Laura Farahzad Mayer selected as Communication Design full-time faculty
Laura Farahzad Mayer
The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) welcomes Laura Farahzad Mayer as the new full-time assistant professor of Communication Design. An accomplished instructor and designer, Farahzad Mayer has a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, as well as an M.A. and an M.F.A. with an emphasis on Graphic Design and secondary in Printmaking from the University of Iowa, where she taught Graphic Design courses for the past four years.
“My teaching philosophy centers around teaching my students to be lifelong learners and encouraging curiosity,” says Farahzad Mayer. “The way I approach my classroom is influenced by Sister Corita Kent’s rules, placing focus on community, trust, experimentation and happiness. I plan to support my students by providing them an atmosphere that fosters creativity and a community where they feel comfortable to make mistakes and continue to grow as creative practitioners.”
LFM
“Bastani,” Laura Farahzad Mayer. Image courtesy of the artist.
LFM1
“Father & Son #3,” Laura Farahzad Mayer. Image courtesy of the artist.
LFM4
“Rasht,” Laura Farahzad Mayer. Image courtesy of the artist.
LauraFarahzadMayer_Home-News
“Cold Brew Identity Design,” Laura Farahzad Mayer. Image courtesy of the artist.
Prior to teaching, Farahzad Mayer worked as a designer and hand letterer for Whole Foods Inc., as well as creating design materials for Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign. Her personal practice focuses on making work that questions and explores her connections with her family, past and Iranian-American upbringing in rural Wisconsin. A lover of typography, specifically hand rendered typography, Farahzad Mayer contributes her unique skill set to a thriving Communication Design department.
“I am excited to work with MIAD’s high level creative students as well as the talented and dedicated peers,” she continues. “I look forward to teaching in an environment that is so student centered and focused on encouraging students to reach their highest potential.”
Learn more about MIAD’s Communication Design program and explore Laura’s work!
News
First-Year students celebrate juried works at FYE Media Arts Festival ’23
Current and former First-Year Experience (FYE) students celebrated their video, animation and sound design works at the FYE Media Arts Festival 23 – an in-house film and media screening in MIAD’s Community Hub on November 16.
House of Rad and MIAD alum Brandon Minga host Feed Your Soul
MIAD alum Brandon Minga ‘04 (llustration), principal artist and founder of the House of Rad (hrad), was excited to host the 20th anniversary of the Feed Your Soul benefit for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin on November 3, 2023. This was the second consecutive time hrad has hosted the event.
MIAD students receive 2023 Graphic Design Awards from GDUSA
Three MIAD Communication Design students received 60th anniversary American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) magazine. The students were selected from over 8,000 entries, and judged alongside professional design work. Fewer than 10% of entrants received an award.
IAD seniors tour construction site of The Couture
Interior Architecture and Design (IAD) seniors from MIAD were taken to new heights on November 13 when they toured the construction site of The Couture, a 44-story skyscraper under construction that will be Milwaukee’s tallest residential and mixed-use building. The tour was part of a series of tours their senior thesis “Building Systems” class is taking with instructor Dan Kalkman, AIA.
MIAD alum Sajnani selected as MAM 2023 annual ornament designer
The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) selected the design of MIAD alum Debbie Sajnani ’16 (Communication Design) for its 2023 annual ornament. The ornaments are recreated each year by artisans using a reserve painting technique, according to MAM.