Lauren Holden (MFA 2D Design 2021)
Jin Kim (MFA 2D Design 2019)
Reed Smith (MFA 2D Design 2023)
Luis Quintanilla (2D Design 2024)
Graphic Design
Graphic Design Philosophy
Graphic Design Philosophy
Convey complex ideas and concepts in a clear and compelling way
The Graphic Design department is committed to preparing our students for successful and meaningful careers in the field of design and contemporary art. The philosophy that guides the department is based on three core principles: a focus on effective communication, an expanded definition of the field of graphic design, and a commitment to cultural relevancy and diversity.
We recognize that cultural production is constantly evolving, and our students need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to adapt to these changes. The studio engages with far-ranging topics such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, and environmental studies to gain a broader perspective on design and develop a body of compelling work.
We believe that design is not just a technical skill, but a creative and intellectual endeavor that requires a deep engagement with the world around us.
Elliott Earls. Photo: Eric Perry.
Elliott Earls, Portrait of Billie Eilish, 2022. Hand-pulled screenprint,19.5 x 25.5 in, open edition, signed & numbered.
Elliott Earls, La Mort Du Taureau, 2022. Hand-pulled screenprint,19.5 x 25.5 in, open edition, signed & numbered.
Elliot Earls, False Floaters, 2022. Hand-pulled screenprint, 12.25 x 16.25", timed edition, signed & numbered.
Elliott Earls, Landscape of the Mind 6, 2021. Hand-pulled screenprint, 22 x 30ʺ, timed edition, signed & numbered.
Designer-in-Residence
Designer-in-Residence
Elliott Earls
Elliott Earls experiments in non-linear digital video, spoken word poetry, music composition, and design, all of which he has used in work for clients such as Elektra Entertainment, Nonesuch Records, The Cartoon Network (U.K.), and Janus Films. As a typographer, his original type design is distributed worldwide by Emigre Inc.
His work as a designer, performer, and contemporary artist is represented in public and private collections including the Smithsonian Cooper- Hewitt National Design Museum, The Wolfsonian Museum, The Miami Art Museum, and the Triennale Museum in Milan. As a performance artist, Earls was awarded an Emerging Artist Grant from Manhattan’s prestigious Wooster Group. Earls has performed globally including featured shows during the Exit Festival at Masion des arts de Créteil, and at Music Hall, Detroit.
His YouTube channel, Studio Practice, takes a look inside the designer’s studio.
2023 Graduate Degree Books designed by Chris Baker (MFA 2D Design 2023) and Luis Quintanilla (2D Design 2024)
Graphic Design Program
Graphic Design Program
Design practice, making supported by theory, writing, and criticism
The Graphic Design department actively explores the relationship between writing, criticism, and production with an emphasis on the experimental. The studio is structured to provide students with a balance of different modes of learning, encouraging the development of both practical skills and a deep understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of design. Students are also encouraged to look beyond 2D Design and collaborate with other disciplines across the Academy.
During the students’ two years of study, they are continually producing objects of design, critical writing, and contemporary art. While theory and criticism play critically important roles in the department; nearly all departmental activities are designed to support the act of making. Our collective goal is the development of a rigorous and sustained design practice.
Learn more about Graphic Design from AIGA Eye on Design’s article, “How Cranbrook’s Design Program Redefined How We Make and Talk About Graphic Design.”
Elliot Earls
The Cranbrook Experience in Graphic Design
Elliot Earls
The Cranbrook Experience in Graphic Design
Cody Hudson, Visiting Designer to the Graphic Design department.
Graphic Design Visiting Artists/Critics
Graphic Design Visiting Artists/Critics
Visiting Artists, Critics, and Workshops
Visiting artists/critics are invited to produce their work alongside our students, inside the department. These visitors stay for variable lengths of time, ranging from one week to a month. The goal is to expose Graphic Design students to the working process of professional designers, artists, and critics as well as to provide an opportunity for the students to interact with visitors in a variety of capacities.
We bring people from a broad background of disciplines, each with their own unique style and approach to the creative process. By working alongside them, students see firsthand how these artists approach their work, how they make decisions, and how they bring their ideas to life. The department gathers with visitors for group dinners, informal conversations, and more.
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Martine Syms
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Leigh Ledare
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Haynes Riley
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Greg Gazdowicz
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Ed Fella
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Nicole Killian
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Andrea Cardinal
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Mitch Goldstein
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Anne Jordan
Select Visiting Designers
Select Visiting Designers
Critique space
Graphic Design Experience
Graphic Design Experience
Community studio steeped in history of radical experimentation
While most of our time is dedicated to studio practice, writing and critique play a central role as we make work (together) and gather weekly to discuss it. The Graphic Design department follows the ADSR Critique Method (attack, decay, sustain, and release) which has been used in visual art, design, and music to critically evaluate work on multiple levels. By incorporating critical writing and a dedicated structure into the critique process, students are encouraged to think deeply about their work and the work of others.
For a one-month period each year beginning in mid-March, the department also transforms into a book design studio with the Designer-in-Residence providing hands-on workshops, while the students work intensively on design and production. These publications have multiple purposes and serve as a record of the designer’s personal work, as well as limited-edition runs for students/clients from across the Academy as they produce their final thesis books.
Student Work
Luis Quintanilla (2D Design 2024)
Mason Goolsby (MFA 2D Design 2023). Photo: PD Rearick.
Chris Baker (MFA 2D Design 2023)
Reed Smith (MFA 2D Design 2023)
Chen Gao (MFA 2D Design 2022)
Chen Gao (MFA 2D Design 2022). Photo: PD Rearick.
A.F. Oehmke (MFA 2D Design 2021)
Lauren Holden (MFA 2D Design 2021)
Jin Kim (MFA 2D Design 2019). Photo: PD Rearick
Lucas Albrecht, 2018
Christian Morin, 2017
Preston Thompson, 2017
Kelsey Elder, 2016
Meaghan Barry, 2013
Lilian Crum
Michelle D'Cruz, 2012
Leo Hanifin, 2012
Julie Hoppner, 2012
Anvita Jain, 2011
Chris Baker's studio during 2nd year Reviews. Photo: Sarah C. Blanchette.
Graphic Design Facilities
Graphic Design Facilities
Dedicated lab for printing and production
The Graphic Design department print lab is a creative space that offers the tools to produce high-quality printed materials, books, and zines. Equipped with a range of tools and equipment, the lab presents designers with a range of tools and equipment that can be used to produce a variety of printed materials. Students in the department also have access to other Academy studios and the Central Media Lab, which is equipped with the latest Macintosh and PC hardware, alongside scanners, cameras, large format archival inkjet plotters, and more. Highlights include:
- Risograph machines
- Laser-guided guillotine paper cutter
- Large format Epson color plotter/printer
- Drying racks
- Production tables with cutting mats
- Black and White Laser printer
- High-resolution flatbed scanner
- Large-format roll-style paper cutter
