Most of us have ancestors from somewhere other than the United States. A few years back I found my grandfather’s passport (here), one of those incredible discoveries that puts family ancestry in perspective. He came from Russia, settled in Vilnus, Lithuania, and had German and Russian papers. He became an American citizen before World War I, yet never sought nor received an American passport. He was happy staying put in the Bronx on Sheridan Avenue, free from Cossack tyranny and Czarist repression.
Immigration is endemic to the United States and a cornerstone of our democracy. The ban on immigrants and the deportation orders have chilling intended consequences. This is especially true for designers from all over the globe who have come to the U.S. to learn our culture and share theirs. Ross MacDonald wanted to show his respect for this privilege when he created this poster. The School of Visual Arts hopes to show its commitment to the art and design field’s multicultural essence with these buttons designed by MacDonald (with a little help from me). To obtain a few, send me a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SVA, 209 E. 23rd St., New York, NY 10010), and I’ll personally put them in the mail.
The 2017 PRINT RDA Early Bird Deadline: Wednesday, March 1!
Enter the most respected competition in graphic design—now open to both pros and students—for a chance to have your work published, win a pass to HOW Design Live, and more. 2017 Judges: Aaron Draplin / Jessica Hische / Pum Lefebure / Ellen Lupton / Eddie Opara / Paula Scher. Student work judges: PRINT editorial & creative director Debbie Millman and PRINT editor-in-chief Zachary Petit.
Enter by the Early Bird Deadline of March 1 and save on all entry fees.
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About Steven Heller
Steven Heller is the co-chair of the SVA MFA Designer /Designer as Author + Entrepreneur program, writes frequently for Wired and Design Observer. He is also the author of over 170 books on design and visual culture. He received the 1999 AIGA Medal and is the 2011 recipient of the Smithsonian National Design Award.View all posts by Steven Heller →