禁漫天堂

AXD451 has a long history of working with community partners

Ziddi Msangi鈥檚 syllabus for AXD451 鈥淕raphic Design: Community Engagement Design鈥� begins with a quote from John Dewey: 鈥淥ne is to do in school what one will do in society.鈥� For many years, this staple course of the CVPA graphic design curriculum has delivered on that promise with long-form relationships with community groups.
 
Since 2011, the course always begins with an 鈥淎llens Pond Project鈥�, speculative design that provides students the opportunity to work directly with staff at Mass Audubon鈥檚 Allen Pond Wildlife Sanctuary in Westport, Massachusetts. Students create a variety of design projects and proposals, which have included a portable trail map/guide, new signage systems, and visual informational campaigns.

Most recently, in the Fall 2021 semester, Msangi鈥檚 students developed a social media campaign, augmented reality-based tours, and activity books about the Salt Marsh Sparrow designed for young learners.

Full-Time Lecturer Janet Fairbairn also regularly teaches AXD 451. In her course, students have worked with local organizations, including Our Sisters鈥� School, where girls from the greater New Bedford area learn from a curriculum that is interdisciplinary, social justice oriented, place-based, and project oriented.
 
CVPA students created iconography and signage for the school, including its 鈥渙utdoor classroom.鈥�

Other collaborations include the Westport River Watershed Alliance, Sophia Academy, and the Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies program at 禁漫天堂.
 
Fairbairn describes the mutual benefit of these projects: 鈥淪tudents consider the needs of the project/client. They begin by fully researching the client/subject, learn to work collaboratively, explain their design choices, and professionally present their work. I believe this not only serves the client, but it also gives the student valuable empathy and understanding about issues and concerns in their surrounding area.鈥�