Design Lecture Series
Identity, Physical, Digital, Environmental
Summary
Each season our non–profit Design Lecture Series brings 1800 attendees together to hear free lectures from global design legends at the Rem Koolhaas designed Central Library. Our aim in producing the Design Lecture Series is to stimulate conversation around design, share its rich history and inspire our community. The non–profit series is fully produced by Civilization — from event creation, partnerships and sponsorships, to branding, identity and web design and development. All posters from the series have been acquired by SFMOMA for their permanent collection.
Background
The Design Lecture Series aims to connect our creative community, stimulate conversation, and invigorate Seattle’s downtown library by bringing global design legends and our personal heroes to share their knowledge for free. The not–for–profit series, in its fourth season, is completely produced by Civilization, from sponsorship and publicity, to event production and full event design and development. To date the series has featured fifteen legendary graphic designers, including Kenya Hara, Paula Scher, Emory Douglas, Lance Wyman, Experimental Jetset and April Greiman.
Organization Type
Non–Profit Lecture Series
Assignment
Make graphic design history engaging, put a face to the craft and educate a new generation of designers about the history of graphic design.
Challenge
Make the series as accessible to young graphic designers as possible.
Client
Civilization
Years
2013 — Ongoing
Location
Seattle, WA USA
Approach
We chose the Rem Koolhaas designed Central Branch of The Seattle Public Library as the home of the series not only because of its beautiful architecture but also because it is an institute with information that is free for everyone to use. In our eyes, the most impactful graphic design is democratic; it communicates its message in a clear and accessible way, no matter your age, your race or your gender.
The symbology associated with the series is meant to be a literal play on the usual banality of a lecture series. Most of our studio has backgrounds in music, so we wanted to approach the events more like concerts. Tickets to the series typically sell out in under 1 minute and each lecture has a packed house. Tickets are all completely free for attendees and made possible by sponsors. The iconography for the series is our take on a lecture — a party in the AV room, with fold–up chairs, projection equipment, desks and glasses of water flying through the air.
Research
Graphic Design History, Concerts
Reach
Posters from the series have won multiple print awards and are included in SFMOMA’s permanent collection.
Quote
“Verbalizing design is another act of design.”
— Kenya Hara
“Civilization events… are phenomenally generous, and I want to come to them.”
— Paula Scher
Components
Concept and Strategy, Event Production, Fundraising, Identity Manual, Print Collateral System, Digital Collateral System, Environmental Graphic System, Promotional Print Materials, Social Media Strategy and Marketing, User Experience Design, User Interface Design and Development, CMS Development
Technical Specs
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WordPress, Twitter API
Lecturers
April Greiman, Stefan Sagmeister, David Carson, Ken Garland, Lance Wyman, Adrian Shaughnessy, Paula Scher, Karel Martens, Emory Douglas, Kenya Hara, Saki Mafundikwa, Jessica Walsh
Moderators
Jody Rodgers, Adrian Shaughnessy, April Greiman, Doug Wadden, Marissa Jenae Johnson, Fumi Watanabe James, Charles Mudede, Kate Bingaman-Burt
Sponsors
Moleskine, Seattle Public Library, Umpqua Bank, Mohawk, Design Within Reach, Knoll, Aesop, ReachNow, Legion Paper, Colorplan Paper, Mailchimp, CreativeLive, Vitamin T, Various Projects, Whole Foods, 52 Limited, Olderbrother, W Seattle, Peter Miller Books, Moment, Caffe Vita, Marjorie, Aquent, Theo, Office of Arts & Culture, Black Heritage Society, Seattle Design Festival, MT Tape, Bootstrapper Studios, Stanley, Stack, Rachel’s Ginger Beer, Printing Control, OOLA, Hotel 1000, Gray Magazine, City Arts, Hilliard’s, Structure Cellars, Convention Totes, Arcade, KUOW-NPR
Team
Principal: Michael Ellsworth
Principal: Corey Gutch
Partnerships and Outreach: Molly Derse
Creative Direction: Gabriel Stromberg
Web Development: Shaun Kardinal
The Design Lecture Series is a self-initiated on-going series which brings world-class graphic designers to the stage to share their knowledge for free. The symbology used throughout its promotional materials references typical objects found at lectures, i.e. folding chairs, projectors, glasses of water, displayed in unexpected arrangements.
