Angela Alcerro
Angela Alcerro is a Los Angeles-based consultant and educator with an expertise in toy design. As a staff illustrator and manager of the Digital Effects department at Mattel, Ms. Alcerro worked on iconic brands such as Barbie, Disney Princess, Hot Wheels, and He-man. At Lakeshore, she partnered with seasoned educators to design immersive learning experiences aligned with regional standards. Five years ago she founded a consulting business specializing in toys and international education for ages 5 to adult for Mattel, Hand2Mind, Moose Toys, SpinMaster Toys, Charisma Brands, LA Galaxy and clients throughout the US, Asia, the Middle East, and Canada.
Since 2010, Ms. Alcerro has taught in Otis College’s Toy Design and Liberal Studies departments where she was a faculty grant recipient (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022). Ms. Alcerro holds a B.A. in Spanish from UCLA; M.A. in Media Arts and Design from Antioch University, McGregor; M.A. in Teaching, TESOL, University of Southern California; and studied Graphic Design at Art Center . She is in her first year as a doctoral student at USC.
Portfolio: https://www.angelaalcerro.com
Enoch Davis
Enoch Davis received his M.F.A. in 3D Animation from Academy of Art University and a B.A. in Studio Art from Vassar College. Mr. Davis launched his career in animation by assembling a team of artists and completing a 3D animated short which toured the country and won an award at every film festival where it was screened. After 12 years as a designer, animator, and instructor at U.C. Berkeley Extension, Mr. Davis moved to LA to work with Digital Domain in 2013. While at DD, he worked on the VFX for tentpole productions from Marvel, Disney, and Fox. He has since worked on the staff of many of LA’s top visual effects studios on numerous blockbuster films, hit tv shows, and commercials while continuing to freelance in 2D and 3D design and animation. He is also the recipient of several national and regional awards for design and animation.
Ernest Gomez-Frausto
Ernest J Gomez-Frausto, EJGF, is a fan and connoisseur of the geeky and nerdy and proud of it. Well-versed in the world of comics, animation, cinema, and video games, he loves and knows these worlds well. Throughout the years, he has worked in a variety of mediums, styles, and subject matters, with a love of character and creatures.
He got his bachelor’s in fine arts at Savannah College of Art and Design where he majored in Sequential Art, focusing on storytelling through images. Aside from freelance illustration work, he has worked in education working with students from ages 5 and up teaching topics of literacy, art, and storytelling.
EJGF loves to share his love and knowledge of illustration with anyone, but always finds it best shared with young and hungry minds seeking to learn and express themselves through illustration.
Portfolio: https://www.ejgf84.com/
Instagram: @art_of_ejgf
Emily Leon
Emily León is a multidisciplinary designer based in Los Angeles. She received her B.F.A. in Product Design from Otis College of Art and Design, and completed postgraduate studies in Footwear Design at CENTRO, Mexico City. She has experience designing products for surf/skate lifestyle, moto and outdoors, ranging from footwear to accessories and apparel, putting forth sustainability efforts and processes. As a first-generation Mexican-American, Emily’s personal work consists of textiles, handmade biomaterials, and bioplastics often exploring the theme of duality, celebrating but also breaking traditions. Ms. León pulls inspiration from her upbringing in the central coast of California, and Mexico City, Mexico.
Tony Martinelli
Tony is a Big Kid. He has been working with children since he was a summer camp counselor at age 18 and continued every summer throughout his college years. Because of his natural rapport with children, he returned to school to get a master’s degree in Art Education. Upon moving to Los Angeles, Tony returned to the educational field at Kidspace Children's Museum where he quickly rose the ranks to become one of their essential Lead Educators. Tony has also taught after-school programs for ReDiscover, Critter Squad, Little Yellow House Art and Mad Science of LA. Tony has also been an Outreach Instructor at Discovery Cube Science Center and a Youth Education Instructor at the LA Arboretum. Tony is currently the resident Teaching Artist at the Enchanted Castle Montessori Schools in Pasadena and San Remo. Tony has two graphic novels in the Space Platypus series available on Amazon for Kindle.
Portfolio: https://theartoftony.com
Instagram: @theartoftonym
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtOfTony
Louisa McHugh
Louisa McHugh studied fine art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and graduated from Columbia College with a degree in Cinematography in 2005. After a short stint in the film industry, Louisa decided to return to her roots as a painter. She first began exhibiting her work with Galleria Mijiares in downtown Los Angeles and soon was gaining recognition with International Awards from various watercolor societies. Louisa is a Signature Member of the National Watercolor Society and her works have been displayed in collections both public and private around the world.
Portfolio: louisamchugh.com
Patrick Miller
Patrick Miller’s work has been exhibited at Estation Tijuana (Tijuana, Mexico), Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, Ghetto Gloss (L.A.), and Class: C (various locations). Mr. Miller is also an accomplished Performance Artist whose work has been presented at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Wignall Museum (Rancho Cucamonga), Orange County Museum of Art (Costa Mesa), Venice Graffiti Walls (Venice, CA), Lady Fest (L.A. and San Diego), Russell Space (La Jolla), The Smell (L.A.), and KSDT Radio (Online). Mr. Miller received his B.F.A. in Photography from Otis College of Art and Design.
Portfolio: https://simplecameras.wordpress.com
Raul Moreno
Raul is a visual effects/film industry veteran and a graduate of the Southern California Institute of Architecture. He has a strong interest in Architecture, design, emerging technologies, and fabrication. At SCI-Arc he spent much time in the metal and wood shop as well as the computer lab. After graduation, he worked as a draftsman for structural engineers and Morphosis Architects before leaving architecture for the VFX / film industry.
Early in his career, he was fortunate to have been a previs artist working in the production offices on films such as The Matrix Reloaded 2003, the first Ironman film 2008 (and other Marvel films that followed), on set supervision on Fast and Furious 7 in Abu Dhabi, as well as roles on other feature films throughout his journey.
A designer first, he continues to push himself to this day making a consistent effort to proactively improve his skills and abilities and always exploring new concepts and ideas relating to design and computer graphics. His mission is the democratization of high-end CG tools for young and emerging artists, especially from underrepresented communities and to help the next generation of CG artists and designers achieve their goals and make their mark in the world.
Raul teaches design courses specializing Unreal Engine and Side FX Houdini in the Animation and Game Design majors.
Monica Leigh Rodriquez
Monica Leigh Rodriquez is a resilient veteran and trusted visionary of the fashion industry. She has designed and produced for high profile personalities, celebrities, and executives. Monica has also worked with some of the most well- known labels in the fashion industry including Rivet Utility, Rachel Zoe, Herve Leger, BCBG Runway, BCBG Atelier, The Max Azria collection, ALC, Halston, and FJ Benjamin LTD in Singapore.
Utilizing her core design talents and competencies developed over almost three decades, Monica is a consummate entrepreneur uniquely developing proprietary fashion designs, draping, pattern artistry, and costing methodology. Monica’s brand, Monica Leigh SVX is becoming a well-known luxury brand in Los Angeles.
Monica has appeared in Forbes, Elle Magazine, Voyage LA, Shout Out LA, The Hollywood Times, The Style Researcher, and 24 Fashion TV. In addition, she has been a featured designer at the 46th Day Time Emmy Awards Golden Gift Lounge. One of Monica’s most notable achievements is having her Red Silk Satin Origami Gown travel with International Arts and Artists four consecutive years featured in prominent museums around the country, including the Japanese American Museum of Art in Los Angeles.
Joining Otis College of Art and Design Fashion Department faculty in the Fall of 2022, Monica also continues her own secondary education at California State University Long Beach working on her BA in Sociology.
Portfolio: https://monicaleigh.com/
Instagram: @monicaleighsvx
Emma Sher
Emma Sher is an Los Angeles-based ceramic artist with a B.A. from UCLA in World Arts & Cultures, with focuses in ceramics and curatorial studies. Emma has taught at various community ceramics studios in LA for the past three years. She is a recent resident artist of High Desert Test Sites in Joshua Tree, CA. Emma’s current objective in her practice comes from a curiosity about the meditative process of creating and how that can be translated into a viewer’s experience of an object. Creating kinetic work that emits light has been a framework to materialize these ideas.
Portfolio: https://emmasher.com
Instagram: @emmma.sher
Teri Suzanne
Teri Suzanne is a dual language art education specialist with an M.A. in Multi-Cultural Education, University of San Francisco; B.A. in Fine Arts, UCLA and Bilingual Specialist Instruction Credential, USF. After a 35 year residency in Tokyo, Japan as a multi-media edutainment producer, author, illustrator, and cut-paper artist, Teri now works and resides in LA. Her cut paper art/fIne motor/literacy system was showcased on year-long children’s television programs, on stage, and in workshops for children, parents, and educators throughout Asia and in California. Her “Alphabet City Cuts,” including a fine motor/literacy scissors program and alphabet songs, are copyrighted by the Library of Congress. Of Teri's 10 publications, her 3 book series, "Teri’s Magic Scissors," was awarded placement in nationwide libraries throughout Japan. For Ventura County's Children's Celebration of Art program, Teri taught Kirigami in over 150 schools. At Otis College, Teri teaches Kirigami and art and design topics to adults, parents and children, and leads Professional Development programs for educators. She is in her second year of spearheading a special art program sponsored by Otis for TK-5th grade elementary school students.
Portfolio: www.tericuts.com
Instagram: @tericuts