James C. Bell

Listen...research...think...create...re-think...re-create... James C. Bell , Advertising, Graphic Design Instructor , The Art Institute of Dallas, a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design

Was there a defining moment when you knew you were destined to become a creative professional?

When I realized I could solve other people’s problems by thinking visually.

How do you weave your professional background into the classroom experience?

I share stories from my professional experience that relate to the job at hand.

What class assignment exemplifies your approach to teaching and mentoring?

I treat my students like adults—just as I used to manage my employees. I follow the principle, “I can’t teach you how to do this. I can only help you learn it. Success or failure is up to you, not me.”

How does collaboration contribute to students’ success—particularly when students from various programs work together?

Working together as part of a team to complete a project mirrors the professional environment where students will be working. The more they collaborate in school, the better they’ll be at teamwork in the real world.

What’s the most important thing you impart to students to help them succeed in class and the real world?

Listen…research…think...create…re-think...re-create…

What’s the most critical advice you would offer any student embarking on a creative career?

It’s not art. It’s business.