Corina Coughlan, MFA ‘24
Fellow, Public Policy Lab
Developing human-centered design initiatives to improve public services through conducting user research, developing service design strategies, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to prototype and test solutions.
The MFA Design transformed my approach to design and research, encouraging me to ask deeper questions, challenge conventions, and use design as a tool for cultural critique. One of the most rewarding aspects was its interdisciplinary nature, which allowed me to collaborate across university departments and integrate diverse perspectives into my research. This process was instrumental in shaping both my voice as a designer and the direction of my practice.
My MFA research stemmed from a desire to challenge how we see, measure, and communicate lived experience and explore how data can become more human and accessible through visual storytelling and immersive experiences. My thesis exhibition translated these ideas into immersive storytelling through sound, video, and text, offering a more embodied way of understanding movement and data.
Sanaz Feizi, MFA ‘23
Assistant Professor, University of Memphis
Interdisciplinary designer, educator, and researcher whose practice explores the intersection of socio-cultural, biomedical, and biopolitical frameworks.
What I found most valuable about the program was being part of a supportive and collaborative community where faculty were genuinely invested in each student’s growth. The program fostered an environment of mutual encouragement while ensuring we were equipped with the most current and relevant design knowledge. This combination of academic rigor and community support created a unique learning experience that empowered me to develop my own research and creative practice.
My research investigating menstrual stigma and gender inequality, I developed the MAKE TALK Workshop—a research-driven, participatory methodology that leverages dialogic exchange and creative self-expression to surface and challenge normative narratives surrounding menstruation.
Leona Cheung, MFA ‘23
Freelance Designer
Designer and educator based in Los Angeles, working in print and digital projects from branding to websites.
The program allowed us to freely explore many avenues of research relating to our personal interests of study. It was a wonderful experience to develop ideas alongside peers with backgrounds and interests that were diverse, thus creating a rich environment for collaboration. I’m grateful for the support of the faculty, their generosity in sharing knowledge and resources. Not only was it a space to grow my practice and expand the skills for both traditional and contemporary applications of design, but it also taught me how to view things through the lens of greater sensitivity to critical issues.
Sophie Auger, MFA ’21
Visiting Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal
Alongside teaching also works independently and in collaboration with artists, curators, and publishers on exhibitions, publications, and websites.
I was part of the inaugural cohort of the MFA in Design program at Rutgers, and one of only two students. This extraordinary context was both challenging and rewarding: the intimacy of the cohort allowed for individualized engagement, while the generous and dedicated faculty and access to great resources at Rutgers made it a very fruitful experience. The program encourages experimentation in design, art, technology, and interdepartmental research; all of which have enriched my interdisciplinary practice.
My research explored the paradox of the NFT, cryptographically unique yet not interchangeable. This coupled with the intangible nature of a new technology still in the making, fed my thesis work and research. The resulting exhibition explored the aesthetic experience of the NFT, as well as its impact on notions of archiving.