HELLO, & WELCOME!
My name is Jarred Elrod—I’m a proud citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and native West Texan who is currently struggling real hard to learn Italian 😀. A graphic designer + educator by trade, I’m faculty alum at Texas Tech University and the University of Florida, where I taught Graphic Design full time from 2015-2021. I’m currently on hiatus from academia, working independently and living in beautiful Polcenigo, Italy with my spouse Amanda.
When I’m not working on self-initiated or client-based creative projects, my primary area of interest is developing cross-discipline methodologies to enhance creative potential and mental resiliency in design students and practicing professionals. I’m particularly interested in the intersection of the creative process and performance psychology and am currently collaborating with my lovely spouse (a licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant—CMPC) on a joint-initiative we call “The Creative Performer.”
As a practitioner, I specialize in illustration, branding, and photography and am always open to collaborations / partnerships that get experimental and lead me outside of my comfort zone. I graduated with my B.F.A. in Graphic Design from West Texas A&M University and my M.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Tennessee—good ol’ Rocky Top. Rocky Top Tenn-e-sseeeee. Woo.
I’m super passionate about teaching and have lectured as a Visiting Professor of Graphic Design and Illustration at Gaungxi Arts Institute in Nanning, China and have developed programs to teach in Berlin, Germany through the University of Florida International Center (UFIC). My work has been featured in HOW Magazine, the Texas Biennial, and the Bolivia and Uruguay International Poster Biennials. In addition, I’ve lectured and/or run solo and collaborative workshops in conjunction with AIGA, UCDA, NSSC, CAA SECAC, and the Institute of European Design (IED) Milano.
When I’m not teaching or making things, I can be found on ambitious road trips (tapping out drum beats on the wheel), sipping coffee, or riding wheelies on my bike or vintage enduro motorcycle. Keep up with me here in my online journal!
