Art and Design alum gives campus presentation
Colloquium Event: “Design for humans”
Humans have problems. Loads of them. One of those problems is not needing another flavor of pop tart. Or a better ironic t-shirt. As designers, we have the unique ability to use creativity and systems to make the world seem, well, more human. We need to start. Quickly.
Wednesday, March 6
7 p.m. in King Hall 110
Travis Olson Bio:
Travis Olson thinks that design and creativity can fundamentally change business at every level.
He was the first creative hired by the agency mono. He has designed and led teams on mono’s diverse work for Apple, Nike, Herman Miller, Parsons, USA Network, GOOD, The Science Channel and Blu Dot. He also helped define mono’s hiring, creative and cultural processes. While there, mono grew from 5 to 65 employees maintaining a high standard of experimentation that has led mono to multiple Agency of the Year awards.
He has helped the Minneapolis College of Art and Design to develop curriculum that focuses on creating agnostic thinkers to solve diverse problems. He works with many design programs to help create students that are better equipped to change the world.
Previously, he was a Design Director at Carmichael Lynch Thorburn where his client experience was equally diverse, having helped shape the visual brand language of everything from designer clothing to Barbie tableware for Target, to designing the launch communications for the VRod, the first liquid-cooled motorcycle in Harley-Davidson’s history.
His work has been recognized nationally and internationally, including by Communication Arts, HOW, ID, Print, The Type Director’s Club, and The One Show. He recently was honored by the AIGA as a distinguished member of Evolvedesign, a panel focused on the future of graphic design in Minnesota.
He currently resides in North Minneapolis where he is raising three chickens with his wife.