Prof. Dr. Iris Kern-Foster: Pioneering Digital Art, UX Design, and Arts Education at the Intersection of Creativity and Technology

Prof. Dr. Iris Kern-Foster, PhD, MFA, continues to shape the future of digital art and user experience design through her multifaceted career as educator, artist, and consultant. Recently securing an institutional acquisition of her art by a museum in Austria and contributing to her team’s silver award win at the 2025 UC Tech Awards, Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster exemplifies the evolving role of the artist-educator in the 21st century.

As creative industries continue to evolve at the intersection of design and technology, artists today are expected to think across disciplines and remain responsive to cultural shifts. Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster has spent more than 25 years applying her skills in digital art, design, and teaching to a diverse range of professional settings—spanning continents and leadership roles that reflect a deep commitment to exploration and lifelong learning.

Active Practice: From Canvas to Code

Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster maintains a rigorous studio practice alongside her teaching and consulting work. “My art-making activity informs everything I do,” she explains. “Whether I’m designing user interfaces, teaching, or painting, I’m solving problems through visual thinking.”

Her work has been exhibited internationally, with recent institutional acquisitions adding to her growing presence in fine art collections. She also operates KERNFOSTER Gallery—a hybrid online and pop-up space—where she curates and creates work that bridges traditional and digital media, with plans to relocate the gallery to Laguna Beach.

The Digital Pioneer

Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster began working online before the internet became mainstream. “People now call me a digital dinosaur,” she says. “I started as a web designer in the early ’90s. Since then, I’ve stayed immersed in digital arts while continuing to paint and exhibit internationally.”

Her pioneering spirit led her to co-found Super-Fi, which quickly became one of Austria’s most influential media agencies. “We built a publishing house and launched some of the first mobile email platforms and legal MP3 download services. That period taught me how to lead innovation,” she explains.

Today, Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster brings that same entrepreneurial vision to her user experience design consulting practice, where she works with clients to create human-centered design solutions that merge aesthetic sensibility with strategic functionality. Her decades of industry experience—from digital agency leadership to hands-on UX design—enable her to bridge academic research with real-world applications.

Building Educational Foundations

Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom. As a tenured professor, she built the digital media division that houses the multimedia discipline at Crafton Hills College, establishing a comprehensive program that continues to serve students today. This foundational work demonstrated her ability to translate industry expertise into structured, accessible education.

Currently, Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster teaches user experience design and branding at UCLA Extension, where she has also contributed to collaborative projects with UCLA’s IT and education departments, including one that earned a silver award at the 2025 UC Tech Awards.

“I feel lucky to be surrounded by brilliant students and colleagues,” Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster says. Ever fond of action movies from the 1980s, she continues, “You have to dive into your field fully. You’ve got to imagine yourself as Rambo, the way he almost disappears into the jungle. You have to disappear into your work.”

Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster emphasizes curiosity and critical thinking in her classrooms, always encouraging her students to think critically and read between the lines.

A Legacy of Recognition

Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster’s work has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the Columbus Gold Award, multiple Direct Marketing Awards while working at Ogilvy Interactive, and an Industrial Design Award from her alma mater in Vienna.

Beyond awards, Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster finds deep meaning in her contributions to the discourse on creative thought: “I published a collection of essays on collaborative mapping through Springer New York. I still believe those ideas about new forms of thinking remain relevant.”

Living Artfully and Transcontinental

Art and creativity infuse every part of Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster’s life. She splits her time between Fountain Valley, California, and Mattersburg, Austria, with her husband, Joe Foster, a musician and photographer, and their son. “I’m blessed that I live in such an exceptional creative environment. It’s just how I live,” she adds.

In her free time, Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster enjoys painting, snowboarding, and being out in nature. She also remains involved with local and national arts organizations, including the National Art Education Association and the Huntington Beach Artist Council.

Looking Forward: Merging Art, Design, and Education

Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster’s recent institutional acquisition from Austria affirms the international recognition of her artistic practice, while her ongoing work at UCLA demonstrates her commitment to shaping the next generation of creative professionals.

Prof. Dr. Kern-Foster’s vision remains clear: “I want to merge everything I’ve done—design, writing, teaching, and creating—into one path that inspires inclusivity and creative leadership. That’s the next chapter.”