Overview
Since 2022, I have served as a Marketing Instructor at Madison College, where I designed and led two foundational courses in the School of Business & Applied Arts: Marketing Design Strategies and Marketing Digital Design. These courses were developed to prepare students for modern marketing careers through a hands-on, design-driven curriculum grounded in accessibility, creativity, and professional readiness.
Challenge
When I joined the department, there was a clear need for courses that taught digital marketing and design in a way that was both skill-based and deeply rooted in professional outcomes. Students needed opportunities to gain confidence using industry-standard tools, while also learning how to present, pitch, and collaborate effectively—key skills often overlooked in traditional business instruction. Equally important, Madison College sought to center accessibility, design thinking, and inclusion in its approach to marketing education.
My Role & Strategy
As the sole curriculum developer for both courses, I created a holistic, student-centered learning experience focused on three core areas:
- Applied Design Tools & Technologies: Students explored software like Canva, Photoshop, and InDesign, using them to create real-world projects such as ad campaigns, brand kits, and accessible websites.
- Professional Communication & Soft Skills: I embedded writing, presentation, and feedback exercises into each unit to help students practice persuasive communication and public speaking.
- Design Thinking Frameworks: Each course emphasized creative problem solving, guided by the Harvard Design Thinking model—encouraging iteration, prototyping, and empathy-driven solutions.
In Marketing Design Strategies, students learned the fundamentals of visual marketing, including image manipulation, typographic layout, and branding. The second course, Marketing Digital Design, centered on creating accessible websites using free website builders, with a strong focus on digital inclusivity and web accessibility compliance.
Results & Impact
Over three academic years, my courses have become cornerstones of the marketing program at Madison College. Highlights include:
- Professional-Level Portfolios: Students leave the course with full branding projects, video case studies, and interactive designs—assets they use to apply for internships and jobs.
- High Engagement: Course evaluations consistently reflect strong student satisfaction and appreciation for the applied, real-world focus of the curriculum.
- Soft Skill Development: Students report increased confidence in presenting ideas, writing for different audiences, and giving/receiving critical feedback.
- Accessibility in Practice: Graduates demonstrate working knowledge of ADA-compliant design and inclusive content strategies—essential skills for today’s digital economy.
Takeaways
This work reinforced my passion for combining instruction, design, and equity in the classroom. By teaching marketing through a lens of creativity, accessibility, and professional preparation, I’ve seen firsthand how students thrive when they are empowered to create, experiment, and communicate. These courses continue to evolve each semester, ensuring Madison College remains a leader in inclusive, applied business education.