I am flattered by the testominals offered to me from former students colleagues. I consider the roles the alumni that I have taught as evidence that education, encouragement, and hard work can result in meaningful employment. A particular satisfaction has come from seeing former students gain professional work experience and then become teachers themselves. Thank you to all of you for your kinds words!
-MF

*note, unless stated otherwise, roles listed are as of 2024.

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ANDREA LEE HARRIS
Exhibitions Coordinator and Curator
Ralph Steadman Art Collection

I first met Matt Frantz when he was a graduate student at California State University Fullerton. During my tenure as director of CSUF Grand Central Art Center, I had the privilege of working alongside many graduate students from the College of the Arts. At GCAC, Matt lived in our graduate student housing and was a standout student.

He was an extremely brilliant artist, photographer, and musician. I was grateful to have him at the Art Center because Matt was active, accessible, full of ideas, and a team player. He took on projects with me as a volunteer to engage with his fellow students and the community. A particular time I recall working with Matt was during an artist event planned during one specific program with the artist in residence, William T. Wiley. We brought together graduate students, staff, the community, and artists in memory of 9/11. Matt volunteered to be one of the performers and help with setting up the tech in the theatre.

During our planning process, one of the musicians was not going to be able to perform, and he gave the other performers and I this unfortunate news. Matt took it upon himself to bring the musician into his homemade recording studio, which he created in his apartment closet, and record an exceptional flute performance to play at the event. It was epic, and his efforts to be inclusive and to help others impressed us all and was a very Matt thing to do. This one-night-only performance was presented in the Black Box theatre with all the other musicians; William T. Wiley and Mary Hull Webster created a film to accompany. The evening unfolded and was intimate, profound, and illuminating. The audience enjoyed the night and left affected and chatted about how amazing the experience was. Matt shared his performance with us all and his skill. I can tell you Matt is an incredibly brilliant and multifaceted creative force who shows up and does what it takes to exceed expectations. He is full of insights to improve a performance and any creative endeavors, working to realize his own work while being an influential professor and mentor. Matt always inspires me with his efforts.

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ANNA MILTENBERGER
Dean of Admissions/Chief Enrollment Officer at Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University

I had the privilege of being one of Matt Frantz’s students during my time at Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD). As a teacher, Matt was always extremely approachable, eager to answer questions, and consistently went above and beyond to support his students. His ability to connect with students, provide thoughtful feedback, and share relevant examples made his classes engaging and inspiring.

Now, as the Dean of Admissions at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, I have had the pleasure of seeing Matt continue this dedication to art education as he reviews student portfolios at National Portfolio Days. His passion for art and his commitment to fostering the next generation of artists is evident in every interaction. Matt remains a true advocate for his students, and his enthusiasm for teaching continues to shine.

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ANTON BROKVIST
Content Designer at WorkShop The Consumer Experience Agency
Stockholm, Sweden

Matt’s guidance and support during my time as his student were invaluable. His teaching approach was both inspiring and transformative, pushing us beyond the basics and encouraging us to think critically and creatively.

Matt constantly challenged us to push our boundaries and explore new mediums, driven by his own passion for artistic expression in various forms. His lessons provided me with a strong foundation and a unique perspective in the industry.

His mentorship and friendship have meant a great deal to me.

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BETTY SHELTON
Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts
Laguna College of Art + Design

It has been a pleasure to work with Matt Frantz at Laguna College of Art and Design since 2004.  Matt has been a wonderful colleague and fellow artist! With his background in fine arts and graphic arts he is an extremely versatile and creative artist and professor. Even though we were in different departments, we shared LCAD students in common who always spoke highly of Matt. I’ve also been very impressed by Mr. Frantz total involvement in faculty governance. Matt volunteered to work tirelessly on faculty projects through out the years of his tenure at LCAD. Matt Frantz has enormous drive, intelligence and creative insight. Matt Frantz has my highest professional and personal recommendation.

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DAN MARRINER
Men’s Principal Designer at prAna Living and Adjunct Faculty at LCAD

Matt is a rare and wonderful creative who always brings fresh perspective to every situation. I’ve worked with Matt for more than a decade and seen his dedication to innovation across so many creative mediums it’s astonishing and inspiring. His passion for teaching and sharing with students and colleagues is central to how he brings everyone together to keep the entire community moving forward. He always makes himself available whenever anyone needs help with anything. He is on the cutting edge while being humble and compassionate towards everyone around him. If you ever get the chance to work with him I highly recommend it.

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DANAE CENDEJAS
Sr. Manager – Product Design, Licensed Adult Apparel at Disney

Matt Frantz is an exceptional professor, mentor, and ally. Matt has been instrumental in my career journey, from the time I had him as my teacher from 2006-2009 at the Laguna College of Art and Design, until more recently, where he helped me secure a position as an adjunct Professor at the same school. As my Graphic Design professor, his exceptional guidance and unwavering support were pivotal in shaping my professional path. Through Matt, I first came to learn the Adobe programs that have become pivotal in my day-to-day work. Throughout my time at LCAD, Matt continued to help me refine both my eye and love of Design. His deep expertise, combined with his genuine passion for teaching, not only honed my skills but also opened doors to new opportunities. Matt Frantz’s dedication to his students and his remarkable ability to inspire makes him an outstanding candidate for any role that values excellence in education, mentorship, and design.

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DAVID CORONA
Apparel Graphic Designer at Wilson Sporting Goods

Matt Frantz has taught me to never, ever be afraid of the unorthodox. Stick to your strengths while pushing them so far that it’s uncomfortable—weird even. Eventually that limit will feel normal and become unique to you.

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GLORIA RIVERA MENDIETA
Artist and former college admissions counselor/transfer specialist

Matt Frantz is an asset to any organization he is a part of. His enthusiasm for collaboration with colleagues and his understanding of the moving parts when working interdepartmentally has improved our student experience. Matt has a genuine connection with students and always goes above and beyond to ensure the educational plan he assists them with fulfills their needs. He has a wealth of experience – a combination of professional and commercial knowledge, on which to draw on and has been a strong communicator and advocate for his students. Any team would benefit from having his tenacity, technical skills, and decades of experience on their side.

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GRANT HIER
Author, voice actor, multimedia artist, and educator

“Bridging the curriculum” is a phrase often tossed about in higher ed, but far less often practiced. In my 30+ years as a college professor and administrator (including Chair of Liberal Arts and Art History and Faculty Senate President), there are only a handful of instructors I know of who have successfully taught in multiple departments while at the same time creating new and relevant courses in each — much less courses that were extremely popular with students, always filling to their enrollment caps (and with wait lists beyond that). Matt Frantz is one of those, making him invaluable when charting academic planning and course staffing. Plus, his natural curiosity about the world and multiple skill sets has fueled his active pursuit of staying informed on the latest technology, trends, and teaching tools available. 

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HYEMIN LEE
Visual design at Tesla

I met Matt during my first year at Laguna College of Art when I enrolled in his Photo Imaging and Photography class. Looking back, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn from him. His class was definitely one of my favorites in college. I learned so much, not just from his photo class but also from his Illustrator class. My skills were still in their early stages, and he played a crucial role in helping me develop them to new heights. Matt always took the time to listen to his students, making him incredibly approachable and easy to talk to. I especially appreciated our one-on-one meetings where we could dive into the details of my projects. His passion for teaching was evident, and it was inspiring to watch how deeply he cared about each student and the value of our work. Thanks, Matt!

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JADE NICOLETTI
Graphic designer

Matt was my professor at LCAD for a myriad of classes including Intro to Illustrator, Applied Design and Science of Sight. Those classes helped me grow immeasurably in my field from the basics, to higher technical skills of a large range. Under him, I worked on projects that focused on how to further my graphics and illustration abilities, become more technical and refined with my work, and push the creative potential that originally led me to studying at Laguna College of Art and Design .

From working in his class, I came to see Matt as ingenuitive, highly creative, and that he knew how to structure a class to make sure students completed their projects thoroughly, efficiently, and with depth. Understanding that he has a background in other artistic areas as well as computer graphics, I would recommend Matt Frantz as an instructor within any institution, due to his knowledge of design and artistic principles as well as educational knowledge within higher institution work.

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JORDAN MINARDI
VANS Global Creative Director for MTE (Surf & Snow Category)

Matt Frantz’s insightful critiques, encouragement, and real-world knowledge were pivotal in shaping my skills and confidence during my time at LCAD. His guidance allowed me to experiment and develop my own style across various mediums within design, which has been crucial to my growth and career in the creative field.

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JULIA MENI
Senior Designer at OKTO
Stockholm, Sweden

I’m incredibly grateful for the impact Matt has had on my journey as a designer. His approach to teaching was not only informative but also deeply inspiring. Matt’s classes taught me to see design as more than just a visual art; he showed us how to communicate ideas and solve problems through our work, combining learning with fun. His feedback was always constructive, pushing me to refine my skills and think more critically about my design choices.

The collaborative and friendly environment he fostered made every project a valuable learning experience, and his passion for design, art, and music was truly contagious. I often find myself referring back to the principles Matt taught me. His mentorship gave me confidence to be authentic in the industry.

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JULIAN LOZANO
Sr. Visual Designer at Huge, Inc. and Adjust Faculty at LCAD

As one of Professor Matt Franz’s students, I’ve had an incredible experience working with him. He gives us so much freedom with our design projects, always encouraging us to be creative and think outside the box. His support has been key in helping me grow as a designer and value creativity in my work. Matt’s approach has really made a difference for me, and I’m grateful for the way he helps us push our limits and explore new ideas. Now that I’m a professor myself, I’m excited to incorporate some of his methods into my own classes.

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LINNEA MOTTS
Senior UI/UX Designer, Disney Games, The Walt Disney Company

As a student of Matt, I learned photography, videography, as well as advanced skills for image making. A notable skill set I learned was to think innovatively about using physical drawing and painting mediums in conjunction with digital tools to craft a unique take on graphic design solutions. Matt is always generous with his time and knowledge going above and beyond to help foster students creativity and mentor fellow educators and faculty. The skills and mentorship from Matt Frantz has been instrumental in helping me progress as a creative professional at The Walt Disney Company. I highly recommend Matt as a creative problem solver and collegial partner for any institution!

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LISA DALLENDORFER
Trustee, Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD)
Creative Director, Walt Disney Company
Secondary and Community College Art Educator

As a board member at LCAD and a student of Matt Frantz, I had the privilege of experiencing firsthand his exceptional teaching skills. With a background as a former art educator and executive at the Walt Disney Company, I was thoroughly impressed by his ability to make design concepts engaging and accessible for learners at all levels.His commitment to student success was evident in the way he tailored his instruction and consistently provided thoughtful feedback. Matt created a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that not only deepened my knowledge of various design software programs, but also inspired me to apply new creative approaches in my own art work. He is a true asset to any educational organization.

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MICHAEL PEARLMAN
Interim CFO, Vanguard University of Southern California

I had the unique experience of being both a colleague and a student of Matt. He excelled in both roles. In fact, I enjoyed Matt’s classes so much that I took multiple courses with him over the years. My favorite memory, and one that I often refer to, is from a design class I took with Matt. He asked the class, “What is a designer’s greatest tool?” Several students mentioned various software, but that wasn’t the answer Matt was looking for. Finally, one student, who is now a head designer for a well-established American clothing brand, said, “Ideas.” That was it—that was the answer Matt wanted us to discover. It was far more impactful that he allowed a student to arrive at the answer rather than just giving it to us. I think about that lesson often, even in my current role.

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MIRANDA JACOBUCCI
Visual Designer, former adjunct faculty

I’ve known Matt for 14 years, first as my advisor when I started studying design and later as my mentor as I pursued teaching.

He is an outstanding professor of design, photography, and videography. Matt encourages students to experiment and discover their passions. He leads with patience and kindness in class, offering constructive feedback while empowering students to explore and find their own solutions. This approach results in excellent portfolio pieces, even from his fundamental classes. His dedication to his students, faculty, and alumni is unmatched.

I felt confident teaching my first class because of the guidance and support Matt provided. Just as in his teaching style, Matt’s mentorship is characterized by patience and kindness. He spent hours discussing his teaching philosophy and answered all questions I had, empowering me to teach in a way that worked best for me. Matt answers all questions big and small with the same level of thoughtfulness and respect. He is deeply invested in his students throughout their careers, and you can count on him to help you discover your path. Matt will bring respect, knowledge, and dedication to any community he is part of.

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NICOLE GRUFF
Graphic designer

I had Matt as a teacher for a few classes throughout my time at LCAD. It was clear he was passionate about design and the future designers. Matt put a lot of thought and care into the projects that we did and each one was unique in its own way and taught us something new. Most of the projects were engaging and would have some sort of execution that would get us out of the digital stage and into the hands on crafting stage. Matt made an effort to get things done for the students, like getting useful programs on the computers and iPads, new project variations, and field trips that would get the students involved. One of my favorite projects from Matt’s class was the 2.5D pewter project. We made designs that would go on a wood slab, carved it out on the CNC machine, made silicone molds of the wood, and then melted down a pewter bar and poured it into the mold. Once it cooled we peeled the metal pieces out of the molds. It was such a fun and unique project and I am grateful for Matt for setting up this project for us and being there for the students. In summary I learned a lot from Matt and I would recommend him for a teacher and or design position.

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PETER ZOKOSKY
MFA Drawing and Painting Chair, Laguna College of Art + Design

I’ve known Matt Frantz for about 10 years, and he is a valued colleague. Matt has a seemingly limitless reservoir of enthusiastic engagement, he is always excited about some new endeavor, equipment, technique or challenge. We have been on several committees together, some of which he served as chairperson.  Matt is compelled to speak the truth, and voice his concerns when something does not seem right. He consistently places the needs of his students as the highest priority.  Matt is an innovative teacher who is greatly appreciated by his students.  He gladly welcomed graduate students into his class and took on the extra work required for them. 

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RUDY OUZOUNIAN
Freelance Illustrator

While a student at Laguna College of Art + Design, I was fortunate to have Matt Frantz as my instructor on several occasion. In fact, I would schedule some of my classes just so I could have Matt as the instructor.

Matt is a wonderful teacher and mentor. He has always been extremely helpful, easy-going, fun, creative, and professional. Matt truly cares about the topics he teaches and strives to instill that passion in his students. He takes the time to make sure the topics are understood and is always available to help and guide anyone in need.

Over the years, I have learned a great deal from Matt and I am sure he would be a valuable asset to any institution which is fortunate enough to have him as faculty member.

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TIFF KATH
Comics and storyboard artist/illustrator

Matt Frantz is a professor that cares so deeply for his students; he always went above and beyond, teaching us the nuances of programs or techniques, ensuring we could graduate with professional abilities in our tool-belt. Beyond being an incredible educator, Matt always drew out and encouraged our creative differences so that we could find ourselves as artists. I can confidently say that if you want an attentive, good-hearted teacher, Matt is one of the best.

LCAD (Laguna College of Art + Design), Laguna Beach, CA

(2022–2024) Full Professor of Visual Communications, Assistant Chair of Graphic Design

(2014–2022) Associate Professor, Digital Foundations Coordinator

(2006–2014) Assistant Professor Professor of Visual Communications

(2004–2006) Adjunct Instructor

• Applied Design Lab*
• Composition & Color
• Fundamentals of Digital Imaging: Illustrator
• Fundamentals of Digital Imaging: Photoshop
• Computer Imaging
• Design Drawing*
• Digital Photography*
• Digital Video
• Independent Study/Special Topics
• Internet Design
• Science of Sight*
* indicates class creation from course proposal approved by faculty senate

IVC (Irvine Valley College), Irvine, CA

2010 Part-time Instructor,  (Illustration Fall 2010)

2008 Part-time Instructor, ATEP Campus (Advanced Technology & Education Park), Tustin, CA (Graphic Design Spring 2008, Graphic Design, Drawing Fundamentals Summer 2008)

2006 Part-time Instructor, Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA (Digital Photo Summer 2006)

2005 Part-time Instructor, Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA (Graphic Design Spring 2005, Graphic Design, Intermediate Digital Imaging Fall 2005)

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Orange County Campus, Irvine, CA

2008 Part-time Instructor, (Desktop Publishing, two sections, Fall Quarter 2008)

California State University, Fullerton, CA

2004–2005 Teaching Assistant (Instructor of Record), (Digital Illustration Fall 2004, Spring 2005)

 2002 Instructor for After School Arts program at Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA (Graphic Design)

 Southwestern College, Chula Vista, CA

2001–2002 Adjunct Instructor,  (Digital Imagery, Graphic Design)

Mesa College, San Diego, CA

2001 Adjunct Instructor, (Multimedia Production)

2025 Orange County Public Library staff phone photography training sessions (Costa Mesa, CA)

2025 Sanctuary Studios, Going Down Black Rabbit Holes screening and BTS workflow (Santa Ana, CA)

2018 National Art Education Association Design Thinking Summer Institute, hosted at LCAD (Laguna Beach, CA)

2017 Seminar for Art and Design Educators, Creative Cut Paper Design, hosted at LCAD (Laguna Beach, CA)

2004 Artist Portfolio Website Building Workshop (Santa Ana, CA)

2003 Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA (Demonstration and discussion of design process)

2003 California State University, Fullerton, CA (Demonstration of digital illustration method)

LCAD (Laguna College of Art + Design), Laguna Beach, CA

(2022–2024) Assistant Chair of Graphic Design + Digital Media
(2014–2022) Digital Foundations Coordinator

Full-Time Faculty + Administrative Duties

• Provided support for the Graphic Design + Digita Media department chair
• Assisted with departmental planning for events, orientation, field trips, and guest lectures
• Actively contributed to shared governance, chairing the Personnel Committee
• Served on Library Committee, Academic Standing Committee, and IT Task Force
• Coordinated faculty teaching assignments, evaluations, hiring recommendations, mentoring
• Problem-solver for GD+DM department and campus
• Specified purchasing and physical lab resources within budget
• Supported recruitment at Admissions Events, Summer Outreach Workshops, National Portfolio Days, and Open Houses

Student Advising And Support

• Advised hundreds of students, including international and first generation college students
• Handled registration, academic planing, and advancement reviews leading to graduation and career success
• Conducted transfer credit evaluations
• Trained students in use of photo lab
• Designed and administered software proficiency diagnostic placement testing

Curriculum Development

• Partnered with department chair for revisions of Program Learning Outcomes and Course Learning Outcomes
• Coordinated foundational and digital media courses to align with advanced coursework
• Created and gained Faculty Senate approval for popular new courses

CSUF (California State University, Fullerton), CA

2004 Graduate Assistant to Associate Dean of the College of the Arts
• Website and art department promotions

GCAC (Grand Central Art Center, satellite location for CSUF) Santa Ana, CA

2003–2004 Graduate Assistant Computer Lab Technician
• Macintosh computer lab software installation and configuration
• On-site technical help for guests and staff

SDCCD (San Diego Community College District), North City Center, San Diego, CA

2001–2002 Technology Coach/Media Coach
• Tutor for teachers with technology for the classroom
• WebCT online course assistance
• Media content development