Fall 2021 KU Design Symposium Lecture Series Line-up Announced

LAWRENCE — The School of Architecture & Design at the University of Kansas has announced programming for the Fall 2021 KU Design Symposium Lecture Series. 

The fall lineup includes designers, artists and activists working in an array of disciplines and professional settings to inspire, educate and challenge through creative inquiry, innovation and socially engaged advocacy.     

The KU Design Symposium Lecture Series (formerly the Hallmark Symposium) was established in 1984 to enrich the education of all KU students, and in particular those in the Department of Design, through exposure to designers, artists and educators from across the United States and around the world. In its 35-plus year history, the series has become a cultural asset to the local creative community beyond the Lawrence campus. Each year, students and area professionals view groundbreaking work, explore provocative ideas and learn from the practitioners who are expanding what is possible through art, design and creative action. All lectures, which begin at 6 p.m, are free and open to the public online. See event site for Zoom details.  

Aug. 26 

Marshall Vandruff began as a commercial illustrator but quickly found a love for teaching. Vandruff has been a teacher of art and storytelling for over 35 years. He’s worked at Fullerton College, California State-Fullerton and Laguna College of Art and Design, among others. He’s also been an instructor and speaker for clients like Blizzard, Rockstar, Sony Online Entertainment, MAD Magazine, Dark Horse Comics and Insomniac Games. 

Sep. 23 

ClayVon Lowe is design director at Greentouch Home and maintains an independent freelance studio, D Brand Designs. He has designed everything from infant developmental toys for Baby Einstein/Kids2 to home decor products in lighting, kitchen/bath and the nationally acclaimed Kobalt tool brand for Lowe’s Home Improvement. 

Oct. 14 

Daniel Wong is professor of web design in the communication design department at New York City College of Technology. Since 1999, Wong has been working in the field of medical communications. He has worked as creative director of design and marketing in educational publishing, pharmaceutical marketing and continuing medical education. He has launched corporate products, directed design services and created technology solutions for both established global companies and startups. 

Oct. 28 

Robb Smigielski is chief design officer at VMLY&R. He leads the implementation of large-scale design and interactive platforms and integrated, digital marketing experiences for companies like Bentley, Virgin Active, PwC, Xbox, Premier League, Kashi, Microsoft, HSBC, Lenovo, Nintendo, Colgate, Bear Naked Granola and the House of Marley.  

Nov. 11 

Rodrigo Valenzuela is a multimedia artist and professor at the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture. Valenzuela is an artist working in photography, video, painting and installation. Using autobiographical threads to inform larger universal fields of experience, his work constructs narratives, scenes and stories that point to the tensions found between the individual and communities. Much of his work deals with the experience of undocumented immigrants and laborers. 

Dec. 2 

Liz Jackson & Alex Haagaard of The Disabled List is a design collaborative and consultancy that engages in disability as creative practice. They created Critical Axis, a community-driven project that collects and analyzes disability representation in media.