Teaching is my passion, and I am committed to nurturing my students' creative potential.”

Teaching is my passion, and I am dedicated to nurturing the creative potential of my students.”

Christopher Murphy, MFA

I am an Associate Professor of Design at Grand Canyon University's College of Arts & Media, bringing over 20 years of industry expertise and a passion for education to bridge the gap between design practice and academic excellence.

Education

2002-2004
MFA Illustration as Visual Essay
School of Visual Arts, New York

2000-2002
BA Visual Communications
SUNY Farmingdale, NY

1998-2000
Studied Fine Art & Illustration
Long Island University at C.W. Post, NY
Transferred to SUNY Farmingdale

Subjects Taught

Advertising
Graphic & Web Design
Typography
User Experience (UX) Design
User Interface (UI) Design
Senior Capstone
Portfolio Development

In the Classroom

Instagram

Subject Matter Expert

Grand Canyon University

DDN-255 Interface Design 2: Web Design
ADV-355 Image Creation
DDN-476 Portfolio 2
DDN-475 Advanced Design Practicum
DDN-335 Web Applications
DDN-420 Advanced Animation
DDN-340 History of Design
DDN-355 Content Management Systems
DDN-440 Interactive Web Design
DDN-455 Designing for New Technologies
DDN-460 Advanced Web Projects
DDN-240 User Experience Design

Judson University

DES331 Web Design 1
DES332 Web Design 2

Faculty Advisor

Canyon Creative

I serve as the Faculty Advisor for Canyon Creative, the student-run design agency within the College of Arts & Media, where I oversee various projects and mentor students on real-world design challenges. Over the past 2 years Canyon Creative has grown to be a recognized creative agency, winning 3 student AAF Phoenix Addy Awards.

Current Courses

Advanced Web Projects

Senior Capstone Course

DDN-460

Student Examples

Tory Barden, Forte
Olivia Ice, Sage
Alyssa Prentiss, Figure8

In this course, I guided students in creating self-directed web projects focused on solving real-world problems through interface design. We explored identifying user needs, conducting thorough research, and applying design thinking to develop innovative solutions. Through hands-on exercises, students gained proficiency in wireframing, prototyping, and implementing design solutions using modern web technologies, with an emphasis on usability, accessibility, and iterative testing. By the end, students had developed robust portfolios showcasing their skills in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design.

DDN-460

Portfolio 2

Senior

STUDENT EXAMPLES

Suzanne Thompson
Phoenix Irwin-McCabe

In this course, I guided students in creating a self-marketing plan and comprehensive portfolio to launch their job search in their chosen industry. We examined market trends to understand employer expectations and improved their past work to meet industry standards. Students refined their digital portfolios, learned effective presentation skills, and created assets for their personal brand, including a polished print portfolio. By the end, students were fully prepared to enter the job market with confidence and a professional, strategically crafted personal brand.

DDN-455

Designing for New Technologies

Junior

Student Examples

Nicole Nowakowski, Optiqs
Alyssa Prentiss, Spar

In this course, I guided students in forecasting new technologies to enhance user experience. We explored emerging trends and innovations, examining how to create more intuitive and engaging user interfaces. I encouraged critical and creative thinking about the future of technology, helping students adapt to the changing digital landscape. Through research, case studies, and hands-on projects, we analyzed how cutting-edge tools can solve real-world UX challenges. By the end, students were adept at predicting and integrating new technologies into their designs, positioning them at the forefront of the UX field.

DDN-255

Interface Design 2: Web Design

Sophomore

Student Examples

Zoe West, Web Icons
Kate Davison, Event Website

In this course, I guided students through the entire web design prototyping process, from initial research and wireframes to design comps and interactive mock-ups, all centered around a creative brief. We emphasized thorough research and planning before visual design and interactivity. I taught efficient website production, focusing on best practices and modern techniques. By the end, students had a solid grasp of the web design process, equipped to create functional, attractive, and SEO-friendly websites.

DDN-250

Interface Design 1: User Experience

Sophomore

Student Examples

Brynn Miller, Outspoken
Paige DeVries, Wellcast

In this course, I led students through the fundamentals of User Experience (UX) for mobile applications, focusing on prototyping and user testing. We explored the historical context of UX and its evolution into modern design. Students applied the Laws of UX to create intuitive mobile interfaces and used various usability testing methods to refine their prototypes. By the end, students were well-versed in mobile UX design principles, equipped with practical prototyping and testing skills, and appreciated the field's historical foundation.

Previous Courses

Title

ROLE

Institution

Date

ADV-350 Digital Advertising Communication

Assistant Professor

Grand Canyon University

2016-2021

ADV-355 Image Creation

Assistant Professor

Grand Canyon University

2017-2019

ADV-110 Fundamentals of Advertising

Assistant Professor

Grand Canyon University

2016-2021

DDN-350 Web Applications

Assistant Professor

Grand Canyon University

2016-2021

DDN-355 Content Management Systems

Assistant Professor

Grand Canyon University

2016-2021

DDN-300 Web Design 1

Assistant Professor

Grand Canyon University

2018

DDN-210 Designing with Type

Assistant Professor

Grand Canyon University

2016

DDN-101 Design Thinking

Assistant Professor

Grand Canyon University

2016-2020

GD211 Portfolio

Adjunct Instructor

Art Institute of Phoenix

2015-2016

WDM230 Fundamentals of Authoring

Adjunct Instructor

Art Institute of Phoenix

2015-2016

ARTD 319 Interaction Design II

Adjunct Instructor

Northern Illinois University

2013-2015

GD211 Portfolio

Adjunct Instructor

Illinois Art Institute of Art at Schaumburg

2011-2013

WDM230 Fundamentals of Authoring

Adjunct Instructor

Illinois Art Institute of Art at Schaumburg

2011-2013

GD211 Digital Prepress

Adjunct Instructor

Illinois Art Institute of Art at Schaumburg

2011-2013

DES497 Senior Project

Assistant Professor

Judson University

2010-2013

DES496 Senior Proposal

Assistant Professor

Judson University

2010-2013

DES327 History of Graphic Design

Assistant Professor

Judson University

2010-2013

DES332 Web Design 2

Assistant Professor

Judson University

2010-2013

DES331 Web Design 1

Assistant Professor

Judson University

2010-2013

DES321 Graphic Design I

Assistant Professor

Judson University

2010-2013

DES231 Digital Design Fundamentals

Assistant Professor

Judson University

2010-2013

DES228 Typography

Assistant Professor

Judson University

2010-2013

Writing, Workshops & Guest Lectures

Title

ROLE

Institution

Date

UX/UI Webinar

Webinar

Grand Canyon University

Jun 20, 2024

Intentional Creativity: Principles for a Strong and Memorable Brand Identity

Guest Speaker

5 Stones

May 22, 2024

Article on Graphic Design jobs

Interview

Zippia

Apr 10, 2024

College of Arts and Media Writing Retreat

Host

Grand Canyon University

May 26, 2022

How To Find Your Identity as an Artist

Article

Grand Canyon University

Nov 10, 2020

Read

My Top 10 Tips for Keeping your Boss Happy

Article

Little Taller

Mar 12, 2020

Read

On Design Programs: Sketch vs Adobe XD vs Figma

Article

Little Taller

Jan 3, 2020

Read

A Design Conference Perspective

Article

Little Taller

Aug 5, 2019

Read

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