Marty Maxwell Lane is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Associate Director at the University of Arkansas School of Art. She earned a BFA in Graphic Design with honors from the University of Illinois-Chicago (2003) and an MGD from North Carolina State University (2009). Previously, she served as Director of the School of Art (2021–2023), where she focused on collaborative and sustainable growth and the expansion of art facilities. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas (2014), she held tenure-track roles at The Kansas City Art Institute and Kent State University. Before graduate school, Marty worked professionally as a designer in Chicago, with work recognized by AIGA (The Professional Association for Design), The Type Director’s Club, and Print.

Marty’s research critically examines design leadership, design pedagogy, and collaborative practices to reveal more intentional ways of approaching how we work, learn, and build community. She authored Collaboration in Design Education (Bloomsbury, 2020) and was an Affiliate Fellow at the American Academy in Rome (2023) and a Robert C. and Sandra Connor Endowed Faculty Fellow (2015) at the University of Arkansas. Marty maintains an active research profile frequently giving national and international conference presentations, leading workshops, serving as an invited speaker and peer-reviewer, and serving as a design consultant for select clients.

Marty is an active leader in design and design education. She has served on regional AIGA boards (2006–2013), the national AIGA Design Educators Community Board (2015–2017), and as Chair Emeritus of the same board (2017–2019). Marty also served on the national AIGA professional board (2019–2020) and currently serves as a board advisor for the AIGA Northwest Arkansas Chapter. She co-designed the Graphic Design BFA and Graphic Design Master’s Degree in Communication Design at the University of Arkansas and serves as a global consultant on issues related to design pedagogy, through AIGA as well as the Commission for Academic Accreditation Ministry of Education, United Arab Emirates (2022).

Marty is certified in Mental Health First Aid (2024) and is a certified Workplace Mediator (2021). As a mother of two children, Marty aims to be a mentor and advocate for other caregivers navigating the world of tenure and academia. Marty is passionate about community building and improving access to opportunities in Arkansas and is proud to serve on the Board of Directors of Thrive in Helena, Arkansas (2019–current).

photo credit: Novo Studio