headshot of David Spears a black designer in DC

hi!

I live in Washington, DC and work as the Design Director at Burness. I also teach online the Academy of Art University and am the Salon Chair for AIGA DC.

I completed an artist residency on Building Brands With Type at the School of Visual Arts in August 2021 and received an MFA in Graphic Design in 2016 from the Academy of Art University. During my time in the program, I developed a thesis project that aimed to infuse text messages with nonverbal cues to help your partner understand the feeling behind your message and bring you closer to the one you love.

My undergraduate education was at the University of Pittsburgh where I double majored in Studio Arts and Psychology.

If you'd like to chat more, please contact me.