Boston, Massachusetts
My friend Chaz Maviyane-Davies, a Zimbabwean expat and Professor of Design at the Massachusetts College of Art, has for the past few years stuck a new tear-sheet flyer each month with a different quote on it outside his office door in the college… above is the current offering, and following is Chaz’s explanation…
Paul Peter Piech (1920–1996) was a mentor, teacher and friend. He was perhaps the most prolific, skillful and passionate graphic designer I will ever meet and whose influence on me still resonates. His obituary in the UK Independent began “Some remarkable individuals keep on believing, throughout their lives, that the world could change for the better. The artist and printer Paul Peter Piech was one such man.” They concluded “In our current climate of fin de siecle despair at the state of the world Paul Peter Piech stood out as a man who knew how to turn any anger about man’s inhumanity to man into creative work with a disturbing social message.”
Even as a troublesome upstart, he supported me totally and in 1980 just before I completed my BA at Middlesex University, he graciously illustrated (lino-cut) this identity for me for my stationery needs. A kindred spirit, this quote reminds me fondly of him as we need the likes of Paul more than ever today.
Boston, Massachusetts
My friend Chaz Maviyane-Davies is a Zimbabwean expat who is now a Professor of Design at the Massachusetts College of Art. Once a month for the past few years he has stuck a tear-sheet flyer with a different quote on it outside his office door in the college… above is the current offering.
(timely political commentary by my friend Chaz Maviyane-Davies)
Den Haag, Netherlands
My friend Chaz has a show opening the day after tomorrow…
(the feather on the arrow is a bar-code).
Being: The Graphic Design of Chaz Maviyane-Davies
De Affiche Galerij (The Poster Gallery)
Den Haag (The Hague, Netherlands)
Nov 30, 2011 – Feb 27, 2012
This just in from the talented and tireless Chaz Maviyane-Davies…
the Gaza Strip | قطاع غزة | רצועת עזה
…and sadly, bloody little “goodwill towards man” either, it seems.
(poster image: Chaz Maviyane-Davies)
Geneva, Switzerland
Today is Human Rights Day. The theme for 2008, “Dignity and justice for all of us,” reinforces the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a commitment to universal dignity and justice. It is not a luxury or a wish-list. The UDHR and its core values—inherent human dignity, non-discrimination, equality, fairness and universality—apply to everyone, everywhere and always.
The Declaration is universal, enduring and vibrant, and it concerns us all. Since its adoption in 1948, the Declaration has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for national and international efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. (A month ago, I posted re: an engaging type-based video on the UDHR here).
Images: received today from Zimbabwean ex-pat Chaz Maviyane-Davies.
From all over the USA…
Chaz Maviyane-Davies writes: “Tell me it can’t be true. Following 8 years of disastrous governance, the Democrats field the best candidate this country has seen in generations, against one of the worst the Republicans have ever mustered, and the media’s political pundits would have us seriously contemplate more of the same. Is anyone ever going to learn?” From ‘30 Reasons,’ a 30-day email and internet campaign to encourage people to vote for Barack Obama.
“Our goal is simple: Use design to build a logical, multi-faceted argument for Obama and make it easy to share each reason with another person… We enlisted 30 graphic designers to create a poster that represents a reason to vote for Obama. Starting on October 5th, we will post a new poster online every day and email it to our list. Recipients can easily share the email with other supporters and friends who are undecided.”
See all the posters (to date) here: or sign up at www.30reasons.org to receive a daily email.
Boston, Massachusetts
The “Design Journeys” project celebrates the stories and work of diverse designers and educators through online galleries and biographical essays, a special collection in the AIGA Design Archives and a traveling exhibition in 2009. The first seven featured designers’ entries have been published… see how the histories and work of these designers can inspire the next generation of young people from all backgrounds to consider design as a viable and rewarding career… view the Journeys here.
Images: three works by Chaz Maviyane-Davies (from top): Poster on the plight of Palestinian people, Self/Iraq Cultural Centre, 1980; Poster to commemorate the 100th year of the death of Toulouse Lautrec, Salon des Cent, France, 2001; Poster on AIDS awareness, Centre of Design of Rosario, Argentina, 2007.
