Erik A. Evensen is a designer, illustrator, and educator. His varied creative work has been called “innovative and groundbreaking” by Graphic Novel Reporter, “a thrill” by Ain’t It Cool News, “literate and entertaining” by Geeks of Doom, and “smart and snarky” by BookList. His 2007 graphic novel, Gods of Asgard, has been featured at the Field Museum of Natural History, the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, and the Wexner Center for the Arts, and adopted as a textbook at James Madison University, Marshall University, and Gustavus Adolphus College. His projects have been featured online at AV Club, Nerdist.com, Twitch, and Geek & Sundry, and in print in Graphic Design USA and the Washington Post. 

Erik is presently an Associate Professor in the Department of Design at the University of Wisconsin–Stout. As the department's only dedicated design generalist, he teaches courses in design drawing, illustration, concept visualization, and design research and methodology that support all academic areas within the School of Art and Design. His creative work, research, and academic writing stand at the intersection of several visual communication methods, and he has presented at and reviewed for academic conferences such as the Design and Emotion Society, the International Association of Societies for Design Research (IASDR), and the AIGA Design Educators Community.

Erik holds a BA in Studio Art from the University of New Hampshire, a post-baccalaureate certificate from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, and an MFA in Visual Communication Design from Ohio State University. Prior to entering the “family business” of education, he spent several years as a graphic designer in advertising and design agency environments. A New Hampshire native, he now lives near Minneapolis with his wife, conductor/composer Erika Svanoe. 

Evensen is pronounced with a short E, as in the song Portrett I Januar (Fru Evensen) by Erik Bye, or like Johan Remen Evensen, the Olympic gold medalist ski jumper (no relation).

FULL CV/RESUME

SELECT INTERVIEWS

Spectrum West
Wisconsin Public Radio, 2018

Central Time
Wisconsin Public Radio, 2018

5Q with Erik Evensen
Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, & Letters, 2014

Interview with Erik Evensen: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4
Norse Mythology Blog, 2011

A Super-powered and Educational Interview with J. Bucky Carter & Erik Evensen
Graphic Novel Reporter, 2010

Visiting Valhalla
Washington Post, 2007