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James Housefield
Professor - History of Art & Design at University of California, Davis
Professional Background
James Housefield is a distinguished author, speaker, educator, and curator, renowned for his substantial contributions to the fields of modern and contemporary art and design. Housefield is particularly acclaimed for his research that delves into the history and present practices of designed experiences. As a historian specializing in modern art, Housefield has skillfully examined intersections between various domains, including art, design, and science.
His published work, "Playing with Earth and Sky: Astronomy, Geography, and the Art of Marcel Duchamp," was released by Dartmouth College Press in 2016. This insightful book explores the intricate connections between modern art, design principles, and scientific exploration, showcasing Housefield's capacity to weave together complex ideas that speak to multiple disciplines. He is currently extending his research endeavors into the realm of museum studies with his upcoming monograph, "Swimming at the Museum and Other Ways of Seeing: San Francisco’s First Museums and Exhibitions," where he intends to shed light on the emergence of exhibition culture in a vibrant urban landscape.
Simultaneously, Housefield is engaged in writing a comprehensive book on the history, theory, and practices of Experience Design, further emphasizing his commitment to discussing the relevance of design in everyday life. Moreover, his ongoing research on the modern artist Paul Gauguin culminates in the forthcoming publication, "Paul Gauguin's Art as Experience," through which he aims to enrich the discourse surrounding Gauguin's influential and often debated contributions to the art world.
James Housefield is not only a revered scholar but also a passionate advocate for critical thinking within the realms of art, design, and the humanities. His dedication to fostering the next generation of thinkers and creators is evident in his mentorship role for design, art, and art history students. Housefield is actively involved at UC Davis, where he seeks to guide exceptional candidates for the MA in Art History and MFA in Design programs.
Education and Achievements
Housefield's impressive academic background is rooted in an extensive educational journey spanning various esteemed institutions. He earned his Ph.D. in Art History from Boston University, which laid the groundwork for his scholarly investigations in visual culture, modern art, and design history. His M.A. in Art History was obtained from The University of Texas at Austin, where he honed his expertise and developed a critical approach to the analysis of visual media.
James's academic journey began with a B.A. in French Literature & Language and Psychology at Vanderbilt University. This unique combination of studies reflects his diverse interests and dedication to understanding the influences of language and human behavior on art and design. Furthermore, his studies at Vanderbilt-in-France, where he immersed himself in topics such as Art History, French Culture, Philosophy, and Economics, enriched his cultural insights and provided him with a broader perspective on global artistic practices.
James Housefield's teaching experience is equally impressive, as he currently holds the position of Professor of Design History and serves on the Graduate Faculty in Art History, French, Performance Studies, and Design at the University of California, Davis. Previously, he was honored as the NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities at Texas State University, where he made significant contributions to enhancing humanities education.
In an effort to bridge academia with practical curatorial experience, Housefield has served as the Adjunct Curator at the Austin Museum of Art, where he applied his expertise to enrich the museum's exhibitions and engage with the public through educational programming. His role as a Professor in the History of Art & Design at Texas State University positioned him as a leader in art education and design discourse.
Achievements
James Housefield’s achievements are remarkable and reflect his dedication to academia and the art world. Not only is he recognized for his authoritative publications, such as "Playing with Earth and Sky," but his ongoing research and forthcoming publications continue to make significant impacts across fields. As he delves into the history of exhibition culture and experience design, Housefield is poised to contribute insightful knowledge that enhances our understanding of art in the contemporary world.
His involvement in multiple disciplines—including modern art, contemporary design, and art history—demonstrates his interdisciplinary approach and ability to engage with various academic fields. The influence of his work stretches beyond the walls of academia as he inspires students to think critically about art and design in their everyday lives.
As a mentor and educator, Housefield is dedicated to promoting innovative thinking within the humanities, ensuring that future scholars and artists are well-equipped to navigate and contribute meaningfully to these dynamic fields. His commitment to teaching and learning is reflected in his effort to advocate for compelling candidates in the Master’s programs offered at UC Davis—demonstrating his belief in the transformative power of higher education in the arts.
Through his diverse professional background and ongoing engagement with art history, design experiences, and educational initiatives, James Housefield exemplifies the qualities of a dedicated scholar and mentor. His passion for art and design permeates his research, writing, and teaching, making him a highly respected figure within the academic community and a valuable asset to the cultural discourse at large.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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