Graphic Design/Illustration Department
Spring 2023 Events.
Visiting Artist Lecture, Alumnx Series
Mon, April 3 | Dawn Baillie
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12pm PDT
Otis Alumna, Dawn Baillie is a founding partner of BLT Communications, a leading entertainment marketing agency employing over 200 passionate artists, strategists and technologists. For more than 30 years, BLT has created award-winning campaigns for hundreds of television, film and Broadway productions.
In addition to numerous Clio Entertainment and Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards—including best poster of the past 35 years for The Silence of the Lambs—Dawn was also honored with the inaugural Saul Bass Award, which recognizes talented creatives who demonstrate iconic and influential style.
In 2009, Dawn developed BLT Helps, a nonprofit arm dedicated to sharing BLT's wealth of experience and creative resources with organizations making a difference in their communities. Dawn also supports Otis College by serving on the Board of Trustees.
Monday, April 3rd at 12pm on campus
The Forum
Mon, April 3 | Dawn Baillie
Otis Alumna, Dawn Baillie is a founding partner of BLT Communications, a leading entertainment marketing agency employing over 200 passionate artists, strategists and technologists. For more than 30 years, BLT has created award-winning campaigns for hundreds of television, film and Broadway productions.
In addition to numerous Clio Entertainment and Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards—including best poster of the past 35 years for The Silence of the Lambs—Dawn was also honored with the inaugural Saul Bass Award, which recognizes talented creatives who demonstrate iconic and influential style.
In 2009, Dawn developed BLT Helps, a nonprofit arm dedicated to sharing BLT's wealth of experience and creative resources with organizations making a difference in their communities. Dawn also supports Otis College by serving on the Board of Trustees.
Monday, April 3rd at 12pm on campus
The Forum
Faculty Artist Lecture, Alumnx Series
Mon, Feb 27 & April 10 | Rebecca Chamlee
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12pm PST
"A Tree is Born: an artist’s book in process" follows the two-year course that lead to the publication of the book; from the initial idea, research, design, image exploration and finally the printing and book binding, plus a cruel twist of fate that changed everything.
Rebecca Chamlee is a book artist, printer, writer, and bookbinder who has published thoughtfully designed, letterpress printed, limited-edition fine press, and artist’s books under the imprint of Pie In The Sky Press since 1986. Her work is in prominent special and private collections throughout the U.S. and has been exhibited widely.
As a self-taught naturalist and citizen scientist, Rebecca’s artist’s books examine the intersection of her artistic and scientific interests by collecting and cataloging the natural world.
Rebecca is an associate professor at Otis College of Art and Design where she teaches bookbinding, letterpress printing, and artist’s book classes and heads the Book Arts minor program. She also holds virtual workshops from her studio and in-person at book arts centers throughout the country.
Rebecca received her BFA in Communication Arts from Otis College of Art and Design.
Monday, February 27 and Monday, April 10 at 12pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/94323008568
Mon, Feb 27 & April 10 | Rebecca Chamlee
A Tree is Born: an artist’s book in process
Rebecca Chamlee’s artist’s book, “Giant; A deity with leaves,” the story of a towering native oak tree that has stood in a nearby wildland park for over 400 years and how the ancient tree became a cherished presence in the life of the artist; a source of wonder, mystery and connection to the natural world."A Tree is Born: an artist’s book in process" follows the two-year course that lead to the publication of the book; from the initial idea, research, design, image exploration and finally the printing and book binding, plus a cruel twist of fate that changed everything.
Rebecca Chamlee is a book artist, printer, writer, and bookbinder who has published thoughtfully designed, letterpress printed, limited-edition fine press, and artist’s books under the imprint of Pie In The Sky Press since 1986. Her work is in prominent special and private collections throughout the U.S. and has been exhibited widely.
As a self-taught naturalist and citizen scientist, Rebecca’s artist’s books examine the intersection of her artistic and scientific interests by collecting and cataloging the natural world.
Rebecca is an associate professor at Otis College of Art and Design where she teaches bookbinding, letterpress printing, and artist’s book classes and heads the Book Arts minor program. She also holds virtual workshops from her studio and in-person at book arts centers throughout the country.
Rebecca received her BFA in Communication Arts from Otis College of Art and Design.
Monday, February 27 and Monday, April 10 at 12pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/94323008568
Visiting Artist Lecture, Alumnx Series
Mon, February 13 | Nic Sanchez
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12pm PST
Nic Sanchez designs interactive experiences for screens & spaces. As the Group Art & Design Lead for Strategy Games on the Global Marketing Team at Riot Games, he leads a team producing campaigns that hype players around the world. Prior to joining Riot he crafted digital experiences and immersive installations for commercial and cultural clients at places like Use All Five, Stink Studios, and Local Projects.
Nic received his MFA in Graphic Design from Otis College of Art and Design in 2012.
Monday, February 13 at 12pm on campus
Ahmanson, room 505
Mon, February 13 | Nic Sanchez
Nic Sanchez designs interactive experiences for screens & spaces. As the Group Art & Design Lead for Strategy Games on the Global Marketing Team at Riot Games, he leads a team producing campaigns that hype players around the world. Prior to joining Riot he crafted digital experiences and immersive installations for commercial and cultural clients at places like Use All Five, Stink Studios, and Local Projects.
Nic received his MFA in Graphic Design from Otis College of Art and Design in 2012.
Monday, February 13 at 12pm on campus
Ahmanson, room 505
Faculty Artist Lecture, Alumnx Series
Mon, February 6 | J.T. Steiny
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12pm PST
J.T. Steiny is predominantly known for his illustration work, which has appeared in various ways throughout the world. Featured in gallery shows, murals, published in books, magazines and newspapers for both children and adults, on album covers and publications, such as The Los Angeles Times, L.A. Weekly, USA Today, American Airlines, Forbes, Smart Money, Buzz, Los Angeles Magazine, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Entertainment Weekly, Film and Video, Shoot, Outside Magazine, Elliman Magazine, Resist, Rolling Stone, Poz Magazine, Forbes, UCLA, St. Martin's Press, Addison-Wesley Publishing, Sony Records, The Work Group, Sony France, Rhino Records, Virgin Records, Capitol Records, Warner Bros. Records, Rock The Vote, Jim Henson Productions, Saban Entertainment, Nickelodeon and Klasky-Csupo and more.
J.T. received his BFA in Illustration from Otis College of Art and Design.
Monday, February 6 at 12pm on campus
Ahmanson, room 505
Mon, February 6 | J.T. Steiny
J.T. Steiny is predominantly known for his illustration work, which has appeared in various ways throughout the world. Featured in gallery shows, murals, published in books, magazines and newspapers for both children and adults, on album covers and publications, such as The Los Angeles Times, L.A. Weekly, USA Today, American Airlines, Forbes, Smart Money, Buzz, Los Angeles Magazine, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Entertainment Weekly, Film and Video, Shoot, Outside Magazine, Elliman Magazine, Resist, Rolling Stone, Poz Magazine, Forbes, UCLA, St. Martin's Press, Addison-Wesley Publishing, Sony Records, The Work Group, Sony France, Rhino Records, Virgin Records, Capitol Records, Warner Bros. Records, Rock The Vote, Jim Henson Productions, Saban Entertainment, Nickelodeon and Klasky-Csupo and more.
J.T. received his BFA in Illustration from Otis College of Art and Design.
Monday, February 6 at 12pm on campus
Ahmanson, room 505
Fall 2022 Events Archive
Visiting Artist Lecture
Mon, November 28 | María Jesús Contreras
María Jesús Contreras studied graphic design at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and made an academic certificate in arts at the same university. She is currently working with clients in different parts of the world through her freelance practice. Projects include work for The New York Times, The Atlantic, Bandcamp, and The New Yorker.
Monday, November 28 at 12pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/96005888127
Visiting Artist Lecture
Mon, November 14 | Pouya Jahanshahi
Pouya Jahanshahi holds an MFA in Graphic Design and Integrated Media, from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). His current research focus is on the development of what he calls “Hybrid Visual Cultures”; where cross-pollination from cultures across the globe has resulted in birth of new visual realms. He has presented on this subject at ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) and IGDS (Iranian Graphic Design Society), and the Society for Calligraphy.
His international involvement in the realm of design spans the globe. From Istanbul, to Tehran, Dublin and the United States. Recent presentations at ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) Fusion of East and West: The Fifth Color, as well as recently at ATypI 2010 Kufic: from holy script to vector art. XpatStudio's past and present clients include National Semi Conductors (NSC), Metro-Style Fashion, AquaTek Inc., Stanley Electric and Chanteh Interior Designs.
Monday, November 14 at 12pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/96005888127
Visiting Artist Lecture
Mon, October 17 | Bahia Shehab
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12pm PDT
Bahia Shehab is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, political activist and historian whose work focuses on the interaction and intersection of modern identity and ancient cultural heritage. Her imaginative combination of calligraphy and Islamic art history produced cutting edge, beautiful, impactful street art during the Arab Spring and continues to inform her work as an educator and designer.
Having always been concerned with identity and preserving cultural heritage, she investigates art history to reinterpret contemporary Arab politics, feminist discourse and social issues. Her culturally oriented work enables her to use history as a means to better understand the present and find solutions for the future.
Bahia believes that art may be employed for the purposes of social change and has explored this phenomenon through her artwork, which focuses on socially charged themes such as the Arab identity and women's rights. Her research is largely concerned with understanding the Arabic letters and has been preoccupied with Arabic calligraphy in much of her work. Her work has been displayed in exhibitions around the world and she has received several awards and recognition for her achievements.
Monday, October 17 at 12pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/96005888127
Mon, October 17 | Bahia Shehab
Bahia Shehab is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, political activist and historian whose work focuses on the interaction and intersection of modern identity and ancient cultural heritage. Her imaginative combination of calligraphy and Islamic art history produced cutting edge, beautiful, impactful street art during the Arab Spring and continues to inform her work as an educator and designer.
Having always been concerned with identity and preserving cultural heritage, she investigates art history to reinterpret contemporary Arab politics, feminist discourse and social issues. Her culturally oriented work enables her to use history as a means to better understand the present and find solutions for the future.
Bahia believes that art may be employed for the purposes of social change and has explored this phenomenon through her artwork, which focuses on socially charged themes such as the Arab identity and women's rights. Her research is largely concerned with understanding the Arabic letters and has been preoccupied with Arabic calligraphy in much of her work. Her work has been displayed in exhibitions around the world and she has received several awards and recognition for her achievements.
Monday, October 17 at 12pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/96005888127
Visiting Artist Lecture
Mon, September 12 | Happening Studio
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12pm PDT
Happening Studio is an international design studio, cultivating global minds with local sensibility. Specializing in identity design as a studio foundation, Masato and Karen output a wide range of work, from screen-based experiences to printed reading experiences.
Often working with small to medium sized cultural institutions and museums, Happening Studio functions as a design mediator and facilitator between in-house design, marketing staffs and high-level stakeholders.
Since 2019, the studio went fully remote and worked from 3 different continents to further establish their design practice and research. As a result, the studio utilizes flexible working conditions and offers an in-depth understanding of client needs within global to local landscapes that are diverse and meaningful.
Monday, September 12 at 12pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/96005888127
Mon, September 12 | Happening Studio
Happening Studio is an international design studio, cultivating global minds with local sensibility. Specializing in identity design as a studio foundation, Masato and Karen output a wide range of work, from screen-based experiences to printed reading experiences.
Often working with small to medium sized cultural institutions and museums, Happening Studio functions as a design mediator and facilitator between in-house design, marketing staffs and high-level stakeholders.
Since 2019, the studio went fully remote and worked from 3 different continents to further establish their design practice and research. As a result, the studio utilizes flexible working conditions and offers an in-depth understanding of client needs within global to local landscapes that are diverse and meaningful.
Monday, September 12 at 12pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/96005888127
Spring 2022 Events Archive
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, April 21 | Climate Designers
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4pm PDT
Marc O’Brien has been working in social innovation as a design strategist and creative facilitator since 2009. He also teaches part-time at CCA, where he encourages design students to use their talent to create positive change in the world. With a background in both web and graphic design, he aims for fun, achievable, and innovative solutions to address our climate crisis.
Sarah Harrison (she/her) spent over a decade designing software & brands in San Francisco's tech startup industry before burnout led her to start over, with no choice but to apply her skills for positive change & social impact. She co-founded The Determined in 2016 and also co-teaches a social entrepreneurship class in the interaction design graduate program at California's College of the Arts every summer.
O’brien and Harrison co-founded Climate Designers in 2019 to provide a professional network, knowledge and skills for designers to take climate action.
Thursday, April 21 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, March 31 | Isometric Studio
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4pm PDT
Based in New York City, Isometric Studio is the partnership of Andy Chen and Waqas Jawaid. Known for collaborations with leading cultural institutions, universities, tech companies, and nonprofits, Isometric Studio expresses the missions of these organizations through visual identities, exhibitions, websites, and signage programs that convey intellectual rigor, aesthetic sophistication, and memorable storytelling.
Through design, Isometric advances an ethos of inclusion, equity, and justice, centering the lived experiences of marginalized people. Their projects often address complex social issues, amplifying activism on gender equity, climate change, racial justice, LGBT identity, and immigrant rights. Well-known clients include the USAID, Google, Museum of the City of New York, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Chen and Jawaid were the winners of a Society for Experiential Graphic Design Vanguard Award in 2021.
Thursday, March 31 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
CommArts Joy presents
Thurs, March 17 | Sing-Sing & Caboose
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4pm PDT
Otis College welcomes Sing-Sing Studio (Adi Goodrich & Sean Pecknold) and Caboose (Clay Hickson & Liana Jegers) to present and share their work and professional practices. While the studios operate in different areas of Art & Design—Sing-Sing in set design, advertising, interiors, and film & animation, and Caboose in independent publishing and illustration—they have often found ways to collaborate on self-initiated projects, client projects, and more. Both studios and practices have shared ethos of engaging the creative spirit in new and meaningful ways and working with people you love.
The conversation and presentation will be moderated by Jeremiah Chiu.
Thursday, March 17 at 4pm in The Forum
9045 Lincoln Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
open to the public via Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
CommArts Department Student Art Share/Fair
Thursday, March 17
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3pm PDT
Join us in the Forum to see the results of students’ creativity and hard work. Exhibiting students arrive at 2pm to hang paintings/drawings/flatstock, or set up displays of books/merch and other objects.
Students who wish to display work on monitors must submit to the Gdrive folder in advance.
The reception will begin at 3pm,
and snacks/drinks will be provided.
Presented by CommArts for Joy
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, Feb. 24 | Mitzi Okou
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4pm PST
Mitzi Okou is an interaction and visual designer from Atlanta, Georgia. She received her Bachelors degree in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design, and has placed in hackathons put on by companies and institutions such as IDEO, SCAD, and MIT, solving for issues ranging from wealth inequality in the music industry to federal socio-economic injustice.
As a design activist, she recently organized a free and accessible virtual conference called “Where are the Black designers?” that highlighted and brought awareness to allies within the creative and tech industry about the experiences and struggles of being a black designer within the field. The goal of the platform is to support, empower, and amplify black designers throughout their career and help them create their own narrative by connecting them with the established legacy of the black design community, creating a hub of empowering and educational resources, and establishing inclusive spaces within the tech and creative field.
Thursday, February 24 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, Feb. 10 | Kimberly Varella
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4pm PST
Kimberly Varella is an artist, graphic designer, and founder of the award-winning Los Angeles-based design studio Content Object—a content-driven, object-oriented studio specializing in book design. Varella’s practice builds from a foundation of printmaking, durational methodologies, and conceptual art—teetering the lines between play, resistance, academia, formalism, and a distinct take on materiality.
Thursday, February 10 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, Jan. 27 | Ezra C. Daniels
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4pm PST
Ezra Claytan Daniels is a mixed-race (black/white) multidisciplinary artist and creator of the award-winning graphic novels Upgrade Soul and BTTM FDRS (with illustrator Ben Passmore). Ezra’s work has been featured on the Criterion Channel, at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art, and is in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum. Ezra currently resides in Los Angeles, where he writes for film and television, including Doom Patrol for HBO Max, and Horror Noire for Shudder.
Thursday, January 27 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
Thurs, April 21 | Climate Designers
Marc O’Brien has been working in social innovation as a design strategist and creative facilitator since 2009. He also teaches part-time at CCA, where he encourages design students to use their talent to create positive change in the world. With a background in both web and graphic design, he aims for fun, achievable, and innovative solutions to address our climate crisis.
Sarah Harrison (she/her) spent over a decade designing software & brands in San Francisco's tech startup industry before burnout led her to start over, with no choice but to apply her skills for positive change & social impact. She co-founded The Determined in 2016 and also co-teaches a social entrepreneurship class in the interaction design graduate program at California's College of the Arts every summer.
O’brien and Harrison co-founded Climate Designers in 2019 to provide a professional network, knowledge and skills for designers to take climate action.
Thursday, April 21 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, March 31 | Isometric Studio
Based in New York City, Isometric Studio is the partnership of Andy Chen and Waqas Jawaid. Known for collaborations with leading cultural institutions, universities, tech companies, and nonprofits, Isometric Studio expresses the missions of these organizations through visual identities, exhibitions, websites, and signage programs that convey intellectual rigor, aesthetic sophistication, and memorable storytelling.
Through design, Isometric advances an ethos of inclusion, equity, and justice, centering the lived experiences of marginalized people. Their projects often address complex social issues, amplifying activism on gender equity, climate change, racial justice, LGBT identity, and immigrant rights. Well-known clients include the USAID, Google, Museum of the City of New York, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Chen and Jawaid were the winners of a Society for Experiential Graphic Design Vanguard Award in 2021.
Thursday, March 31 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
CommArts Joy presents
Thurs, March 17 | Sing-Sing & Caboose
Otis College welcomes Sing-Sing Studio (Adi Goodrich & Sean Pecknold) and Caboose (Clay Hickson & Liana Jegers) to present and share their work and professional practices. While the studios operate in different areas of Art & Design—Sing-Sing in set design, advertising, interiors, and film & animation, and Caboose in independent publishing and illustration—they have often found ways to collaborate on self-initiated projects, client projects, and more. Both studios and practices have shared ethos of engaging the creative spirit in new and meaningful ways and working with people you love.
The conversation and presentation will be moderated by Jeremiah Chiu.
Thursday, March 17 at 4pm in The Forum
9045 Lincoln Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
open to the public via Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
CommArts Department Student Art Share/Fair
Thursday, March 17
Join us in the Forum to see the results of students’ creativity and hard work. Exhibiting students arrive at 2pm to hang paintings/drawings/flatstock, or set up displays of books/merch and other objects.
Students who wish to display work on monitors must submit to the Gdrive folder in advance.
The reception will begin at 3pm,
and snacks/drinks will be provided.
Presented by CommArts for Joy
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, Feb. 24 | Mitzi Okou
Mitzi Okou is an interaction and visual designer from Atlanta, Georgia. She received her Bachelors degree in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design, and has placed in hackathons put on by companies and institutions such as IDEO, SCAD, and MIT, solving for issues ranging from wealth inequality in the music industry to federal socio-economic injustice.
As a design activist, she recently organized a free and accessible virtual conference called “Where are the Black designers?” that highlighted and brought awareness to allies within the creative and tech industry about the experiences and struggles of being a black designer within the field. The goal of the platform is to support, empower, and amplify black designers throughout their career and help them create their own narrative by connecting them with the established legacy of the black design community, creating a hub of empowering and educational resources, and establishing inclusive spaces within the tech and creative field.
Thursday, February 24 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, Feb. 10 | Kimberly Varella
Kimberly Varella is an artist, graphic designer, and founder of the award-winning Los Angeles-based design studio Content Object—a content-driven, object-oriented studio specializing in book design. Varella’s practice builds from a foundation of printmaking, durational methodologies, and conceptual art—teetering the lines between play, resistance, academia, formalism, and a distinct take on materiality.
Thursday, February 10 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, Jan. 27 | Ezra C. Daniels
Ezra Claytan Daniels is a mixed-race (black/white) multidisciplinary artist and creator of the award-winning graphic novels Upgrade Soul and BTTM FDRS (with illustrator Ben Passmore). Ezra’s work has been featured on the Criterion Channel, at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art, and is in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum. Ezra currently resides in Los Angeles, where he writes for film and television, including Doom Patrol for HBO Max, and Horror Noire for Shudder.
Thursday, January 27 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/98908662404
Fall 2021 Events Archive
Visiting Artist Workshop
Thurs, Dec. 9 | Laurie Rosenwald
Laurie Rosenwald is a painter and principal of rosenworld.com, a design studio. She does humor writing, as well as writing which is only marginally funny, and has done hundreds of drawings for The New Yorker. She recently exhibited her encaustic paintings at SpringBreak 2021.
Her popular workshop, How to Make Mistakes on Purpose, has been held for Google, Ikea, Buzzfeed, Ted-x, Scholastic, Adobe, Starbucks, and others. It is not a creativity workshop. Trying to be creative works about as well as trying to be charming. Her new book of the same name is published by Hachette.
Thursday, December 9 from 4pm - 6pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/95599837479
CommArts presents
Monday, Nov. 22 | Najeebah Al-Ghadban
Najeebah Al-Ghadban is a designer, art director, and collage-artist from Kuwait, based in New York City. She received a BFA and MFA in Design from the School of Visual Arts. Currently, she is an art director for Apple Books and previously worked for The New York Times Magazine and Abrams. Her work was the subject of a solo exhibition at the Contemporary Art Platform in Kuwait and has been published in The Baffler, The Atlantic, The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine, amongst other publications.
Monday, November 22 at 10am on Zoom
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, Nov. 11 | Charlot Kristensen
Charlot Kristensen is a Dublin-based illustrator, designer and book author. As a Black artist she often depicts underrepresented characters in empowering ways to help change their narratives. Some of her most renowned clients include HuffPost, Google, Penguin Random House and New York Times. Charlot's first big graphic novel “What We Don’t Talk About,” published by Avery Hill, is now out.
Thursday, November 11 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/95599837479
CommArts Department Student Art Share/Fair
Thursday, Nov. 11
Join us in classrooms 609, 610 & 611 in the Ahmanson Building to see the results of students’ creativity and hard work. Exhibiting students arrive at 2:30 to hang paintings/drawings/flatstock, or set up displays of books/merch and other objects.
Motion work can be displayed on a personal device or projected.
There will be a collective drawing activity for anyone who wants to participate,
and snacks/drinks will be provided.
Presented by CommArts for Joy
CommArts Joy presents
Thurs, Oct. 14 | Ken Gonzales-Day
Ken Gonzales-Day’s interdisciplinary and conceptually grounded projects consider the history of photography, the construction of race, and the limits of representational systems ranging from the lynching photograph to museum display. In 2017, Gonzales-Day received a Guggenheim Fellowship in Photography. His work has been widely exhibited at venues including The J. Paul Getty Museum, LAXART, The Skirball, LACMA, The Generali Foundation in Vienna, and Thomas Dane Gallery in London, among others.
Thursday, October 14 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/95599837479
CommArts Joy presents
Thurs, Oct. 7 | Francisco Delgado
Francisco Delgado’s varied practice includes paintings, public artworks, fine art prints, and children’s book illustrations. His “Bordeño” artworks are informed by the social and cultural struggles inherent in life along the Mexican and United States border.
Delgado holds a Master's of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Art. His works have been published in books, exhibited in national and international art exhibitions and community institutions.
Thursday, October 7 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/95599837479
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, Sept. 30 | Kaleena Sales
Kaleena Sales is a writer, illustrator, and graphic design educator at Tennessee State University, an HBCU in Nashville, TN. Her research focuses on Black culture and aesthetics, and her recent illustration work has been selected for inclusion in the 2021 Communication Arts Illustration Annual. Kaleena is co-author of the book, Extra-Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Non-Binary Field Guide for Graphic Designers, alongside Ellen Lupton and a diverse group of other designers. Kaleena actively presents at national and international design conferences, including AIGA, CAA, SECAC, and RGD. Through her service on AIGA's Design Educators Community Steering Committee, Kaleena has advocated for a more inclusive view of design history through her Beyond the Bauhaus writing series. She also serves as Director of Diversity and Inclusion for AIGA Nashville.
Thursday, September 30 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/95599837479
“Hey Expert” Lecture
Tues, Sept. 21 | Julian Schaevitz
By day, Julian Schaevits operates as a Sr. Executive Manager leading a new strategy at a tech staffing firm. By night, he is a cartoonist, poet/comic book creator, and innovator for the transgender community. In his professional and social life, Julian is deeply ingrained within the LGBTQIA+ community and seeks to create safe spaces for people to be themselves.
Julian has always been fascinated by space & place and how they impact identity. Some of his favorite authors include Doreen Massey, Edward Soja, and Yi Fu Tuan for their works that unpack the relationship between space, place, identity, and gender. Julian identifies as a transgender man and feels empowered by design thinking tools to understand how he can redesign the world around him, to make it more inclusive for himself and others who need a redesigned world, too. In our Hey Expert Call, he will share some of his experiences of exclusion and discuss with the group how we can use empathy to inspire innovation.
Tuesday, September 21 at 11am PDT on Zoom
Zoom link
Visiting Artist Lecture
Thurs, Sept. 16 | Qieer Wang
Qieer Wang is a Chinese visual artist working and living in the U.S. Wang utilizes surrealist influences to invoke experiences ranging from the dance-music underground to neurodiversity and mental health issues. She has been featured in Eye on Design and Shoutout LA.
Her selected clients include Warner Media, HULU, Google, Adobe, Adult Swim, Spotify, Lilith Games, NYT, The New Yorker, Modern Weekly, NPR, GIPHY, and Nasdaq. She also joined Netflix Animation, currently helping full-time with an upcoming feature as a visual development artist.
Thursday, September 16 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/95599837479
CommArts presents
Thurs, Sept. 9 | Andy Campbell
Andy Campbell is a curator, educator, and author of the book Bound Together: Leather, Sex, Archives, and Contemporary Art. Recent projects include Queer Communion (with Amelia Jones), an exploration of the work of Ron Athey, whose retrospective exhibition curated by Jones is currently on view at the Institute for Contemporary Art Los Angeles. For Otis CommArts, Campbell will present some of the graphic symbols he researched for his book Queer X Design, including the development of the iconic rainbow flag.
Thursday, September 9 at 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/95599837479
Spring 2021 Events Archive
CommArts Department End of Year Exhibition Opening / Celebration / Toast
Thursday, May 13
6pm PDT Connection Lost Busy Memories Crystallizing
Amazing Transformative Alright AdventurousJoin us on zoom for the opening of the CommArts End of Year Exhibition, a celebration of a year of Graphic Design and Illustration work by Seniors in the CommArts department, and a toast.
Designed and organized by the Environmental Graphics / Exhibition Design class.
Thursday, May 13 @ 6pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/95664177555
CommArts Graphic Design Junior Show
Thursday, May 6
6:30pm PDT
Dreamland
A post pandemic party
Otis CommArts Junior Virtual Show
Graphic Design Thursday, May 6, 2021
Otis CommArts Junior Virtual Show
Graphic Design Thursday, May 6, 2021
Workshop: Mental Health, Self Care, and Creativity
Friday, April 23 | Kate Merritt
5 pm PSTKate Merritt is a practicing therapist and graphic designer who specializes in working with young adults. Kate will be holding a workshop around the connection between psychology and creativity. We'll also talk a bit about self-care and time management for creatives.
Friday, April 23 @ 5pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/91381648141
CommArts Joy presents
Mon, April 19 | Nicole Jaffe
In 2014, she and Roman Jaster co-founded YayBrigade, a studio specializing in web development and publication design. Branching out on her own in 2018, she founded her new studio, Piknik Press, with a focus on working with great artists, good people, and clever companies.
Monday, April 19 at 12pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/93956260494
Workshop: Introduction to p5.js
Weds, April 14 | Alex Pines
Using the metaphor of a sketch, p5.js has a full set of drawing functionality. However, you’re not limited to your drawing canvas. You can think of your whole browser page as your sketch, including HTML5 objects for text, input, video, webcam, and sound.
Wednesday, April 14th @ 5pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/97837546617
CommArts presents
Mon, April 12, 11am
Maura Condrick
Monday, April 12th @ 11am on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/7495379602
Visiting Artist
Thurs, April 8 | Schessa Garbutt
Thursday, April 8th @ 4pm on Zoom
https://otis.zoom.us/j/95162844850
CommArts Joy presents
Mon, April 5, 10am
Nicole Killian
Monday, March 29th @ 10am on Zoom
CommArts presents
Fri, April 2, 11am
Cathy Weiss
Friday, April 2nd @ 11am on Zoom
CommArts Joy presents
Thurs, March 18, 10am
Bijou Karman
Thursday, March 18 at 10am on Zoom
Workshop: Cargo Collective, Job Searching, Portfolio Websites
March 11 | Alex Pines
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5pm PST
Alex will be doing a hands-on workshop on Cargo Collective and a general Q&A regarding job searching, interviews, and portfolio websites.March 11 | Alex Pines
Thursday, March 11th @ 5pm on Zoom
CommArts Joy presents
March 8 | Joel (Rage.One) Garcia
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March 8 | Joel (Rage.One) Garcia
12pm PST
Joel Garcia (Huichol) is an artist, arts administrator and cultural organizer with 20+ years of experience working transnationally focusing on community-centered strategies. His approach is rooted in Indigenous-based forms of dialoguing and decision-making (non-hierarchical) that uplifts non-institutional expertise. Joel uses art and organizing to raise awareness of issues facing underserved communities, inner-city youth, and other targeted populations. As an artist, he uses printmaking to explore masculinity through Indigenous perspectives through his project “Tatewari,” as well as other social justice issues with his work garnering national press in publications such as the LA Times, NY Times, and Artforum among others.Monday, March 8th @ 12pm on Zoom
CommArts presents
February 22 | Elaine Lopez
12pm PST
Elaine Lopez is a Cuban-American designer, researcher, artist, and educator whose work explores the intersection of cultural identity, equity, and diversity within the field of design. Elaine acquired her BFA from the University of Florida (2007), and her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (2019), both in Graphic Design. She currently teaches graphic design and Risograph printing at the Maryland Institute College of Art as a recipient of the AICAD Postgraduate Teaching Fellowship. Monday, February 22 @ 12pm on Zoom
CommArts Joy presents
February 18 | Ramon Tejada
February 18 | Ramon Tejada
10am PST
Ramon Tejada is a (Afro-Caribbean / Dominican / American) designer (as Estudio Ramon) and educator based in Providence, RI. He works in a hybrid design/teaching practice focusing on collaboration, inclusion, unearthing and the responsible expansion of design a practice he has named “puncturing.”