School of Visual Arts (SVA) President David Rhodes has announced the appointment of Randy J. Hunt as chair of the College’s MFA Design program, effective today. Hunt, a 2007 alumnus of the program, succeeds its two founding chairs, Steven Heller and Lita Talarico (MFA 2007 Art Criticism and Writing), who retired this spring after nearly 30 years at the helm.

Hunt has long been a lecturer at SVA, as well as a thesis advisor to several MFA Design students. He brings a wealth of experience and an impressive track record in design leadership to this role. In addition to his MFA in Design from SVA, he holds a BFA in Design from the University of Central Florida, and completed an executive education program for creative leaders at Yale School of Management.

Hunt’s professional journey is marked by significant contributions to the design field. He is currently the head of design at Notion, where he leads the team designing tools for productivity and creativity. Previously, he served as chief product officer at Morning, where he led product, design, engineering and marketing efforts. His tenures as head of design at Grab, head of design at Artsy, and VP of Design at Etsy highlight his ability to scale design teams, integrate design into business strategy and expand its role in an enterprise.

Hunt is the recipient of the National Design Award for Corporate and Institutional Achievement from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, recognizing his work at Etsy, where he grew the design team from a small group to more than 110 members, significantly enhancing the company's global design presence. His work has earned him numerous other accolades and his thought leadership is well-regarded, with keynotes and presentations at prestigious events such as IXDC in Beijing, Leading Design in London, and at MoMA in New York. Randy has also served as an advisor and mentor in various capacities, including for the Singapore government's experimental development team, Open Government Products.

"The MFA Design program has made a substantial mark on the design practice, profession, and me personally,” says Hunt. “As we evolve MFA Design together with the design community, students, and alumni, we aim to commit to its roots while adapting to prepare future design leaders to shape the world in the way we hope and dream it can be."

The MFA Design and Designer as Entrepreneur program is designed to both link and bridge a broad set of visual, verbal and textual approaches in a course of study that inspires students to conceive, produce, brand and market their own innovative content. Through the holistic teaching of knowledge and experience combined with contemporary best practices, MFA Design students invariably develop the confidence that enables their talent to reach the highest potential.  Students are immersed in the entrepreneurial start-up world through courses in business, intellectual property law and fundraising. Many go on to found their own start-ups, design firms and studios. Some become partners in businesses and individual projects. Graduates have started over 50 design studios around the globe.

School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers and creative professionals for seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, a dynamic curriculum and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. Comprising 7,000 students at its Manhattan campus and 41,000 alumni in 75 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For information about the College’s 31 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, visit sva.edu.