Faculty and Staff

The College of Fine Arts and Communications Congratulates Faculty Members for Their Rank and Status Advancements

Dean Ed Adams Announced College and University Award Recipients in the College of Fine Arts and Communications During the 2024 Annual University Conference

The Faith and Works Lecture with Ed Carter will take place on March 4 in the Madsen Recital Hall and will be streamed online

Inside the George H. Brimhall Building on BYU’s campus is a lab that sees 30 students every week. They come on their own time and receive no pay, but they do digital marketing work with organizations like the NBA, Subaru and Google. All because of one man that loves commercials. “In my heart, I love the idea of advertising,” said Y Digital Director Adam Durfee. “I’m one of the few people that like to watch commercials carefully and see what they are all about.” Y Digital is a student-run digital marketing agency sponsored by BYU. By the end of 2020, they have worked with over 35 clients and won numerous awards. But back in 2017, the agency was just an idea on Durfee’s dinner napkin. Read the full story written by Andrew Call at universe.byu.

Scott Church presented on media and politics to the National Communications Association.

Design Professor Doug Thomas goes to San Francisco as a TEDx speaker to talk about the ideas in his new book “Never Use Futura”

Communication Arts recognizes the MODE 2017 opening titles, a video by Brent Barson that highlights the technological and stylistic capacity of modern motion design. The Design Annual issue of Communication Arts magazine recognizes the best in visual art across many industries. Though Department of Design Professor Brent Barson has been featured before, he’s happy to be recognized by the publication once again. “It feels really good,” Barson said. “It is tough to get into, there are around 4,000 entrants. It’s very gratifying, makes the effort worth it.” Communication Arts honored Barson for his work on the MODE Conference 2017 opening titles video. MODE, or Motion Design Education, commissioned Barson’s work. MODE has regularly scheduled conventions and continues to “encourage, share and help motion design by providing a platform for research pedagogy,” as stated by the organization’s website. Though the organization was originally founded by three motion design educators, it has since quadrupled in size, with Barson being among the professors who have joined on. “I attended the second MODE they ever had and I asked to get involved, so I was one of the six founding members for the third,” Barson said. “It’s really exciting to see it growing.” The video has a distinct aesthetic. Though the colors were decided by the conference’s color scheme, the rest of the video is almost entirely the product of Barson (the music was done by Micah Dahl Anderson). “The project was born of my academic leave from BYU,” Barson said. “It was a deep dive into this 3D software, Octane Render. What was exciting about it to me is that it can render completely photorealistic scenes. I thought, 'That’s an interesting idea, to create reality while also filming surreality.'” A frame from Barson’s MODE 2017 opening titles.

BYU illustration professor Robert Barrett spoke at the BYU Devotional on Tuesday, May 8. He focused on the importance of preparation, not just in art, but in all aspects of life. “The Lord expects His children to do their homework on a problem, consider the options, and then make a decision,” said Barrett. “Then, and only then, are they able to take their decisions to the Lord and ask Him if what they have decided to do is right.” Visit BYU News to read more about Robert Barrett and the May 8 devotional.

The devotional will take place at 11 a.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center.

Professor Chris Cutri shares “The Wrestle: Taking Art Beyond Enjoyment”

School of Communications Professor Kevin John shared three biometric techniques that can improve the accuracy of self-reporting studies in 2018 Beckham Lecture

The lecture will take place April 12 at 11:00 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall

Communications Professor Kevin John will present the first lecture following the passing of Emeritus faculty Ray Beckham

The lecture will take place March 1 at 11:00 a.m. in the Nelke Theatre

Professor Barber talked about finding empathy through his work and reassured students that they had a place here at BYU.

The lecture will take place on Feb. 1 at 11:00 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall

Professor Asplund will address audiences on “Sacred Music and the Punk Rock Ethic”

Collin Bradford shares how Mormons can learn to appreciate contemporary art