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August 12, 2024 Faculty, Fellows Join the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½

ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, Knoxville’s ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ welcomes six new and returning professionals into full-time faculty positions and fellowships this fall. They join the schools of architecture, design, and interior architecture.Ìý

ArchitectureÌý

Yuan Liao joins the School of Architecture as a lecturer. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on transformable structures and kinetic architecture, including geometric design, kinematics, and structural analysis. His research has been published in academic journals, such asÌýAutomation in Construction,ÌýASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, andÌýStructures. In addition to his academic pursuits, his design works have received several prestigious awards, including the AIA Chicago Award in Architecture and the 2018 SARAs National Design Award. Liao strives to use his design and research to address social and climate issues while contributing to the improvement of health and well-being.Ìý

Lecturer Kristin Pitts joins the school while working as a licensed architect and interior designer at Gensler in Atlanta. Prior to earning her Master of Architecture in 2022 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she graduated from Samford University with a Bachelor of Interior Design in 2013 and a Master of Business Administration in 2014. Pitts is passionate about the intersection of architectural theory, the built environment, and people it serves, as she believes the profession is uniquely capable of generating positive impact through the power of design. During her time at UT, her thesis project sought to intersect with critical practice by exploring material as artifacts through research processes and the act of making, mining its capacity to instill meaning, create value, and facilitate wellbeing. She has received numerous awards, including the 2022 AARC King and the AIA Henry Adams Medals, and co-authored publications on integrated design research and teaching methodologies.Ìý

DesignÌý

Associate Professor of Practice Lindsay Brine is a UT alumna who joins the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ with over 18 years of agency experience. She formerly served as Creative Director at Designsensory and recently obtained a master’s degree in service design from Savannah College of Art and Design. She has helped shape business and industry futures through the practice of design across multidisciplinary teams. Her work has been featured in Print, Graphic Design USA and How. In 2020, she was inducted into the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville’s Hall of Fame for a career of excellence in advertising. As a passionate proponent of Design for Good and humanity-centered design solutions, she has worked with NASA and the Savannah Tree Foundation to develop strategic outreach initiatives addressing climate challenges. In the era of AI, Brine hopes to share and shape conversations around the intersections of design, technology, humanity, and the future of work.Ìý

Chris Cote transitions from lecturer to tenure-track assistant professor of graphic design. His research investigates alternative publishing strategies through interactive installations and publications. By considering the context and dissemination methods of graphic design, his work engages broader audiences and examines cultural norms. Using public spaces and interactions as forms of publishing, he often subverts the intended purpose of the format. His work invites public participation, blurring the lines between creators and consumers. He self-publishesÌý,Ìýa publication about place that revitalizes visual archives by using images as prompts for writers, whose compositions then become prompts for visual artists and designers.Ìý

Everett Epstein joins the faculty as a lecturer of graphic design. Before coming to UT, he worked as a brand designer for Gensler in London. In this role, he helped develop environmental graphics and way-finding strategies for a diverse range of clients — including LEGO, Netflix, and Procter & Gamble. In 2021, he received his MFA from the Rhode Island ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, where he explored the intersection between web design, typography, and grammar.Ìý

Interior ArchitectureÌý

headshot of Ashley Coon
Ashley CoonÌýexpands his lecturer role in the School of Interior Architecture to include the school’s inaugural fellow. He received his Master of Architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles and Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and sculpture from Ringling College of Art & Design. Coon has been an artist in residence at Parsons ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ in New York. He has practiced as an architect in Los Angeles since 2008 and draws upon his extensive work experience to inform his approach to teaching and to better prepare students to thrive in the field.