School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents "Potential Energy: 19 Designers Set Their Ideas in Motion," an exhibition of products, campaigns and services developed by students graduating from the MFA Design Department at SVA. Both commercially viable and culturally significant, these products have been realized through graphic, web, industrial and motion design. The exhibition is curated by Dorothy Twining Globus, a faculty member at SVA and curator of exhibitions at the Museum of Arts & Design. "Potential Energy" will be on view at the Visual Arts Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, from May 1 - 16.
For the first time in the program's 10-year history, the graduating class will also present their work at a daylong thesis forum held at the SVA Theater, 333 West 23rd Street, on April 22 from 9:30am to 8pm. A keynote lecture by iconic designer Milton Glaser will start the morning session. Other participants include MFA Design co-chairs Steven Heller and Lita Talarico, and design leaders Scott Stowell, Brian Collins and Allan Chochinov. The thesis forum is open to the public and provides an opportunity to learn more about each project directly from its creator. To encourage further dialogue, a closing reception will follow the event.
Empowering the Creative Community
Stephen Haslip's Dirty Weekend encourages designers to 'unplug' through a series of hands-on workshops. Kristina Critchlow's Web site, Swap Hive, invites creative professionals to barter their skills. Steven Smith strives for a more inclusive creative community through Tiny Hands, an online, open-source art collective.
Designing Social Change
Scott Suiter's Bluespot is a custom surf apparel line that promotes the preservation of beaches and oceans. Yellow to Green is Yaijung Chang's campaign to combat yellow dust storms in Korea. Areej Khan developed We the Women to ignite dialogue regarding a woman's right to drive in Saudi Arabia.
Tools for Healthy Living
Devon Kinch introduces Pretty Penny, a financial role model for young girls. Jane Song's Web site Owl's Prowl, exposes animal-based ingredients in the food industry. Nicole Marinake's Stacks, a series of portable reference cards, helps stagehands negotiate the complicated and sometimes dangerous world of technical theater. Jia Chen's Out Wee Go is a Web site that emphasizes the importance of a connection between children and nature.
Books That Teach
The Claw by Jason Bishop is a visual and oral history of the American Death Metal Underground from 1983 to 1993. Theresa Rollison's Live Don't Learn is an activity book for young women themed around the transition into adulthood. Lesley Weiner's Curiosity Index is a series of books that traces the visual history of objects.
Objects That Reinvent Routine
Hyun-jung Hwang's Voya is a line of dressing aids for people with reduced mobility that empowers the user through function and aesthetic. Nigel Sielegar's Mova is a series of customizable bags with modular parts that addresses the increasing need for mobile work spaces. Kimiyo Nakatsui takes on clutter in Brink, a packaging system for personal care products that introduces a visual and physical structure to a small but integral part of our personal environments.
Innovations with Emotional Impact
David Ricart's Tolo intensifies long-distance communication by providing a system for exchanging personal body scent. Gustavo Garcia's Web site, Susu, allows users to create custom art prints based on patterns generated from their personal photos. Nick Acemoglu's Web site, E-ternal, allows users to store thoughts, memories and life lessons for future generations.