Erin Sparler

Erin Sparler holds a BFA from the University of Vermont with dual majors in Studio Art and Product Design & Development. She went on to earn an MFA from the Academy of Art University, where she studied Computer Art and Animation.

She has been fascinated by the intersection of kinesthetic art and sculpture and their impact on environmental awareness ever since encountering a kinetic sculpture exhibit and attending an interpretive dance on skis in Vermont during high school. Those early experiences continue to shape her creative and interdisciplinary approach.

Erin is a watercolorist, photographer, designer, author, and inventor. Her fine art photography has been featured five times in the Pennsylvania State Museum’s renowned annual juried exhibition Art of the State, and she has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout her career.

Her ongoing inquiry into how art, design, and development inform—and are informed by—consumer culture and digital marketing led Erin to create a line of open-ended, kinesthetic, make-your-own products and books known as the 3D Tunnel Books—originally developed as a creative and educational experience for her two sons.

Her creations have taken her into the world of sourcing, product development, sales, marketing, and promotion in ways she never anticipated. This real-world design journey has allowed her to apply and test creative concepts through the development of physical products—and the accompanying assets needed for marketing and sales—across platforms including social media content, influencer marketing, and business branding.

She has also expanded her design education by obtaining certification from Google in Digital Marketing and SEO, as well as an Adult Learning Certificate from Harvard.

Drawing from her love of nature and the environment, Erin combines her training in art, design, and product development to create open-ended STEAM-based kits through her LLC, EyeConnect Crafts. These kits are designed to inspire young artists and aspiring designers through kinesthetic creativity and imaginative storytelling—making STEAM fun and art accessible.

Erin’s current research and practice explore the evolving relationship between design, education, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on how analog and digital tools can be integrated into creative workflows. She brings to the college classroom a deep commitment to bridging art, craft, and design in practical applications—building a more beautiful and thoughtful world where fine art and consumer markets meet.

Her work is carried by major cultural institutions including the Frist Art Museum, the Virginia Museum of Space & Art, the Marine Mammal Center, the Maui Ocean Center, and national retailers such as Barnes & Noble. Her designs have been recognized by industry leaders, including nominations for ASTRA’s Top 3 Innovations in Art & Craft and the Museum Store Association’s Buyer’s Choice Awards.