Details

A virtual lecture and conversation with Michael Ellsworth, Co-Founder and Principal of the design studio Civilization. 

Most recently, in 2022, Civilization was featured in the book Studio Culture Now — an essential guide to setting up, running and developing a design studio. 

Michael discussed Civilization’s work, culture, challenges in running a socially-minded studio, methods for starting and operating a small design studio, and how graphic design can be used to promote collective action.

A Q&A will followed the talk.

About Michael

For all the complex ways you can push boundaries, Michael Ellsworth has always kept it very simple: find the creative idea at the story’s core, question, or experience—and then let it lead you to the next one. Over the last twenty years, this has been the central element of Ellsworth’s eclectically driven career, bringing together work as a creative director, producer, curator, and public programmer.

He is the co-founder and principal of the design practice Civilization. Their studio leverages the radical potential of design to address social issues, expand cultural dialogue, and serve communities. Their decentralized team, spread across the US and Europe, builds identities, websites, campaigns, environmental graphics, exhibitions, and experiences. In 2018 their studio received the Smithsonian’s National Design Award for Communication Design.

You can follow Civilization on Instagram.