Heidi McKay Casto earned a BFA from The Ohio State University in 2002, and MA and MFA degrees from The University of Iowa in 2011. As Heidi McKay Designs, she creates sculpturally functional objects that feature a variety of playfully drawn design elements, anthropomorphic animal portraits, and vibrant colors. Her work has been featured extensively at venues such as Charlie Cummings Gallery, Companion Gallery, The Clay Center of New Orleans, The Clay Art Studio in Port Chester, New York, Red Lodge Clay Center in Montana, The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, and The Strictly Functional Pottery National. Casto was named a Ceramics Monthly 2022 Emerging Artist by Ceramics Monthly Magazine. Currently Casto is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the foundations area of the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History, where she designs curricula, mentors graduate teaching assistants, and teaches drawing courses.