Mentoring - Design thinking / Gamification / Branding
Mentoring has always been a driving force in my professional journey, coupled with my passion for design thinking and implementing. For over two decades, I have had the privilege of guiding students in academic settings, where the dynamic exchange of ideas not only fuels their growth but also deepens my own ability to analyze and interpret visual culture in both public and private spheres. I bring to each session a wealth of experience in branding, design, and art—helping students unlock their creative potential and develop a unique visual language. Witnessing their breakthroughs, insights, and growing confidence is nothing short of exhilarating, and it continues to inspire my dedication to education and innovation.
FUTURE.INTELLIGENCE.IMAGE EXHIBITION
CURATOR and MENTOR: AMIR COHEN
FOR HAC - PHOTOGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION FACULTY / BLACK BOX OUTDOOR EXHIBITIONS SITE
WITH THE SUPPORT OF: THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION / JERUSALEM MUNICIPALITY
Exhibition video by Tamar Raanan | Students Videos and Visuals in exhibition: 2060 by Shai Maimoni. Witch hunt (video game) by Aviv Tishler, Nadav Doron, Eliad Ayalon, Shira Atwad, Rani Yefet. Radicalization now (mentoring in collaboration with Jan Van Woensel) by Zoe Vatash, Anfisa Lanno, Polina Maliuk. Vivid gray by Aviv Tishler, David Michaeli, Hagar Amibar, Or Hershkowitz, Chen Ben Shaya, Noa Bigun, Shir Israeli, Mor Rekanati. Fish-Hand by Muhamad Natsheh. Digital dialog by Mariya Voroh.
Some of the academic courses and workshops
The set of courses I teach is diverse, starting with courses dealing with the basics of visual communication design and typographic design, while understanding and adapting to the different platforms. Continues with a series of lessons on user experience and screen design. Additional courses bring students a broad body of knowledge starting with the evolution of branding since the end of the nineteenth century until this time, as a basis for studying branding and positioning methodology. Alongside all these, workshops on conceptual-creative development processes and team work methods.
Class 01
Branding and Positioning Methodologies
Emotional branding processes according to the principles of ‘Cultural Capital’. In the course you will find case studies together with practical experience, beginning with research and classification of target audiences and culminating in the production of implementations for digital, social and television platforms. In addition, the course presents a historic overview of trends in branding, starting from the twentieth century to the present. The course is run in the format of a creative accelerator, from the development of a concept to the creation of a prototype.
Class 02
Design Thinking and Gamification
Exposure to an essential knowledge - The fields of Design Thinking and Gamification effecting the user engagement. The course present case studies aimed at understanding cognitive and other characteristics impacting every stage of a virtual and physical realm. A full stack process, from concept and strategic aspects, to scripting and mechanics, ending with an implementation - The creation of a persuasive Call To Action.
This academic framework, integrating design thinking and gamification, is delivered through two distinct courses: one within the Visual Media Studies (BA) program and another as an advanced course in Organizational Management Studies. The latter introduces a specialized methodology designed to cultivate innovative conceptual development by fostering ‘out-of-the-box’ creative thinking. By equipping students with cutting-edge problem-solving techniques, these courses not only enhance their academic and professional competencies but also position them at the forefront of industry innovation.
Class 03
A Creative Workshop: A collaboration with European Universities, and the ERASMUS Program
An academic cooperation for excelling students. In this framework students work together in mixed teams from two or three universities. The projects deal with global social issues. The creative results include short documentary films, audio works, still photography and design implementations.
- Here’s a glimpse into one of the academic collaborations I initiate and run, between JMC (formerly HAC) in Israel and Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) in Germany. = See here
Class 04
Introduction to Visual Communication Design
The basics of visual communications design. The series of lectures includes the corner stones of Typographic Design, analysis of case studies, and the implementation of visual constructs combining images and texts to create an experience and convey a message. The course will also provide tools for conceptual development, research, classification and teamwork.
Other
Academic Experience:
2014-Present HAC, Photographic Communication faculty, Senior academic staff member.
1997-Present Lecturer; design thinking, gamification, branding, Art and Design academies.
2005-2007 Head of visual communication faculty, College of Art & Design, Tel Aviv.
Education:
1987-1991 Visual communication, ‘Bezalel – Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, Israel.
1989-1990 Visual communication, Parsons, The New School, New York, NY.