Today we’d like to introduce you to Dennis Canon.
Hi Dennis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Dennis Canon, and I’ve spent the past several years bridging the gap between professional design practice and design education. I’m a full-time Art Director, working on branding, packaging, and visual storytelling. During the school semester, I teach graphic design and digital media courses as an adjunct professor at CSULB and LBCC, where I guide students through the fundamentals of design with real-world applications.
I’ve also taught courses at USC, Otis College of Art and Design, and Chapman University—each experience deepening my passion for helping emerging creatives find their voice.
In 2024, I decided to share what I know beyond the classroom. I launched a YouTube channel and social presence under the name profcanon, where I create bite-sized, easy-to-follow tutorials in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and other creative tools. My goal is to make design education accessible, fun, and a little less intimidating—especially for beginners or career-changers.
I’ve also been building out my own learning platform at profcanon.com, where I plan to offer professional-level courses and one-on-one coaching sessions. The idea is simple: give people the tools, feedback, and confidence they need to grow as creatives, no matter where they’re starting from.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not smooth—and I think that’s part of what makes the journey worth it. Like most creatives, I’ve had moments where I questioned whether I was on the right path. Early in my career, it was tough trying to balance the desire to do meaningful creative work with the pressure to“pay the bills.” I freelanced a lot, juggled multiple roles, and said yes to almost everything just to build experience.
Transitioning into teaching wasn’t something I originally planned—it kind of found me. But stepping into the classroom came with its own set of challenges. You don’t just need to know your craft—you have to know how to connect, communicate, and meet students where they are. And when you’re doing that while also working full-time as an Art Director, time management becomes a real puzzle.
More recently, building my own platform and online presence has pushed me out of my comfort zone. You’re constantly learning, testing, and adjusting. Sometimes a video you put a ton of heart into barely gets seen. Sometimes you’re speaking into a camera at midnight after a long day. But what keeps me going is the feedback from people—students, followers, fellow creatives—who tell me that something I shared helped them get unstuck or sparked an idea.
So no, it hasn’t been easy.
But every twist, challenge, or detour has added depth to what I bring as both a designer and an educator.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve always seen myself a a creative. As a designer, I’m drawn to problem solving—whether it’s bringing a brand to life through packaging, creating visual systems that communicate clearly, or just geeking out over type and layout. I love that moment when something clicks visually and conceptually. That’s the magic.
But I think what makes my journey unique is that I’ve always had one foot in the industry and one foot in the classroom. I’ve worked as an Art Director and creative professional for years—leading art direction, working with clients, and navigating the real-world demands of design. At the same time, I teach design at the college level—currently at CSULB and LBCC, and previously at USC, Otis, and Chapman. I bring those lived experiences into my teaching, and I think students really appreciate that I’m not just teaching theory—I’m showing them what it looks like to do the work in a professional setting.
As a professor, I see myself as more of a mentor. I want to help students build creative confidence and understand that design is a process. You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be curious, open, and willing to keep showing up. Whether I’m teaching Digital Media or Graphic Design, I try to make the classroom a space where students can explore, take risks, and develop their own visual language.
Outside of school, I’ve taken that same energy to my online presence with profcanon. It started as a way to share tutorials, tips, and industry insights, but it’s really become a creative outlet in itself. It’s where I combine design, education, and storytelling to reach people who may not be in a classroom but still want to grow.
In both roles as an artist and educator, I’m always learning and evolving. And that’s what keeps me motivated: seeing growth, not just in myself, but in the people I get to teach, mentor, and design with.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Curiosity. I think that’s why people pursue things. Whether I’m designing, teaching, or building something new, I’ve found that staying curious keeps me moving forward. It’s what pushes me to learn new tools, try different approaches, and experiment—even when I’m not sure something will work. Curiosity keeps things fresh, and I think it’s what helps me connect with students and other creatives. I’m always asking: What if we did it this way? What can I learn from this? How can I make this clearer, better, more interesting?
That mindset has also helped me navigate different roles from being a full-time Art Director, an educator, a content creator. Because I’m always open to learning and adapting. And when you teach, especially in design, you need that same openness. Every student learns differently, and every project is a chance to explore something new.
It’s easy to fall into patterns or think you have to “know everything” to be successful. But honestly, it’s been my willingness to ask questions, stay curious, and keep learning that’s made all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://profcanon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prof.canon/
- LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/prof.canon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCanon
