UH offers free graphic design for nonprofits

In the spring of 2008, the University of Hawaii at Manoa initiated the Graphic Design Workshop – a special studio, run by advanced graphic design students, with faculty supervision, committed to providing high-quality graphic design work for nonprofit organizations in Hawaii.

Projects so far include an annual report for the State of Hawaii Environmental Council, public service campaigns for the Manoa Alcohol Project and visual identity systems for Legal Aid Hawaii and Jarrett Middle School in Palolo Valley. Although the studio is only two years old, its projects have already won local and national recognition, most recently in the October issue of HOW Magazine, a national publication showcasing outstanding work in graphic design.

The workshop is part of the award-winning Graphic Design Program in the UH Department of Art History, a program recognized locally, nationally and internationally for excellence in graphic design. In the last 15 years, its projects have been discussed or exhibited by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in New York, Communication Arts Design Annual, Emigre Magazine, The American Center for Design in Chicago and the School of Visual Arts and Cooper Union in New York. Most recently, the program was one of only fifty international graphic design programs included in the new book, Design Confidential: Extraordinary Design Projects from International Design Schools, edited by Lita Talarico of the School of Visual Arts in New York and Steven Heller, former art director for the New York Times.

The UH Graphic Design Workshop is now soliciting letters of interest from Hawaii nonprofits that have design projects for the 2010 spring term, which is January to May. If your organization has a project to propose, send a one-page, letter of interest with the information below to design@hawaii.edu by Nov. 30. Program faculty will review proposals during the first week of December and notify organizations with their decisions by Dec. 15.

Letters of interest should include:

• Name of nonprofit organization
• Name of contact person
• Mailing address, telephone number, email address and website address
• Short project description of one or two paragraphs
• Budget for printing or production – The workshop provides professional graphic design services to nonprofit organizations at no charge; however, donations of any amount to support the workshop are welcome. The nonprofit organization is responsible for all material, printing and production costs.
• Project deadline – Only projects that are intended to be produced will be considered. The workshop’s purpose is to offer professional graphic design services to nonprofit organizations while providing an educational experience for advanced graphic design students. Therefore, the workshop does not accept hypothetical projects. It is expected that all projects proposed will correspond with the January to May spring semester.