Joel Kern
About Joel Kern
Joel Kern is an Associate Art Director at Lutron Electronics and a Senior Designer at MTWTF, Inc. in the New York City Metropolitan Area.
Current Positions
Joel Kern is actively employed as an Associate Art Director at Lutron Electronics in the New York City Metropolitan Area. Concurrently, he holds a position at MTWTF, Inc. as a Senior Designer, also located in the New York City Metropolitan Area.
Past Professional Experience
Joel Kern has a rich professional history in design. Between 2019 and 2021, he worked at MTWTF, Inc. as a Senior Designer for two years. Prior to that, he served at KREWE du optic as a Designer from 2016 to 2019 in New Orleans, LA. He also spent two years as a Designer at Young Athenians Design Agency in Athens, Georgia Area from 2014 to 2016. Early in his career, he was a Design and Printmaking Intern at Smokey Road Press in 2013 for one month.
Educational Background
Joel Kern earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design, completing his degree in 2019 after two years of study. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, where he studied from 2011 to 2016. He also attended the Atlanta International School, obtaining his High School diploma with an International Baccalaureate (IB) from 2005 to 2009.
Design Approach and Interests
Joel Kern utilizes a constructionist design approach that oscillates between typography, multi-materiality, and spatiality. His work explores the human relationship to public space and new ways of connecting communities. Joel's design approach straddles the borders of graphic design, environmental design, and social sculpture, reflecting his interest in the interdisciplinary nature of design.
Design Collaborations
Joel Kern has engaged in various design collaborations, including work with C-U-B-E: Experimental Design Lab, the campaign of Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, and the Humanities Action Lab. These collaborations highlight his commitment to innovative design solutions and community-focused projects.