Right here in West Michigan, businesses trusted graphic designers to make new or complex products and ideas clear and engaging. Designers delivered fresh, distinctive, and innovative communications that informed and often amused. The Ferris State University Design Project Center has collaborated with the West Michigan Graphic Design Archives to produce this exhibit. Be inspired and delighted!
AUGUST 27 – OCTOBER 7, 2023
LOWELLARTS GALLERY
LOWELL MI
As a pioneering pharmaceutical company, Upjohn needed to demonstrate its scientific knowledge and educate physicians and pharmacists. By working with researchers to deeply understand the content, designers could interpret for their audiences.
In a changing arts and entertainment environment, Opera Grand Rapids needed to build its brand in a way that reinforced its connection to aficionados while attracting new audiences. Visual storytelling was part of the solution.
A maker of precision automotive, computer, and medical components, Autocam needed to convey to investors and customers their technical prowess and attention to detail. Compelling storytelling through typography and photography contributed to their success.
The West Michigan-based furniture maker needed to convey its problem-solving designs to audiences from interior designers to bean counters, and everyone in between. It did so by making human-to-human connections.
A producer of premium papers, French Paper needed to differentiate themselves with graphic designers. They got attention and demonstrated how paper could contribute to the effectiveness of a communications piece.
LowellArts Gallery
223 W Main St.
Lowell, MI 49331
This exhibit was made possible by a collaboration between the Ferris State University Design Project Center and the West Michigan Graphic Design Archives, housed at the Zhang Legacy Collections Center at Western Michigan University. The Archives makes both digital representations and physical artifacts available to design professionals, educators, students, business people, researchers, and others interested in the rich legacy of graphic design, paper manufacturing, and printing in West Michigan.
Visit the Archives
This exhibit was curated and designed by senior Ferris State University students: Mallory Jarrett, Mckinley Kreitner, Nathan Nye, Olivia Smith, and Ngan Tang, under the leadership of Design Program faculty members Alison Popp and Nicolas Mata.
Through this experience, the students learned about the ways design is important to business and how memorable and exciting it can be. The students are part of the Design Program in the College of Business.
Visit the Ferris Design ProgramBrightformat, a Grand Rapids high-quality digital printing company, contributed expertise, services, and materials that made this exhibit possible. Their commitment to the West Michigan design community is evident through their support, demonstrating their belief that there is nothing more important than the success of their clients.
