Mark-Anthony Karam

Mark-Anthony Karam

Design Educator in Toronto, ON

About

I'm a design educator in visual communication and media studies with a focus on education technology & experience design. Currently a Graphic Design professor & program coordinator at Humber Polytechnic. I design spaces that foster accessible opportunities for social collaboration, student agency, and advocate for the inclusion of wellness as a framework for teaching and learning in higher education.

Work Experience

1999 — Now
Global
  • Publication and Editorial.

  • Branding and Identity.

  • UI / UX & Front-End Web Design.

  • Advertising and Marketing.

  • Social Media and Analytics.

2018 — Now
Toronto
  • Developed pathways, course offerings, and marketing for the Advanced Graphic Design Diploma program.

  • Conducted research, program planning, curriculum design for hybrid, online, and face-to-face (F2F) learning  environments.

  • Strategized and implemented educational initiatives and industry partnerships between domestic and international stakeholders.

  • Onboarding, advising, and mentoring faculty and students.

2017 — 2019
Toronto
  • Instructed production design concepts for visual communication.

  • Developed course materials.

  • Developed blended learning teaching methods.

2006 — 2018
Toronto
  • Program planning and instructional design.

  • Instructed Adobe CC applications and design principles for graphic design, UI/UX,  and front-end web design.

  • Instructed freelance and entrepreneurship courses for designers.

2013 — 2014
Toronto
  • Developed curriculum for both analytical and practical professional skills for publishing for screen, including e-books, writing and editing for tablet magazines; magazine websites, and web publishing via content management systems (CMS).

Education

2021 — 2021
Human Rights, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion, Education and Action, Cerificate at Humber Polytechnic
Toronto
2021 — 2021
Indigenous Canada, Certificate at University of Alberta, Coursera
Alberta, Online
2017 — 2017
Inclusive Design In Digital Media, (AODA). Certificate at Humber Polytechnic
Toronto
2015 — 2017
Master of Arts, Education Learning & Technology. M.A. Ed at Royal Roads University
Vancouver
2014 — 2014
Programming For Android Application Development, Certificate at University Of Maryland College Park
Maryland, Online
2009 — 2009
Teaching Effectiveness & Adult Learning Development, Certificate at Humber Polytechnic
Toronto
2006 — 2006
Graphic Design for Print & Web, Certificate at Humber Polytechnic
Toronto
2001 — 2003
Business Marketing, Diploma at Humber Polytechnic
Toronto
1999 — 2001
Graphic Design, Diploma at Fanshawe College
London

Certifications

2021

The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) is Canada’s largest professional association for graphic designers.

Speaking

2024
Toronto, Canada

Discover how to design engaging and effective hybrid learning environments that enhance motivation, build community, and empower students to take ownership of their educational journey.

In this talk, Mark will share how he blends in-person and online learning methods, while leveraging educational technology to foster a culture of self-directed learning through gamification and design. Join this talk to gain practical insights and actionable strategies for creating deep and meaningful learning experiences for your students.

2023
Teaching Today and in the Future at Academic Innovation Summit
Toronto

A talk on the role and impacts of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education and design.

2022

The LMS is now an indispensable tool in higher education. But how do we maintain a human centred approach to pedagogy? In this second episode of our two-part series on LMS in Higher Learning, we are joined by Humber FMCA Faculty members, Cynthia Young and Mark-Anthony Karam, who explore strategies to ensure that your LMS design reflects your teaching philosophy and process.

2020
Design Thinking Education at EDU ThinkTank 2020, Presenter
Loyalist Polytechnic
2020

Producer and host of a podcast for education and design with wellness in mind called ‘How’d We Get Here?’

A series of discussions surrounding design education, wellness, and pedagogy for higher education.

2020
The Future of UX in a Post Pandemic World at Humber Polytechnic Bachelor of Design, UX – Panel Speaker
Toronto
2017
Toronto

A workshop on leveraging blog platforms to create online communities.

2016
Toronto

A talk on the impacts of building online social presence to enhance social constructivism in teaching & learning.

2015
Toronto

A panel discussion on the emergence of code in k–12 and higher education.

Writing

2023
Testing Higher Education Teachers’ Intentions to Adopt Artificial Intelligence in Their Teaching Practices, TBD

In process…

2020

This research project addressed the rise of poor mental health, mental illnesses, and stress within postsecondary institutions, while attempting to introduce 'Playdays' as an initiative to observe how factors such as friendships, collaboration, physical activity, and autonomy might play a role in student wellness.

2017
Hackathons: Integrating Web 2.0 Technologies for Instructional Designers in Higher Education., TBD

This research explored how potential Hackathon course developers can integrate web 2.0 technologies to support learning if implemented in higher education.

The research shows that the integration of web 2.0 technologies in Hackathon learning environments (HLE) align with social constructivist design principles and help learners develop information communication technology (ICT) literacy and interprofessional employment skills (IES).

Based on the findings, the Hackathon Environment Learning Plan (HELP) pedagogy was developed as a guideline for supporting course developers when integrating web 2.0 technologies that contribute to learning within HLE’s for higher education.

Awards

2022

RGD 2022 Design Educator Winner — Eastern Canada, Honourable Mention.

2021

'Playdays' initiative. A cross collaborative initiative for multidisciplinary learning, professional development, and wellness.

Volunteering

2019 — 2022
Mentor at Humber Polytechnic, GAME Program Capstone
Toronto
2018 — 2018
Mentor at Global Game Jam Hackathon
Toronto
2015 — 2015
Mentor, Tutor at Techsdale (TXDL) Youth STEM Program
Etobicoke
2015 — 2015
Mentor at EdAppHack
Toronto
2013 — 2014
Volunteer at WordCamp Montréal
Montréal

Contact

LinkedIn
Behance
Medium
Instagram
BlueSky
Gumroad
University Tutor