Design-oriented, after-school enrichment programs for pre-college students (aged roughly 16 to 18 years), also known as out-of-school or after-school programs in the U.S., often address or attempt to address issues around justice and empowerment in underserved and urban communities. Such was the case with Youth Design, a non-profit out-of-school program that, for fourteen years (2003–2017), served public high school students in urban settings in Boston, Massachusetts (U.S.A.). Although the program served hundreds of Boston-area youths in this age group (or “Youth Designers,” as they were referred to by those who managed and operated this program), the workings of this organization [were not] well-documented in peer-reviewed design research literature. More
Book Designer and Contributing Photographer, Mission Hill: Presence, Absence and Transformation, 2019.
A limited-edition, hard-bound, 50-page catalogue for a community-based photography exhibition in 2019.
Promotional Materials for AIGA Boston 35th Anniversary, 2019.
For AIGA Boston's 35th Anniversary Celebration I was asked to develop promotional material for event attendees. In doing so a tote bag and notebook take on old school 1980s flavor.
Design and Branding for MassArt x SoWa, 2021.
Visual and verbal branding for MassArt's newly launched satellite gallery space in Boston's SoWa cultural district.
Into, Through, + For: A Collection of Contemporary Design Posters, Exhibition, 2020–2021.
This exhibition sought to explore the role of the poster as an agent into, through, and for design. The show featured a selection of prints from my personal collection along with posters designed by my Graphic Design students.
Just Numbers, Digital Photography: Prints on Archival Paper (Series), 12 x 18 in, 2019.
A photographic series produced as part of the 2019 exhibition Mission Hill: Presence, Absence and Transformation.
The Edge, Environmental Branding and Graphic Design for Duke University, 2014.
The Duke Ruppert Commons, or “The Edge” as it came to be named, fosters intensive interdisciplinary faculty and student research.
Vlahos, Dan. “From Photojournalism to Critical Design: Two Interconnected Introductory Undergraduate Graphic Design Projects.” The Athens Institute for Education and Research, 5th Annual International Symposium on Culture and Civilization, 8-11 June 2020, Athens, Greece, Abstract Book, 59–60, 2020.
This paper examines the objectives, components, and outcomes of two interconnected undergraduate graphic design projects that use photography, writing, experiential learning and critical design to examine issues related to the environment, nature, aesthetics and sustainable design. More
Mission Hill Arts Festival Identity, 2022.
Building upon the successful launch of the 2021 Mission Hill Arts Festival in Boston—festival organizers again reached out to Dan Vlahos Design as they sought a visual branding toolkit for 2022.
Vlahos, Dan. "Book Review: Design in Crisis: New Worlds, Philosophies, and Perspectives Edited by Adam Nocek and Tony Fry." Design and Culture: The Journal of the Design Studies Forum, 2021.
In 2021 I was asked to review Design in Crisis for Design and Culture. The full review can be accessed here.
Some Thoughts for Chaz: A Book of Congratulatory Messages for Chaz Maviyane-Davies, Book Design for AIGA Boston, 2018.
A limited-edition book created on the occasion of Chaz Maviyane-Davies' 2018 AIGA Boston Fellow Award.
Vlahos, Dan. “Exploring the Audiovisuality of Neo-Post-Punk Music: Dynamic Media, Art Direction and Motion Design in Undergraduate Graphic Design Education.” MODE 2021: Proceedings from the 2021 Motion Design Education Summit, Routledge, 44–47, 2021.
This paper explores how concepts of audiovisuality and audiovisualization can be meaningfully integrated into undergraduate communication/graphic design education by providing a short-form case study of coursework and curricula along with examples from theory and practice. This research plants the seed for further investigation of these interdisciplinary terms in the context of design education and thus begins the process of defining and evaluating their use and situating them within these interdisciplinary domains. More
Chip Dewing: At Home in the Landscape, Book Design, 2020.
A limited-edition, hard-bound, 109-page volume that chronicles and documents the highly contextual work of this inspired American architect.
Visual Identity and Branding for New England Conservatory, 2017.
Dan Vlahos Design helped develop a new visual/brand identity for one of the oldest conservatories in the country.
Mission Hill Arts Festival Identity, 2021.
In May of 2021, a Boston-based arts organizer/activist approached Dan Vlahos Design as she developed, promoted, and organized a newly formed Arts Festival in Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood. Dan Vlahos Design was asked to create a logo/identity and comprehensive visual branding toolkit for this new Festival.
Innovation Labs Logo and Environmental Graphic Design for Harvard University, 2011.
The Harvard Innovation Lab (now Labs) and the "Hi" icon have become University-wide beacons for innovation at Harvard and the surrounding community.
Art Direction and Design for Volkswagen of America, 2000–2005.
For over five years I served as an Art Director and Designer for Volkswagen of America on the "Drivers Wanted" integrated branding team. More
changeResolution Script for InDesign, 2022.
A free Script for Adobe InDesign that toggles the preview resolution between web and print.
The Underlying Geometry of Everything, Digital Media and Inkjet on Canvas (Series), 2000–2005.
This abstract series of digital drawings explored the hidden structure and geometry in art, architecture and design. More
Sun and Moon Minimalist Clock, 2014
The Sun and Moon Minimalist Clock was a simple, limited edition yellow clock treated with photoluminescence—allowing it to shift color and glow softly as a room becomes dark at night. More
Vlahos, Dan. "The Praxis Management Document: A Case Study of Three Personal Uses Cases." Talk, New England Regional Developers Summit, 2021.
At the 2021 NERD Summit I presented a mini-case study of my new website—informed by notions of praxis. Along the way, I shared contextual research, influential ideas, tools, and approaches that helped shape the project.
Boston Strong Graphic in Support of the One Fund Boston, 2013.
As a Boston-native, Boston-based designer and former Boston Marathon participant I contributed this commemorative icon for use on buttons and other materials in support of Boston Strong. More
Eye Heart MassArt Promotional Campaign for the MassArt Alumni Community, 2008.
The Eye Heart MassArt promotional branding campaign was used to promote MassArt's 2008 Alumni Weekend and for subsequent events and initiatives. More
Vlahos, Dan. The Education of a Communication Designer. Boston, 2017.
The Education of a Communication Designer was my master's thesis book submitted to The Dynamic Media Institute at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) in 2017. More
Agents of Change Badge Graphic for Shepley Bulfinch, 2010.
The Shepley Bulfinch "Agents of Change" badge graphic was developed to communicate the idea that architecture is not just about building or buildings, but moreover serves as a strategic mechanism for personal, organizational and institutional change. More
CMYKW, Acrylic on Birch Wood Panels and Canvas (Series), Various Sizes, 2000–2015.
Using monoprinting techniques and then over time painting with brayers and palette knives this long standing series of paintings were inspired by jazz music and nature.
Processional for Brass Quintet at deCordova, Original Score, 2014.
In 2013 I began working with Steve Giles, a Berklee College of Music trained composer who along with my former design student Ben Hawkins to develop this full score for brass quintet. More
Visual Identity and Branding for The Fenway Alliance, 2010.
As the Fenway Alliance sought to develop a regional strategic plan "identity" was unearthed as one of the key strategic themes—which was when I was tapped to develop a visual identity and branded materials to support this effort. More
Neighborhood Celebration Promotional Poster for Mission Hill, 2009.
To develop interest for the first ever Mission Hill Neighborhood Celebration in Boston I was invited to design promotional materials. More
Blue Journal for Shepley Bulfinch, 2011–2014
A limited edition, locally-made and sustainably produced blue journal for Shepley Bulfinch. More
Website Redesign for Shepley Bulfinch, 2009
As part of a longer term strategic rebranding the redesigned website for Shepley Bulfinch helped change the value proposition of the firm.
MassArt Art Auction Branding and Design for the MassArt Foundation, 2004–2012.
During the nearly ten years I worked on the MassArt Auction this annual event grew into a nationally recognized venue for contemporary artworks—showcasing the work of leading artists, faculty and alumni of the college—thus helping to "bolster" the broader MassArt "brand." More
Limited Edition Monographs and Books for Shepley Bulfinch, 2011–2013.
This series of limited edition series of monographs and books on the projects and process of Shepley Bulfinch reflected on the contributions of the firms' Principal architects, expertise and milestone projects. More
Summer Design Fellowship Poster for Shepley Bulfinch, 2009.
To promote and celebrate the Shepley Bulfinch Summer Design Fellowship— this limited edition poster was sent to nearly every architecture school in North America. More
Knoller: A Web Layout System for Portfolios, Startpages and Widgets, 2012–Present
Knoller (formally Nollr) is a customizable and responsively-designed web-layout system for sortable and filterable portfolios and start pages. More
1040HOL Holiday Card, 2003
In 2003—for my personal holiday greeting I appropriated the Form 2040 making it into a holiday themed, adult "activity book." More
Autoshow Ad for Volkswagen, 2005
This ad for Volkswagen was designed for the 2005 North American International Auto Show—it was placed on the reverse side of the exhibition center map provided to the autoshow attendees. More
The Color Piano Project, 2000.
The Color Piano Project was an experimental system of audiovisualizations developed as part of my senior degree project in Graphic Design at MassArt. The project culminated in a series of animated prototypes demonstrating the dynamic mapping of the color spectrum to musical octaves and individual notes. More
Lecturemate: A Multimodal System for Viewing and Understanding Lectures, 2016.
Lecturemate was a speculative dynamic media software system designed to increase the comprehension and accessibility of lectures—especially for creative learners. More
Critiquemate: A System for Exploring Critique Methods and Managing Feedback, 2016.
Critiquemate is a speculative software platform built for design educators and design students. In educator mode Critiquemate helps educators find and share various critique methods and approaches. More
Isabella: A Dramatized Digital Persona, 2015
Isabella was a site specific, speculative multimedia installation for the Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Isabella is comprised of a series of framed video screens that present a motion-and sound-activated likeness of Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840–1924)—the founder of the museum. More
The Perfect Character: A Typographic Film Character Creation Tool, 2016.
This project envisions a scenario where users could design a typographic “character” using a series of slider controls—and then watch their creation "take life" within a dynamically generated animated film. More
MetaPieces: An Interactive Abstract Art Making Table, 2015.
MetaPieces was an interactive prototype touch-screen table that engaged participants in the deconstruction and abstract reconstruction of well-known paintings. More
Rettig, Martha and Dan Vlahos. “The Designumentary: Communication Design Research and Practice through Short, Topic-Focused, Vox-Pop Style Multimedia Documentary Production.” MODE 2019: Proceedings from the 2019 Motion Design Education Summit, Routledge, 193–198, 2019.
A comprehensive presentation/paper from the 2019 MODE Summit in which the authors describe the pedagogical development and provide examples of a communication design project implemented across two institutions—examining the use of vox pop video as an ethnographic research tool. More
Vlahos, Dan. “Youth Design in Boston: A Summary of Objectives, Components and Outcomes from 2003– 2017.” Dialogue, Proceedings from the 2018 MAKE Conference, Michigan Publishing and AIGA DEC, 154–157, 2020.
This paper documents and analyzes Youth Design, an innovative Boston-based non-profit summer and after-school program that provided year-round design-focused learning, career and cultural opportunities to urban high school students for nearly fifteen years. More
Link Identity for Duke University, 2008.
Located in Perkins Library—Link is an expansive and flexible campus space designed to foster innovative approaches to teaching and learning. More
Studiomate: A Peer-to-Peer Help System for Studio Communities, 2016.
Studiomate is a peer-to-peer "help" system for studio [creative] communities. As a speculative system—Studiomate posits to foster learning connections. More
Vlahos, Dan. “The Designumentary.” Dialogue, vol. 2, Proceedings from the 2018 Decipher Design Educators Research Conference, Michigan Publishing and AIGA DEC, 55–58, 2019.
A short paper examining the use of vox pop video as an ethnographic research tool for graphic and communication designers. More
Fingering Randomizer for Bb Trumpet: An Interactive Multimodal Learning and Performance Environment, 2016.
Fingering Randomizer for Bb Trumpet is a dynamic software interface for trumpetists. The software—which is based on chance was developed in Processing. More