John Dufresne

Background

About John Dufresne

Now retired, John DuFresne has championed quality graphic design education through his teaching and leadership for over 40 years. After the 2013 closing of the College of Visual Arts (CVA), John was hired as a full-time faculty member at Concordia University, Saint Paul, where he brought his recognized curriculum and program experience to an already impressive art department and forward-thinking university. The graphic design program at Concordia continues the high level of excellence established at CVA, where John served as Professor and Chair of the graphic design department. John was recruited and hired at CVA in 1995 from the University of Wisconsin-Stout to establish a visual communications program and implement a vision consistent with CVA's desire to raise its reputation and stature within the creative community. He began teaching at UW-Stout in 1988, first as a full-time academic staff lecturer and then as a full-time professor teaching all levels of graphic design in an art and design department now numbering more than students. Before teaching at Stout, John was Senior Designer for Norwest Corporation (now Wells Fargo), the world's second-largest banking and financial services company, formerly based in Minneapolis. He also owned and operated Pig's Eye Design in St. Paul and has served as a national board member and officer for the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and president and education director for AIGA Minnesota. In 2012, John was named an AIGA Fellow. The award recognizes designers who have significantly contributed to raising the standard of excellence in practice and conduct within their design community. It is the highest honor an AIGA chapter may bestow upon one of its members.John holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design from the University of Wisconsin–Superior and a master's in advertising design from Minnesota State University, Mankato.