Casey McGarr

Professor of Visual Communication

Casey is a Professor at Texas A&M University-Commerce, teaching in the Visual Communication Program in Dallas. He teaches undergraduate Typography, Design 1 and Letterpress printing. He also teaches in the MFA Graduate Program, which includes Pedagogy and Design Education, Design Teaching Environment and Thesis Exhibition.

Casey also served as a study abroad faculty co-director with faculty director Professor Virgil Scott, which led ten students to TUT in China for a May-mini study abroad trip that was hugely successful and life-changing for the students. In May of 2016, Casey was invited to lecture on “Brainstorming and Ideation” at The Tianjin University of Technology in Tianjin, China.

He received his MFA in visual communication at Texas A&M University-Commerce and previously taught graphic design at Arkansas State University, where he helped author and developed the current design curriculum. McGarr was the Dallas Society of Visual Communications president in 2000-2001, the largest local graphic design club.

Casey has worked as a professional designer for 30 years, acting as a creative director, art director, and owner. He owns and operates a letterpress design and print shop, “Inky Lips Letterpress,” producing custom invitations and poster work for a variety of local, national, and international clients and teaching educational workshops. His work has been recognized in national and international publications and gallery exhibitions — Casey designs and prints on two Vandercook proof presses. The shop has hundreds of metal fonts and 50 wood fonts that reside in ten type cabinets. He continues to hold workshops for local and regional attendees. Casey has also begun making letterpress wood fonts with a CNC router, elevating the letterpress craft to a national venue.

Educational Background

• M.F.A., Visual Communications, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2010
• B.F.A., Graphic Design, Texas Tech University, 1989

Academic Positions

• Professor, Visual Communication, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2022-Present
• Associate Professor, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2012-2022
• Assistant Professor, Arkansas State University, 2010-2012