HMCT partners with the Southland Institute to present a talk by Laura Coombs, the graphic designer at the New Museum, the only museum in New York dedicated entirely to contemporary art. A beacon of progress, its mission is aimed at “confronting the present,” being a “catalyst for broad dialogue,” and ever-seeking “New Art, New Ideas.” Situated in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, the museum is on the precipice of doubling its architectural footprint and exhibition space. Simultaneously, the institution’s workforce recently voted to unionize, and is currently negotiating for more equity, more security, less hierarchy, and the power to be heard. Design and typography reflect this diverse ecosystem as visual evidence. This lecture will detail a design practice within the progressive cultural domain of downtown New York. It will be a look into a diverse publication, print, and type design practice—weaving within it a look at a growing institution, and a discussion of how design functions within this layered ecosystem and renders visible power, equity, relationships, and community.
Join us at HMCT for a fascinating presentation followed by an In Conversation session with Joe Potts of the Southland Institute and ArtCenter faculty, followed by a reception.