The Design Lecture Series started in 2013, and for seven years the series brought world-class designers to the stage to share their knowledge for free. Our aim was to stimulate conversation around design, share its rich history and inspire our communities. All lectures were free and took place at the Seattle Public Library – Central Branch designed by Rem Koolhaas. Over the years, posters from the series won multiple print awards and are now included in SFMOMA’s permanent collection.
In 2020, on the day of Jerome Harris’ scheduled lecture, COVID brought the series to a halt. In time, our studio made the decision to go fully remote, with our team spreading across the US and Europe. In this new era, we are now pursuing projects that reach new audiences by curating and designing exhibitions, holding virtual events, and producing workshops and giving talks.
The Design Lecture Series is produced by Civilization, a design practice that builds identity systems, digital experiences, printed materials, environmental graphics and exhibitions that are engaging, empathetic, sustainable and create meaningful connections. We work on a variety of projects for public, private and non–profit clients that share our commitment to creating positive change and promoting greater insights about our world.
Our practice is a recipient of the National Design Award for Communication Design from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in honor of “excellence, innovation, and enhancement on the quality of daily life.” Our internationally recognized work is included in the permanent collection of SFMOMA and the Milton Glaser Design Archives at SVA, has won numerous awards including a Webby Award for Best Activist Website, and is regularly featured in print publications as well as most major global media outlets such as The Guardian, The New York Times, The Huffington Post and NPR.