Education / Teaching

Radek Karkulowski is an artist-educator teaching visual communication, illustration and image-based thinking. His teaching focuses on process, critique, portfolio development, learning pathways and meaningful visual decisions.

Open poster biennale catalogue featuring work by Radek Karkulowski on a blue background.

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TEACHING APPROACH

Radek’s teaching is based on process, critique and reflection. He creates learning environments where students can develop visual clarity, confidence and their own way of working.

Courses combine practical assignments, visual examples, discussion, group critique and individual feedback. His approach connects making, looking and thinking, helping students understand why their visual decisions matter.

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TEACHING AREAS

Visual communication
Concepts, systems and clear visual expression.

Illustration
Narrative, metaphor and personal visual language.

Graphic design foundations
Typography, layout, composition and structure.

Portfolio development
Editing, sequencing and presentation.

Poster & publication design
Print, editorial and publication thinking.

Image-based thinking
Looking, interpreting and communicating through images.

Vapaa akatemia — Lahti Academy of Liberal and Fine Arts
Radek teaches visual communication, illustration and portfolio-oriented courses, with experience in student guidance, course development, programme planning and learning pathways.

Programme, course and learning pathway development
His work includes planning course structures, study content and learning pathways in visual communication, illustration and graphic design. He has experience developing education that supports students preparing for further studies in art, design and visual communication.

Portfolio education and study pathways
Radek guides students in developing visual language, project-based work and portfolios for further studies. His teaching supports students in clarifying their ideas, editing their work and presenting a coherent visual direction.

Workshops, critiques and collaborative teaching
His teaching also includes short-format courses, guest critiques, Erasmus collaboration and cross-cultural visual communication settings.

Pedagogical and artistic background
Radek holds a Master of Arts in Illustration from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. He has also studied Visual Communication / Media at Lahti Institute of Design and completed Finnish pedagogical teacher education. This background supports his work across artistic practice, design education, portfolio guidance and critique.

Teaching languages: Finnish, English and Polish.

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE & COURSE DEVELOPMENT

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AVAILABLE FOR

Visiting teaching
Workshops
Portfolio guidance
Guest critiques
Course collaboration
Course and curriculum planning
Lectures and talks

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

  • "Radek helped me get motivated and improve incredibly fast with my work in illustration and graphic design. The course helped me a lot to prepare for the entrance exams of the University of Applied Sciences, both mentally and technically."

    Leo Jouhkimow @_tastmask_

  • “As a professional, Radek Karkulowski is gentle, knowledgeable, and passionate about teaching, students, and the profession. Through his courses, I learned to pay attention to details and the bigger picture in a deeper way and to weigh up my own choices in design work for a better end result.”

    Anton Nikiforov @kuvittelija_nikiforov

  • "Radek Karkulowski's course taught me how to think visually and understand the importance of critique in the creative process."

    Ohto Helske @ohto_art

LET’S CONNECT

For teaching, workshop or collaboration inquiries, please get in touch.

Get in touch

Full CV and teaching portfolio available on request.