How do we bring climate data to the forefront of our attention? Can a series of responsive web applications foster further consideration of climate issues? Meet the Climate Data Vital Signs Responsive Web Applications.

How do we bring climate data to the forefront of our attention? Can a series of responsive web applications foster further consideration of climate issues? Meet the Climate Data Vital Signs Responsive Web Applications.
In a collaboration with architect Michael Joyce, AIA, LEED AP, I helped prototype and design a frit glass pattern for this LEED Silver Pavilion.
The Harvard Innovation Lab (now Labs) and the "Hi" icon have become University-wide beacons for innovation at Harvard and the surrounding community.
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. This case study examines 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. More
Fingering Randomizer for Bb Trumpet is a dynamic software interface for trumpetists. The software—which is based on chance was developed in Processing. More
A limited-edition, hard-bound, 50-page catalogue for a community-based photography exhibition in 2019.
A wide-ranging interview with Michela Ventin from Design Decode in which we discuss design, transformation, change, antidisciplinarity, integrative thinking, critical design, and complexity. More
How do graphic designers visualize their teaching philosophies—their pedagogical beliefs that are in constant dialogue with other cultural, philosophical, and disciplinary values and practices? This poster was created in response to this question and was subsequently selected for this traveling juried exhibition of invigorating, thoughtful, and diverse posters.
Visual and verbal branding for MassArt's newly launched satellite gallery space in Boston's SoWa cultural district.
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.
For over five years I served as an Art Director and Designer for Volkswagen of America on the "Drivers Wanted" integrated branding team. More
In 2021 I was asked to review Design in Crisis for Design and Culture. The full review can be accessed here.
In October 2020, Netflix released the miniseries The Queen’s Gambit, which captivated audiences worldwide. The absence of an opening title sequence throughout the series made the surprise inclusion of a beautifully crafted closing title sequence even more impactful. Designed by Saskia Marka and accompanied by Carlos Rafael Rivera’s compelling score, the sequence inspired the author to use it as the basis for an undergraduate-level motion design assignment. This case study highlights effective tactics for collaborative motion design pedagogy. More
How did a small New England town become a leading maker of carriages, car bodies, textiles, hats, shoes, and more? How can design help bring this unique story to life? How could such efforts foster identity, support, and place? As part of a multidisciplinary design team, my Merrimack College design students, Dan Vlahos Design, and many others helped shape answers to these questions as we helped bring a new industrial history center into existence.
A limited-edition, hard-bound, 109-page volume that chronicles and documents the highly contextual work of this inspired American architect.
A limited edition large format poster that attempts to build awareness around and for sustainable design.
Located in Perkins Library—Link is an expansive and flexible campus space designed to foster innovative approaches to teaching and learning. More
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
Now in its third year, the Mission Hill Arts Festival and the visual identity developed to support it serve to expand the reach and caliber of this urban outdoor arts festival.
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.
How do you get architects, designers, and clients excited and interested in process improvement methodologies such as Lean? Together with a team of multidisciplinary team of experts I helped design these ten "flashcards."
A series of promotional posters and graphics whimsically featuring duotone photos of Merrimack College Visual and Performing Arts students. More
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
A limited-edition book created on the occasion of Chaz Maviyane-Davies' 2018 AIGA Boston Fellow Award.
The Duke Ruppert Commons, or “The Edge” as it came to be named, fosters intensive interdisciplinary faculty and student research.
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
MetaPieces was an interactive prototype touch-screen table that engaged participants in the deconstruction and abstract reconstruction of well-known paintings. More
Dan Vlahos Design helped develop a new visual/brand identity for one of the oldest conservatories in the country.
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.
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.
A free Script for Adobe InDesign that toggles the preview resolution between web and print.
This abstract series of digital drawings explored the hidden structure and geometry in art, architecture and design. More
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.
Knoller (formally Nollr) is a customizable and responsively-designed web-layout system for sortable and filterable portfolios and start pages. More
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
The Eye Heart MassArt promotional branding campaign was used to promote MassArt's 2008 Alumni Weekend and for subsequent events and initiatives. More
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
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
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
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
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
A limited edition, locally-made and sustainably produced blue journal for Shepley Bulfinch. More
As part of a longer term strategic rebranding the redesigned website for Shepley Bulfinch helped change the value proposition of the firm.
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
A short paper examining the use of vox pop video as an ethnographic research tool for graphic and communication designers. More
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
To develop interest for the first ever Mission Hill Neighborhood Celebration in Boston I was invited to design promotional materials. More
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
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.
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
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 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
In 2003—for my personal holiday greeting I appropriated the Form 2040 making it into a holiday themed, adult "activity book." More
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
Lecturemate was a speculative dynamic media software system designed to increase the comprehension and accessibility of lectures—especially for creative learners. More
Studiomate is a peer-to-peer "help" system for studio [creative] communities. As a speculative system—Studiomate posits to foster learning connections. More
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
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
A photographic series produced as part of the 2019 exhibition Mission Hill: Presence, Absence and Transformation.