How do graphic designers visualize their teaching philosophies, their pedagogical beliefs that are in constant dialogue with other cultural, philosophical, and disciplinary values and practices?
Thirty design educators respond below with 23 peer-reviewed posters.
Edward Tufte uses the term ‘self-exemplifying’ to describe something that is simply an example of itself. As graphic design educators, we each have a philosophy at the core of our teaching practice. That philosophy is implicit in our syllabi, critiques, and grading criteria. But how often is it at the forefront of teaching practice itself? We invited design educators around the world to design a poster that embodies their teaching philosophy. We asked that they actively engage an audience of multidisciplinary students and colleagues in intelligent, provocative dialogue about your most fundamental beliefs regarding graphic design in its current pedagogical, creative, and research practices. Design your manifesto!
The premise of the first I Profess exhibit organized by Chris Corneal and Maya Drozdz was based on a need to make explicit the beliefs that (often implicitly) permeate the myriad aspects of our teaching practice. We based a new call for entries on the premise that the porous boundaries of our teaching practices put us in constant dialogue with other cultural, philosophical, and disciplinary beliefs and practices. To that end, we solicited current college graphic design instructors to submit posters in response to the theme for peer-review.
The exhibit showcases various viewpoints and pedagogical and ideological priorities and aim to inspire and be starting points for cross-cultural dialogue among students, faculty, graphic designers, and other expert communities. With this exhibit, the curators aim to encourage cross/disciplinary debate and to provoke the next generation of graphic designers to actively shape the future of our profession.
The physical work will travel internationally to exhibition sites affiliated with schools of art and design beginning at Portland State University on February 5. A didactic beside each poster will explain the designer’s intent and further articulate their philosophy. An online/virtual exhibit accompanies the traveling exhibition at Baohouse (pronounced Bauhaus), an immaterial and motile space directed by Audrey G. Bennett that engages stakeholders locally and remotely with socially and environmentally transformative images that can yield cognitive and behavioral changes toward attaining equity and justice.
I Profess: The Graphic Design Manifesto, 20th Anniversary Traveling Exhibition is a collaboration between Chris Corneal, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Michigan State University, and Audrey G. Bennett, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
"Momentum," 2023, 18 x 27 in., Gary Golightly (University of Memphis)
"Growing Studio Citizenship," 2023, 41 x 41 in., Heather Corcoran (Washington University in St. Louis)
"Values of Design Education," 2023, 18 x 24 in., Anne Berry (Cleveland State), Meaghan Dee (Virginia Tech), Penina Laker (Washington University in St Louis), Rebecca Tegtmeyer (Michigan State), and Kelly Walters (The New School)
"Flexibility as Agency: Using the Concept of 'Small Pieces, Loosely Joined' in the Design Classroom," 2023, 36 x 36 in., Liese Zahabi (University of New Hampshire)
"Change / Empathy / Balance," 2023, 28 x 42 in., Kelly Salchow MacArthur (Michigan State University)
"Folding and Unfolding: Evolving Design," 2023, 42 x 42 in., Andrea Marks (Oregon State University) and Ann McDonald (Northeastern University)
"Agents of Change: Design Teaching Philosophy Through the Process of a Design Project," 2023, 42 x 42 in., Daniela Marx (Loyola University New Orleans)
"We Still Profess," 2023, 42 x 42 in., Women's Design + Research Unit (WD+RU): Siân Cook and Teal Triggs (Cook: London College of Communication, University of Arts London, UK)
"Walk," 2023, 42 x 42 in., Steven McCarthy (University of Minnesota)
"A Play-Fueled Pedagogy of Design," 2023, 830 x 420 mm, Dr. Marguerite van der Merwe (University for the Creative Arts)
"Illuminating Design: Embracing Empathy and Diversity in the Cosmos of Design Education," 2023, 27 x 40 in., Sana Khan Hussaini (San Francisco State University)
"Design Manifesto by a Neo-Ludite," 2023, 24 x 36 in., Saskia van Kampen (San Francisco State University)
"The Rock or the Water?," 2023, 25 x 35 in., Michael Tittel (Northern Kentucky University)
"On Design Pedagogy," 2023, 31 x 42 in., Dan Vlahos (Merrimack College)
"Breaking the Pattern," 2023, 24 x 36 in., Sara Tack (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Untitled, 2023, 28 x 42 in., Dr. Rebecca D Kelly (ABD) (Syracuse University)
'Disrupting Genius," 2023, 24 x 36 in., Bree McMahon (University of Arkansas) and Dr. Rachael L. Paine (Virginia Tech)
"Make(ing) Space," 2023, 30.5 x 42 in., Susan LaPorte (College for Creative Studies)
"Changing from the Inside Out — appeal + call + demand for action," 2023, 26 x 40 in., Archana Shekara (Illinois State University)
"Claiming Our Space," 2023, 24 x 36 in., Isabel Bo-Linn (Portland State University)
"Student-Centered Pedagogy," 2023, 30 x 42 in., Marty Maxwell Lane and Ali Place (University of Arkansas)
"Weird Tales of a Graphic Designer," 2023, 24 x 36 in., Jimmy Henderson (Susquehanna University)
"The Alegria of Teaching," 2023, 23 x 35.5 in., Isabella Arrazola Diazgranados (University of Florida)
Upcoming Venues in Traveling Exhibition of “I Profess”
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Portland State University (USA)
Feb 5-16, 2024
AB Lobby Gallery, School of Art + Design Portland, Oregon 97201
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Michigan State University (USA)
Feb 16-March 15, 2024
(SCENE) Metrospace, 110 Charles Street, East Lansing, MI 48823
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University for the Creative Arts-Farnham (UK)
April 15-30 7:00-8:00PM
UCA Farnham, Falkner Road, Farnham, Surrey, England, GU9 7DS
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San Francisco State University (USA)
June 1-30, 2024
Fine Arts Building’s Main Hallway, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132.
Directed by Audrey G. Bennett
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BAO is a game played in Africa. Here it is used metaphorically to describe collaborative designing remotely. While other researchers have used the virtual design studio concept to represent computer-supported, cooperative work, these human-computer interactions are typically for professional projects (e.g., architects talking to architects). With Baohouse (pronounced Bauhaus), I aim to engage lay communities locally and remotely. It is an immaterial and motile space where I conduct theoretical and applied investigations on how “interactive aesthetics” can engage lay people with socially and environmentally transformative images that can yield cognitive and behavioral changes toward attaining equity and justice.
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Marguerite Botha, University of Pretoria, South Africa (Children’s Health in SA)
Fatima Cassim, University of Pretoria, South Africa (Children’s Health in SA)
Chris Corneal (I Profess)
Mukkai Krishnamoorthy Department of Computer Science, Rensselaer (Diversifying STEM)
Alison Eardley, University of Westminster (W-iCAD)
Ron Eglash, School of Information + Stamps, University of Michigan (Diversifying STEM; Artisanal Robots; HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention; Humanoid Robots; and Life)
Michael Lachney, Michigan State University (Diversifying STEM)
Lionel Roberts, School of Information, University of Michigan (Artisanal Robots)
Jennifer A. Vokoun, Walsh University (Food Security) -
William Babbitt, Research Associate, Rensselaer (Diversifying STEM, CS4HS)
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Adream Blair (GLIDE’10-’12)
Gloria Gomez (GLIDE’10-’12)
Muthoni Kimani (GLIDE’12)
Michele Washington (GLIDE’08-’12) -
University of Michigan Doctoral Students:
Kwame Robinson, SI (Artisanal Robots)
Caitlin Dyche, C&M, LSA (The Just Museum Experience)
University of Michigan Masters Students:
Megan Freund, Stamps (Diversifying STEM)
Kayla Guillory, Stamps (WSDOM)
Shelbi Lisecki, Stamps (Interactive Aesthetics)
Stephanie Szemetylo, Stamps (WSDOM)
Nicholas Lamarca, Stamps (The Just Museum Experience)
Rensselaer Doctoral Students:
David Banks (Red Card)
Brian Callahan (Diversifying STEM, CS4HS)
Michael Lachney (Diversifying STEM, CS4HS)
John Licato (Red Card)
Ray Lutzky (Diversifying STEM, DYF)
Marie Rarieya (Act Now)
Dylan Rees (Diversifying STEM, CS4HS)
Rensselaer Masters Students:
Sarah Diodato (Act Now)
Angelo Gaetano (Act Now)
Mark Oppenneer (GLIDE)
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University of Michigan
Rohan Agrawal (WSDOM)
Katie Bailey (WSDOM)
Tawsif Habib (WSDOM)
Chloe Hooker (Diversifying STEM)
Gautham Jayaraj (WSDOM)
Zahra Makim (WSDOM)
Michael McCallig(WSDOM)
Amirul Miah (Diversifying STEM)
Lara Niemchick (Heritage Algorithms)
Angela Ponce Solano (WSDOM)
Aaron VonBargen (WSDOM)
Daniel Williams (DESIS Lab)
Rensselaer Laura Antoniello (Social Media Marketing)
Zac Autio (Diversifying STEM, DYF)
Melissa Batalin (GLIDE)Joe Brust (Act Now)
Jesse Cline (Diversifying STEM, DYF)
Mackenzie Clippard (Diversifying STEM, CS4HS)
Joyce Edwards (Act Now)
Kim Gomboz (GLIDE)
Andy Lao (Social Media Marketing)
Ashlee Lindo (GLIDE)
Rajas Nagpurkar (Diversifying STEM, CS4HS)
Natalie Semczuk (Diversifying STEM, DYF)
Laura Sherman (Act Now)
Kelly Singco (GLIDE)
Donna Tytko (Act Now)
Carla Voorhees (Act Now)
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Marcel Bennett (Diversifying STEM, DYF)
Moriah Harling (Diversifying STEM, CS4HS)
Jamie Park (Diversifying STEM, CS4HS)
Jonathan Ward (Diversifying STEM, DYF)
Kimi Wenzel (Diversifying STEM, CS4HS)