Bio
Joshua Pridemore is a graphic designer with a visual identity focus and a keen interest in the interplay between design and societal constructs. His professional journey is characterized by a commitment to exploring how design shapes and is shaped by social narratives, particularly in the realms of gender and masculinity.
Pridemore holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Emerging Media, specializing in Graphic Design, from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Fine Arts in Design for Responsible Innovation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research interests include gender design, the impact of design on social issues, and the concept of “Discontainment of Masculinity” through design practices.
At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Pridemore teaches core courses in design methods and design foundations for undergraduates and non-major in Graphic Design. His approach to teaching blends practical design skills with an exploration of design’s role in addressing social issues and promoting responsible innovation. Pridemore’s teaching philosophy centers on the belief that design education transcends technical skills, nurturing critical thinking and an understanding of design’s societal role. He advocates for a student-centered approach that values diversity, encourages questioning of societal norms through design, and emphasizes ethical practices. By integrating interdisciplinary learning and practical application, Pridemore cultivates a learning environment where students are not only technically adept but also socially conscious, ready to innovate responsibly in the real world. Central to his philosophy is fostering reflective practice, ensuring students become thoughtful, adaptable, and impactful designers committed to lifelong learning.
EDUCATIOn
B.F.A. in Emerging Media, Graphic Design, University of Central Florida, 2021
M.F.A. in Design for Responsible Innovation, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2023
Teaching EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Professor of Graphic Design
School of Art and Design, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2023–2024
Graduate Teaching Assistant of Graphic Design
School of Art and Design, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2021–2023
Teaching Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
School of Art and Design, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2024–Present
Courses TAUGHT
ARTD 218 Interaction Design Foundation
ARTD 222 Typographic Practice
ARTD 270 Design Methods
ARTD 317 User Interface and User Experience Design for Non-Majors
ARTD 318 Interaction Design
ARTD 333 Type & Image
ARTD 351 Graphic Design Inquiry
ARTD 371 Graphic Design Practicum
ARTD 418 Advanced Interaction Design
ARTD 444 Typographic Systems
ARTD 452 Interaction Design Problems
ARTD 222 Typographic Practice
ARTD 270 Design Methods
ARTD 317 User Interface and User Experience Design for Non-Majors
ARTD 318 Interaction Design
ARTD 333 Type & Image
ARTD 351 Graphic Design Inquiry
ARTD 371 Graphic Design Practicum
ARTD 418 Advanced Interaction Design
ARTD 444 Typographic Systems
ARTD 452 Interaction Design Problems
CONFERENCE PAPERS
Pridemore, Joshua. “(Hu)Man Enough: The Ethics of Design Interventions for Familial Conversations About Masculine Gender Expression” (2025)
— SUBMITTED — Center for Ethics in Society | Drawing the Line: Race, Gender, Ethics, and the Arts. Manchester, NH , USA.
— SUBMITTED — Center for Ethics in Society | Drawing the Line: Race, Gender, Ethics, and the Arts. Manchester, NH , USA.
Pridemore, Joshua, Jena Marble, and Yiqi Xiao. “Tooling with GenAI: A Case Study on Success and Impact for Design Education Beginners” (2025)
— SUBMITTED — National Conference on the Beginning Design Student. Raleigh, NC, USA.
— SUBMITTED — National Conference on the Beginning Design Student. Raleigh, NC, USA.
Pridemore, Joshua, and Jena Marble. “Design Thinking for Non-Designers: Empowering Creativity Through Digital Tools” (2025)
— SUBMITTED — National Conference on the Beginning Design Student. Raleigh, NC, USA.
— SUBMITTED — National Conference on the Beginning Design Student. Raleigh, NC, USA.
Pridemore, Joshua, and Isabel Bo-Linn. “Democratizing Learning Spaces through Digital Collaboration and Project Management Tools” (2025)
— SUBMITTED — National Conference on the Beginning Design Student. Raleigh, NC, USA.
— SUBMITTED — National Conference on the Beginning Design Student. Raleigh, NC, USA.
Pridemore, Joshua. “(Hu)Man Enough: Design Interventions for Facilitating Familial Conversations About Masculine Gender Expression” (2024)
American Men’s Studies Association | Interdisciplinary Conference on Men and Masculinities, Plymouth, NH, USA.
American Men’s Studies Association | Interdisciplinary Conference on Men and Masculinities, Plymouth, NH, USA.
Pridemore, Joshua. “Every Body, Some Body, No Body: An Investigation of The Bodily Cultures of Queer and Straight Men in America.” (2023)
American Men’s Studies Association | Interdisciplinary Conference on Men and Masculinities, Montreal, Québec, CA.
American Men’s Studies Association | Interdisciplinary Conference on Men and Masculinities, Montreal, Québec, CA.
Moon, Eunmi, Angelica Sibrian Mai, Joshua Pridemore, and Yiqi Xiao. “Role-playing Living Lab (RpLL) Method in the Empathic User Experience Research Process: User-Inspired Innovation Utilizing Communal Coping Strategy and Role-playing Simulation” (2023)
Design Principles & Practices Research Network. Lisbon, Portugal.
Design Principles & Practices Research Network. Lisbon, Portugal.
Pridemore, Joshua. “Guardians for Growth: Designing a Children’s Book for Facilitating Familial Conversations About Boyhood” (2022)
American Men’s Studies Association | Interdisciplinary Conference on Men and Masculinities, Seattle, Washington, USA. Virtual.
American Men’s Studies Association | Interdisciplinary Conference on Men and Masculinities, Seattle, Washington, USA. Virtual.
PUBLICATIONS
Pridemore, Joshua, and Holly Strickland. “Researching Within: Teaching Graphic Design for and by Marginalized Communities.” DRS LearnXDesign, 2025, Aveiro, Portugal. —SUBMITTED
Pridemore, Joshua, Molly Briggs, Laura Chiaramonte, Rachael Dietkus, Amanda Yates, and Yiqi Xiao. “Designing for Impact: Leveraging Cross-Disciplinary Lessons in Interaction Design Education.” DRS LearnXDesign, 2025, Aveiro, Portugal. — SUBMITTED
Pridemore, Joshua. “Guardians for Growth: Designing a Children’s Book for Facilitating Familial Conversations About Boyhood.” Visual Arts Research (2025) — IN REVISIONS
Thomas, Nekita, Eric Benson, Joshua Pridemore, Holly Strickland, Noelyn Stephens, and Yiqi Xiao. “How to Explain Design Research To Your Friends.” In The 7th International Conference for Design Education Researchers, 2023, London, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drslxd.2024.114
Pridemore, Joshua. “(Hu)man enough: Design interventions for facilitating familial conversations about masculine gender expression.” MFA thesis., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2023. https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122163
