Creative Studio Faculty

Richard Doubleday

Biography

Dr. Richard Doubleday is a Visiting Professor who came to Champlain College in the fall of 2024 from Louisiana State University College of Art & Design, where he serves as professor emeritus. Prior to that he held the title of Assistant Professor of Art at Boston University College of Fine Arts. A specialist in graphic design history and contemporary graphic design in China, his doctoral thesis investigated contemporary Chinese graphic design and its historical antecedents. Doubleday’s doctoral research has been supported by distinguished fellowships including a 2022-2023 China-U.S. Scholars Fellowship (CUSP) and a 2017-2018 Fulbright Fellowship as a senior research scholar at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. His research has developed from doctoral studies on graphic design in the post–Mao era to focus on graphic design in China’s Republican and Mao eras. Doubleday is currently at work on a book project which focuses on contemporary Chinese graphic design history and the cultural production in other Sinophone communities outside of China. He has published numerous articles; books and book chapters; critical essays; and book reviews in national and international anthologies, professional journals, and popular publications about various topics within the design disciplines, and his writings have received national and international recognition. Doubleday has an extensive record of leading workshops around the world including China, Ecuador, Mexico, Vietnam, and Peru and has led study abroad programs in China, London, and The Netherlands. He has exhibited his poster designs at many local, national, and international events and competitions around the globe including the Golden Bee, Moscow Biennial of Graphic Design, Ecuador Poster Biennial, and the International Poster Triennial in Toyama, Japan. He has more than 20 years of professional experience working at notable design and architectural firms and national research institutions including Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a United States Department of Defense federally funded research and development center in support of national security. His design industry experience has served as a platform for his academic career. Doubleday’s teaching practice covers the history of graphic design, motion graphics, fundamental and advanced principles of graphic design and typography.

Distinctions & Awards

• Professor Emeritus, Louisiana State University, 2024
• China-U.S. Scholars Program (CUSP) Exchange Fellowship, 2021
• Fulbright Senior Scholar Fellowship, 2017-18
• Asian Cultural Council (ACC) Grant, 2014
• Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation Fellowship, 2004

Publications & Abstracts

• Ornament and Initial: Beauty of Graphic Design, 17-20th Century
• Jan Tschichold – Master Typographer
• Book (Practical) Art Hideki Nakajima Letter and Design TYPO-GRAPHICS
• Graphic: 500 Designs that Matter
• The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design
• Bloomsbury Design Library

Curriculum Vitae

View my CV

Professional & Scholastic Affiliations

• Fulbright Alumni Association
• Phi Kappa Phi, Honor Society
• Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC)
• Graphic Artists Guild
• Society of Printers
• Professional Association for Design (AIGA)

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Samara Fantie

Biography

Samara Fantie is a game developer and artist currently based in Vermont. Her robust background in the sciences includes an MA from American University in Mathematics and a BA with distinction from Amherst College in Psychology and Mathematics.

Leveraging a lifelong love of art, games, and interactive narratives, Samara has accumulated over a decade of experience helping people tell their stories. Her portfolio spans a wide array of projects including visual development, comics, 3D modeling, illustration, and many other flavors of game-related art and design. She has collaborated with a diverse range of clients including neuroscientists, indie developers, and Unity, showcasing her versatility and expertise in both technical and artistic domains. Her passion for the craft and innovative adaptability have enabled her to consistently deliver compelling creative solutions that resonate with audiences.

As co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of game studio Glossbird, Samara brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and creative vision to the gaming industry. Prior to teaching at Champlain College, she taught graduate-level courses at American University’s Game Lab for their Master of Arts in Game Design program.

Distinctions & Awards

• a16z TxO f’23 Accelerator Cohort
• PocketGamer: Most Innovative Mobile Game of the Year Finalist
• SmithMicro: The Avatar Challenge Design Contest

Publications & Abstracts

A 盛京棋牌 Game Developer Hopes to Hit It Big With ‘Fitment’

Professional/ Scholastic Affiliations

Glossbird

Recommended Reading

Mrs. Davis

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Miguel Gonzalez Oses

Biography

Miguel Oses is a Montreal-based Visual Effects Artist with 10+ years of experience in the games industry, during which he participated in the development of a variety of game titles ranging from racing games, open worlds, and first-person shooters. Outside of VFX, Miguel has worked extensively on Characters, Environments, and Tools, which provides him with a general understanding of the games industry pipeline beyond a single discipline.

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Max Johnson

Recommended Reading

• The Sound Effects Bible by Ric Viers
• The Foley Grail by Vanessa Theme Ament
• Aaron Marks’ Complete Guide to Game Audio

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Nicholas Kornek

Distinctions & Awards

Innovation Award – MIGF 2015, Official Selection – Alt.Ctrl.GDC 2015, Official Selection – TIFF Nuit Blanche 2015, Finalist Best Interactive Experience – NUMIX 2017

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Jalil Laalami Ouali

Biography

Jalil has been working in the game industry for over 15 years on three continents. After working on AAA content and coordinating QA teams on massive projects, Jalil went back to smaller teams where he had a stronger influence on company culture and direction. Indie life allowed him to explore AR, VR, playable ads, event installations and his personal favorite: procedural content generation. With a contagious smile and a talent for doing more with less, Jalil is currently coaching emerging indies on production management, Agile principles and happiness at work.

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Felipe Lega

Biography

Felipe Lega is the Director of the Animation Program at Champlain College and holds an MFA in Fine Arts with a focus on 3D Animation and Special Effects from Lynn University, USA. Felipe has designed educational models for Champlain College and has taught several classes for the animation and video game programs. He is also currently advising the projection mapping project at the Emergent Media Center, which is being developed in collaboration with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.

His teaching methodology is based on motivation, self-realization, and compassion. His work with students always involves mentorship, fostering the development of individuals with strong human and professional capacities. The success of his method is attributed to his faith and motivation in his students and in understanding them as individuals to support them in achieving their desired results.

He was an associate professor at UDEM – Universidad de Monterrey, where he developed and taught several classes in the master’s program in video games and the bachelor’s program in 3D animation and visual effects. He also participated in significant academic projects for this institution, such as the Experience 360 “Lamentos Encontrados” project developed in collaboration with Breda University in the Netherlands. Additionally, he served as an advisor for several award-winning thesis projects and short films.

Felipe was involved for approximately four years in the design, production, and creative direction of animated content for various projection mapping shows across Europe. Notable projects include: the HCA Hans Christian Andersen Festival show in Haderslev, Denmark; the Taastrup Library projection mapping show in Denmark; and the Christmas show at the Vilnius Cathedral in Lithuania, among others.

During his industry experience, Felipe has worked as a visual effects artist and 3D animator in different areas of TV post-production and production, including Hasbro toy commercials for Avengers, Spider-Man, and Transformers. He also created special effects for Latin American international series such as Kdabra, Sikis, and Mentes en Shock, and developed 3D animations for Nat Geo and Discovery Channel.

In 2014, he was awarded the YCE (Young Creative Entrepreneur) Award by the British Council in the Broadcasting category, representing his visual effects studio, Entertainment & Visual Arts, at the Edinburgh International Television Festival.

Distinctions & Awards

Rising Star Award – Champlain College, YCE – Young Creative Entrepreneur Award, 2014 British Council.

Favorite Quote

“Imagination is Everything, It is the preview of life’s coming Attractions.” – Albert Einstein

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Jin Liu

Biography

Jin Liu is a passionate game designer, educator, and digital artist whose work lies at the intersection of game art, interactive installations, and computational creativity. Since 2019, her creations have explored immersive and serious games that challenge perceptions and provoke thought, focusing on themes of identity, self-acceptance, and freedom within digital spaces.

Her recent project, No Purpose Question, a VR serious game, merges Eastern and Western philosophical perspectives to explore the concept of nihilism in a positive light. This innovative experience blends immersive gameplay with philosophical inquiry, inviting players to reflect on the nature of purpose and existence. Jin’s work exemplifies her belief in games as a powerful medium for artistic expression, cultural dialogue, and social change.

Jin’s research delves into the transformative potential of emerging technologies, including blockchain-driven decentralized platforms for creative collaboration. Her vision involves bridging the gap between academia and industry through smart contract-based systems that foster transparency, peer-to-peer learning, and democratized project management. By integrating these principles into her teaching, she aims to create dynamic learning environments that cultivate digital literacy, collaboration, and lifelong learning.

Her teaching philosophy emphasizes hands-on projects, iterative design, and role-playing as game designers to enhance student engagement. At Champlain College, she inspires students to connect theory with practice, preparing them for innovative careers in game development while encouraging them to push the boundaries of what games can achieve in shaping human experience and understanding.

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Joseph Manley

Biography

Joe Manley is an experienced developer, educator, game designer, and artist. After receiving an undergrad and graduate degree in ceramic sculpture from RISD and CU, Boulder respectively, Joe began making games and interactive media in Flash. This interest in making interactive experiences is what drew him to Champlain College. Since 2003, Joe has been an integral part of the Game Studio at Champlain College and taught some of the first game related classes at the school. Joe currently spends most of his making time in either Unity or Unreal but also steps back into the clay studio when given a chance.

CV

View CV

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Alexis Morin

Biography

Alexis has been interested in games, interactive narrative experiences and 3D rendering as far as he remembers. He’s had his fair share of experience in the game engine space over time, working in a wide variety of contexts such as indie gaming, animation and even engine development work. He is currently the Lead Technical Artist at Felix & Paul Studios, an award-winning VR company specializing in novel virtual reality experiences developed using Unreal Engine – and spends his spare time working on strange little art games and plugins.

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Kevin Neibert

Biography

Kevin is a Video Game Designer with a unique background and over 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at both indie and AAA sized studios, most recently with Wizards of the Coast and Ubisoft Montreal.

Kevin loves teaching and is eager to share his design know how with the next generation of developers.

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Dana Steinhoff

Biography

Dana Steinhoff is Program Director of Game Business and Publishing, and Game Production Management in the Game Studio at Champlain College. She holds an MFA in Emergent Media from Champlain. Her specialization is in teaching interdisciplinary teams to create interactive digital products while learning about leadership, interactive design, team dynamics, and agile project management methodology.

Steinhoff co-founded and served as the Executive Director of Rad Magpie, a Vermont-based non-profit organization that is doing its part to dismantle the patriarchy and white supremacy in video games by radically empowering underrepresented voices through video game development. Previously, she managed the Exquisite Corpse Company, an avant-garde immersive theater company in NYC.

Steinhoff enjoys renovating her Winooski home and acting, most recently with Vermont Stage. You may be able to catch her performing in her cover band Dana and the Dads (limited engagements).

Distinctions & Awards

Academic Innovation Award 2023, Champlain College: For work completed on Re/Imagining Science DEIBJ Committee

Publications & Abstracts

My reflection on the evolution of Rad Magpie, the nonprofit organization I cofounded to support marginalized video game developers.

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

—Ana?s Nin

Recommended Reading

Want to get a heads up on how we build games at Champlain? Read Clinton Keith’s: “Agile Game Development: Build, Play, Repeat”

Jonathan Haidt’s “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion” is a must-read right now to better understand the massive political divide in this country.

Office Hours

盛京棋牌 up for an appointment

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