About the Exhibit
Lowell Arts is proud to present Unexpected Choices, an exhibition celebrating innovative graphic design from the 1940s to the present day. The exhibit will run from August 24 through October 5, 2024, showcasing five design case studies that highlight nontraditional approaches to solving business problems.
Originally curated by Ferris State University students under the guidance of Associate Professor Alison Popp, Unexpected Choices was a finalist in the 2023 SEGD Global Design Awards and shortlisted for the Communication Arts 2023 Design Annual. The exhibition offers a unique perspective on how graphic designers have contributed to businesses' brands, markets, and profitability through creative problem-solving.
The exhibition highlights five captivating case studies of innovative graphic design, representations of shared cultural history, and insights into the evolution of graphic design since the 1940s.
This project is funded in part by Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Exhibit Dates
August 24 – October 5
Gallery Hours
Tuesday–Friday 10am–6pm
Saturday 12pm–5pm
Panel Discussion
September 8, 2024, 2:30 PM
Right here in West Michigan, businesses trusted graphic designers to make new or complex products and ideas clear and engaging. Designers delivered fresh, distinctive, and innovative communications that informed and often amused.
Event Details:
RSVP is required. Limited seating. The event is free. Doors open at 2:00pm, remarks begin at 2:45pm, and the panel discussion begins at 3:00pm.
Highlights
Unexpected Choices offers a valuable opportunity for community members, design professionals, and students to engage with innovative graphic design work that has shaped our visual culture over the decades.
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Five captivating case studies of innovative graphic design
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Representations of shared cultural history expressed through design
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Insights into the evolution of graphic design since the 1940s
High School Workshops:
In-person workshops for local high school students
Virtual Workshops:
Available to schools from late fall 2024 onwards, featuring video content of speakers, exhibit elements, and events
For workshop information, contact Janet Teunis, Executive Director, at 616-897-8545.
This exhibit was made possible by a collaboration between the Ferris State University Design Project Center and the West Michigan Graphic Design Archives, housed at the Zhang Legacy Collections Center at Western Michigan University. The Archives makes both digital representations and physical artifacts available to design professionals, educators, students, business people, researchers, and others interested in the rich legacy of graphic design, paper manufacturing, and printing in West Michigan. This exhibit was curated and designed by Ferris State University students. The students are part of the Design Program in the College of Business.