FORBES magazine has honored UC Davis Design
alumna Kausi
Raman (B.S., design and economics, ‘20) by naming her
one of their
“30 under 30” in education for 2026.
In The Abusable Past’s
latest installment of “What We’re Reading,” Associate Professor
of Design and American Studies Javier Arbona-Homar has a
conversation with Emily Mitchell-Eaton to discuss their
recently released books.
On April 16, Associate Professor of Design and American
Studies Javier Arbona-Homar discussed his
new book Explosivity:
Following What Remains (University of Minnesota
Press, April 2025) at Shaping San Francisco. His
presentation is now accessible
online.
SEGD (the Society for
Experimental Graphic Design) has honored Professor Timothy McNeil
with the association’s Educator Award for his influential
contributions as an educator, researcher, designer and advocate
for exhibition and experience design.
A leading voice in the field, McNeil’s award-winning
book, The Exhibition and Experience Design
Handbook, synthesizes years of practical, scholarly, and
pedagogical expertise, offering a foundational text for both
students and professionals. His research explores exhibition
design history, museum methodologies, and the evolving role of
design in shaping public understanding—while his teaching
emphasizes curiosity, craft, and the critical relationship
between narrative, space, and audience.
Summer Abroad Internships “Fashion And Design Practice”
Florence, Italy (June 16 to July 24, 2026)
Tokyo, Japan (June 17 to August 16, 2026)
Fashion and Design Practice internships in two innovative and
influential fashion capitals, Florence and Tokyo, during the
summer of 2026. Gain hands-on experience in areas like fashion
and accessory making, sustainable design, business branding,
digital marketing, styling for fashion shows and/or other
commercial events, and more.
Video credit: Promotional video produced by Florie Mankarious
Village Homes: A Radical Plan celebrates the 50th
anniversary of an innovative west Davis community.
Curated by Professor Timothy McNeil and guest curator Adrienne
McGraw, the installation showcases the vision, concepts, and
development behind the project and its goals. The exhibition runs
Jan. 20 through April 26 in the UC Davis Design Museum.
Associate Professor of Design and American Studies Javier
Arbona-Homar has a new book, Explosivity:
Following What Remains, which closely studies
violent episodes — many of which are actual explosions — that
occurred in the Bay Area from 1866 to 2011.
Two members of the Department of Design were recently recognized
for their teaching and research and honored with College of
Letters and Science Awards.
A number of design students and faculty members are participating
in the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative
Activities Conference on April 25 and 26. Stop by
to see 17 design students present their work in the arts and
design exhibit – 1-5 p.m. Friday, April 25 in
the University Credit Union Center at the ARC (free and open
to the public).
Design graduate student Latrell Broughton, a native
of Beaufort County, NC, is creating an interactive
mural for students at P. S. Jones Middle School in
Washington, NC; which he attended growing up.
The UC Davis Eco Materials Library and CoSEP have partnered with Autodesk and
California College of the Arts on the Pioneering Biomaterials
exhibition. Eco material samples made by Professor Beth Ferguson,
Assistant Professor Akshita Sivakumar, graduate student Diego
Martinez Fernandez del Castillo, and alumni Eldy Lázaro and
Alejandra Ruiz will be on display at the CCA Campus
Gallery until Feb. 14.
Professor Timothy J. McNeil was among the winners at the
2024 SEGD Global Design Awards Ceremony recently held in Dallas.
McNeil received a Merit Award for his book The
Exhibition and Experience Design Handbook.
UC Davis Design Professor Gozde Goncu-Berk, director of WearLab,
in collaboration with Professor Houman
Homayoun and PhD Candidate Ruoyu Zhang from
the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
have been honored with the International Achievement Award
(IAA) in the category of Protective & Functional
Apparel by the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA).
Associate Professor Beth Ferguson and alumni Eldy Lazaro
(MFA, design, ‘20) and Emma Smith (Design student alum) won the
Best Paper Award for their project “Eco Materials Library” at
the International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces. The
symposium was hosted by University of Sheffield in the
United Kingdom.
Adele Zhang, senior continuing lecturer and design collection
curator and manager, is the co-author of a new bilingual
book, “Encountering the Global Textile Motifs” (China Textile
Press Co., Ltd, 2024). Written with Kunyuan Li, a Ph.D in design
studies from Jiangnan University, China, the book illustrates a
colorful survey of ethno-textile designs from the UC Davis Jo Ann
C. Stabb Design Collection and Han Costume Collection by Jiangnan
University.
Join PBS KVIE for a
screening of Leonardo
da Vinci, a new film by Ken Burns, followed by a
conversation with art studio alum Julia Couzens (M.F.A. ‘90) and
design Professor James Housefield as they discuss
the towering achievements of Leonardo da Vinci.
Recently gifted works to the Manetti Shrem
Museum from dedicated art lovers and philanthropists Jan
Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem are the focus on a new exhibition
curated and designed by UC Davis students.
The Alberini Family Speaker Series is supported through
an endowment by the Carlos and Andrea Alberini Family Foundation.
It brings renowned innovators and thinkers in design to campus
and in virtual formats to inspire students and encourage
community engagement and learning.
What are you doing these days? We want to hear about your life
since you graduated with a Design degree. Are you working,
attending grad school, or starting a family? Please fill out this
form to tell us about your travels, accomplishments or
future plans. If you have a website we would like to post a link
to that as well.
