguished University Teachers from a faculty of over 2,000 in all seven schools at The New School, including Parsons School of Design.
More about the Distinguished University Teaching Award
Ken Tanabe and his class at Parsons School of Design featured on Current TV
Teaching with a focus on connecting students with the world
Cable network Current TV produced a news piece about my motion graphics class after purchasing and broadcasting work by 75% of the students. Collaborations with authors and publishers have also brought attention from outside the classroom.
More about Current TV
Additional Achievements in Education
I have been a guest critic in classes at Yale University, School of Visual Arts, and Parsons School of Design.
I was invited to teach at the top design school in the Dominican Republic: Altos de Chavon.
I have guided nine students to the semifinals in the global Adobe Design Achievement Awards.
Highlights
Distinguished University Teaching Award (Parsons School of Design)
Designing and teaching graduate and undergraduate classes since 2003
Guest critic in classes at Yale, SVA, and Parsons
Invited to teach a class at Altos de Chavon, the top design school in the Dominican Republic
Multiple student semifinalists in the Adobe Academic Design Achievement Awards
Current TV purchased and aired student work, then produced a news piece about the class
Classes Taught
Date Institution Class School Program
Spring 2019 Parsons School of Design Creative Team Dynamics School of Design Strategies Strategic Design + Management
Fall 2018 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics: Introduction Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2018 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics: Introduction Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Fall 2017 Parsons School of Design Managing Creative Teams School of Design Strategies Strategic Design + Management
Spring 2017 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics: Introduction Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2016 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics: Introduction Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Fall 2015 Parsons School of Design Information Visualization School of Design Strategies Strategic Design + Management
Fall 2015 New School University Independent Production School of Media Studies Media Studies
Spring 2015 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 2 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Fall 2014 Parsons School of Design Information Visualization School of Design Strategies Strategic Design + Management
Spring 2014 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 2 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Fall 2013 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 3 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2013 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 2 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Fall 2012 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 3 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Summer 2012 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics Workshop: Advanced Topics Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2012 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 3 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Fall 2011 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 2 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2011 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 3 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2011 Parsons School of Design BFA Design + Technology:
Thesis 2 (Independent Study)		 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Fall 2010 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 2 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2010 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 3 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2009 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 2 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2008 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 2 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Summer 2007 Altos De Chavon Diseño de Interfaz (Interface Design) Escuela de Diseño
(School of Design)		 Digital Design
Spring 2007 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 2 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2006 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 2 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2004 Parsons School of Design Design Technologies 2 (Web Design) School of Design Strategies Strategic Design + Management
Fall 2003 Parsons School of Design Design Technologies 1 (Print Design) School of Design Strategies Strategic Design + Management
Classes Critiqued
Date Institution Class School Program
Fall 2017 School of Visual Arts Design Research and Integration Design MFA Products of Design
Fall 2017 Parsons School of Design Scrappy Filmmaking for Tech Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2017 Parsons School of Design Senior Project 2: Capstone Design Strategies Design Management
Spring 2012 Parsons School of Design Time: Core Studio Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2010 Parsons School of Design BFA Core: Time-Based Media Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2010 Yale University Design for Video and Film School of Art Graphic Design
Spring 2009 Parsons School of Design MFA Design + Technology
Thesis Studio		 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Spring 2008 Parsons School of Design Motion Graphics 3 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Summer 2004 Parsons School of Design Pre-MFA SOPIS (Summer Orientation
Program International Students)		 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
Summer 2003 Parsons School of Design MFA Design + Technology
Boot Camp: Design Class		 Art Media and Technology Design + Technology
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