MFA, Visual Studies/Fine Art University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY: 2011
BA, Art: Commercial Design and Photography/Electronic Media Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA: 2005
Senior Designer, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Madison, WI: 2024-future
Tenured Associate Professor of Graphic Design, Edgewood College, Madison, WI: August 2012-2023
Lecturer Casual (Adjunct), University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY: 2011
Instructor, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY: 2009-2011
Production Manager/Graphic Artist, Impact Advertising, Williamsport, PA: 2006-2009
Graphic Designer, Brodart Library Supplies & Furnishings, McElhattan, PA: 2005-2006
Freelance Graphic and Web Designer: 2011-present
Adobe Creative Cloud InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, XD, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Media Encoder, and a bit of Animate and Audition
Web Design HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, WordPress/CMS, hosting, information architecture, wireframing, and project management
User Experience Design Principles and process of UX/user-centered and iterative design, including stakeholder coordination, user testing, and reporting
Print Production Pre-press standards including marks, substrates, spot colors, spot gloss, and mechanical best practices, with experience designing for traditional and digital billboards, newspaper, magazine, vinyl, large format, screen/pad printing, and traditional and digital press output
Photography DSLR photography/videography
Large Format and Archival Art Digital Production Epson + HP large format professional imaging software and hardware
Platform Mac OS troubleshooting, file structure, and connectivity
Leadership
Project Management
Team Member
Organization
Artist residencies require applications, which are evaluated on varying criteria and chosen for artistic merit, offering a place to focus on new work, exhibition opportunity, subsidized lodging fees, and occasionally a stipend.
Kunstnerhuset Lofoten Svolvær, Norway: October-December 2019
Hafnarborg Centre of Culture and Fine Art Hafnarfjörður, Iceland: July 2017
Listhús Ólafsfjördur, Iceland: June 2017
Gullkistan Center for Creativity Laugarvatn, Iceland: June-July 2015
Westbury Studios Milton Keynes, England, UK: December 2011-February 2012
Digital Arts Studios Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK: October-November 2011
Public Art Academy Williamsport, PA: July 2011
A Taste of Synaesthesia OXO Tower Bargehouse, London, UK: October 27, 2023. Juried digital art exhibition, sponsored by Brunel University.
VII International Congress of Synesthesia, Science & Art: The Physical/Digital Challenge Artecittà International Foundation, Granada and Alcalá la Real, Spain: October 26-29, 2022. Co-Presenter with Svetlana Rudenko, "Call & Response: Digital Art and Music Collaboration Through Synaesthesia." Presenter, "My Thoughts Appeared in the Sky: A Synesthete Meets the Aurora." Inclusion of two other works in the exhibit "The Physical Challenge in Digital," and video from Call & Response (Silent Lights) in the visual music exhibit of MuVi6, both by jury.
Sensing Colour International Association of Colour (AIC) 2022 Meeting, Toronto, Canada: June 13-17, 2022. Presenter, "My Thoughts Appeared in the Sky: A Synesthete Meets the Aurora."
Synesthesia and the Student Virtual global symposium hosted by the IASAS: May 27-28, 2022. Presenter, "My Thoughts Appeared in the Sky: A Synesthete Meets the Aurora." Inclusion of multiple works in multimedia art exhibit, by jury.
Convergence The University of Antwerp (Belgium) & The Royal Conservatoire Antwerp: May 20-21, 2022. Inclusion of two works in multimedia art exhibit, by jury.
Synesthesia in Africa: Discovery, Awareness, Research, and Outreach Remote inaugural symposium of the Synesthesia Society of Africa: June 26, 2021. Artist exhibitor booth, by invitation (1 of 15).
Abstraction, an Exhibition Juried by Ron Fondaw The In Art Gallery, January 21-February 28, 2021
Traveling the World, an Exhibition Juried by Abbey Hepner The In Art Gallery, December 1-31, 2020
Synaesthesia: Cross-Sensory Aspects of Cognition Across Science and Art Organized by the IASAS with international collaborating associations. Moscow State University of Psychology and Education and Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moscow, Russia: October 17-20, 2019. Presenter, "Creative License and Synesthesia: The Roles of Expressive and Exacting Art Work."
12th Annual Conference of the American Synesthesia Association Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts: October 6-8, 2017. Presenter, "Seeing the Sounds of Iceland: A Synaesthetic Exploration of My Temporary Home."
Ill at Ease: Dis-Ease in Art Curated by Conor Moynihan, University at Buffalo Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY: April 12-May 13, 2017
Synaesthesia and Cross-Modal Perception Conference Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland: April 21-23, 2016. Presenter, "Comparing with Kandinsky."
11th Annual Conference of the American Synesthesia Association University of Miami, Miami, Florida: October 2-4, 2015. Presenter, "Comparing with Kandinsky."
13th Biennial Colloquium of Dominican College and Universities Molloy College, Rockville, NY: June 12-15, 2014. DIS/CLOSURE: Visualizing Chronic Pain and its Side Effects - Compassion and Art, Art/Poster Presentation.
8th UK Synaesthesia Association Conference Goldsmiths University, London, England: April 12-13, 2014. Presenter, "Belfast in My Colours and The Guidebook of New Punctuation: Synesthesia in Graphic Design."
DIS/CLOSURE: Visualizing Chronic Pain and its Side Effects In collaboration with Ellen Rogers, Edgewood College Gallery, Madison, WI: November 21, 2013 - January 24, 2014
10th Annual Conference of the American Synesthesia Association Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: May 31-June 2, 2013. Presenter.
Synaesthesia Series Art Laboratory, Berlin, Germany: January-March 2013
Lycoming College 2011 Juried Art Exhibition Snowden Library Gallery, Williamsport, PA: October 2011
Harvest Gallery Williamsport Frame Shop, Williamsport, PA: August 2011
2011 Public Art Academy Artists in Residence Exhibition Pajama Factory, Williamsport, PA: July 2011
Towards a Science of Consciousness Conference Aula Magna Hall, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden: May 2011. "Northern Lights: Expanding the Lexicon of Synesthesia" Workshop Presenter, Multimedia Synesthetic Art, Concurrent Presenter, and Art Exhibition Participant
Synexperience, MFA Thesis Solo Show CEPA, Buffalo, NY: April 2011
Burchfield Penney Art Center Panel Member, Workshop, and Mini-Exhibition, Buffalo, NY: April 2011
6th UK Synaesthesia Association Conference University of East London, London, England: March 25-27, 2011. Presenter, "Multimedia Synesthetic Art."
Tasting the Universe author Maureen Seaberg, photo selected, release date and one-night show in New York City: March 17, 2011
ATTN: ARTGOERS, mART Collaborative ArtSpace, Buffalo, NY: November 2010
8th Annual Conference of the American Synesthesia Association Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN: October 1-3, 2010. Presenter, "Multimedia Synesthetic Art."
Zoetrope: First Year MFA Exhibition University at Buffalo Gallery, Buffalo, NY: April-May 2010
"The Guidebook of New Punctuation." Author and designer. 20 pages. 2012
“Belfast in My Colours: A Synaesthetic Exploration of My Temporary Home.” Author and designer. ISBN 978-1-4709-7530-2. 42 pages. 2011
"That Which Cannot Be Said with Words: Artist Carrie C. Firman adds to her stunning collection depicting synesthesia," by Maureen Seaberg. Nonfiction, feature article, PsychologyToday Synesthesia blog. 7 Sept 2018
"The Amazing Technicolor Synesthesia Coat: Carrie C. Firman at the forefront of synesthetic arts renaissance," by Maureen Seaberg. Nonfiction, feature article, PsychologyToday Synesthesia blog. 23 Jan 2012
“Tasting the Universe,” by Maureen Seaberg. Nonfiction. Photograph. 2011
“Synesthesia: Union of the Senses,” Sybil Drew, director. Video interview. 2011
“The Color of Normal,” by Allison MacLachlan. Nonfiction, feature article, Scope (MIT). 2011
Elected Chair of the Art Department, Edgewood College: 2020-2023
Elected Chair of the Faculty Affairs/Grievance Committee, Edgewood College: 2021-2022
Sabbatical: Synesthesia and the Northern Lights: 2019
Promotion to Tenured Associate Professor, Edgewood College: 2018
Promotion to Associate Professor, Edgewood College: 2016
Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award: 2011
Mark Diamond Research Fund Grant Recipient, University at Buffalo: 2011
Dean’s Fellowship, University at Buffalo: 2009-2011
Teaching Assistantship, University at Buffalo: 2009-2011
Summa Cum Laude Graduate, Lycoming College: 2005
Art Department Honors, Lycoming College: 2005
Commercial Design Award, Lycoming College: 2005
Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society Inductee: 2004
Art, Music, and Valedictorian Scholarships, Lycoming College: 2001-2005
Whenever possible, I donate my time and talent to organizations I support with design needs.
My main volunteer projects have been for SunnyBrook Meadows Therapeutic Riding (since 2004) and the Verona Area Concert Band (2015-23).
