Garland Kirkpatrick, associate professor of design in Loyola Marymount University’s College of Communication and Fine Arts, was recently selected by the AIGA, formerly known as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) as one of 25 national and international designers to be featured in a new collection of stories “Design Journeys.” The first installment of “Design Journeys” is a collection of stories about the backgrounds and professional work of historically underrepresented designers who have achieved excellence in graphic arts. It will be published in book form as well as a traveling exhibition and online archive.
Kirkpatrick was selected to have his story included in “Design Journeys” and to co-design the book and to set the tone for the traveling exhibition. Kirkpatrick believes that through “Design Journeys,” audiences will get to understand the challenges and struggles the designers have faced and hear their experiences of breaking boundaries to achieve their successes. The 25 designers come from all over the globe and have each done unique work within the graphic arts field. Some of the selected artists include Emory Douglas, Karin Fong, John Jay and Rebeca Mendez.
“It is encouraging to see the AIGA shift to reflect the richly diverse perspectives of its membership,” said Kirkpatrick. “‘Design Journeys’ can help to inspire other underrepresented groups to participate in the graphic arts and look at graphic design as a potential career path.”
Kirkpatrick did his graduate work at the Illinois Institute of Technology Institute of Design in Chicago and earned his MFA in graphic design at Yale University. In 1995, he formed Helvetica Jones, a needs-based creative practice that focuses on designing identities for community groups, cultural organizations and progressive businesses. With an array of accomplishments, Kirkpatrick came to LMU because of its mission of social justice and a desire to “have students recognize the significance and potential impact of design on society and people.” Being selected for “Design Journeys,” Kirkpatrick said, “indicates that the kind of work I do around social issues is more a part of mainstream graphic design than ever before.”
Kirkpatrick received a faculty fellowship from the College of Communication and Fine Arts to work on the “Design Journeys” project.
The “Design Journeys” exhibition will begin in New York City in summer 2009 and travel to major cities with AIGA chapters and student chapters across the nation.