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About Miriam Ahmed


Dr. Miriam Ahmed is an Assistant Professor of graphic design at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She is the author of “Minority, Millennial Graphic Designers Say No to the ‘Road to Hell’” in Design and Culture 12(1): 31-55 (2020), “Perspectives On Responsible Design Among Minority, Millennial Graphic Designers” The International Journal of Design in Society 12(4): 29-44 (2018), and the essay “Minority Designers – Leading the Charge Toward Responsible Design” in Citizen Designer: Perspectives on Design Responsibility (Second Edition) edited by Steven Heller and Véronique Vienne (2018, Allworth Press with SVA NYC). She presented her research on “Anatomical Grids” at TypeCon 2019 in Minneapolis and was an AIGA DC SHINE 2019-20 mentor. Dr. Ahmed served on the 2020 Advisory Review Panel for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and also as a reviewer for the International Journal of Communication and Design Principles and Practices. She facilitated the Q&A after Antionette Carroll’s DC Design Week keynote in October 2019 and was a panelist at the Incentivizing Responsible Design: What Makes It Worth It? discussion.  She has taught graphic design at MICA, Howard University and was previously an Assistant Professor of Visual Communication at the American University in Dubai, UAE. Her work has been exhibited in the annual Howard University Department of Art Faculty Exhibitions (2014-2020) and as Howard faculty, Dr. Ahmed regularly served on graduate MFA thesis committees. Her courses have included Graphic Design, Typography, Professional Print Design, Design for Advertising, Magazine and News Design, Web Development and Interactive Media, Desktop Web Publishing, 2D Design, Color Theory and Computer Graphics.
 
Dr. Ahmed received her BFA and MFA in Graphic Design at Howard University, Washington DC, and earned her doctorate in Mass Communications and Media Studies at Howard. She was also a Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Rising Star. Her research interests include responsible design, typeface persona, and visual communication in politics. Her dissertation investigated the use of Gotham in Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Dr. Ahmed’s portfolio includes a wide variety of print media ranging from corporate branding, publication design, to event branding and promotion, as well as website design and development. For over six years, Dr. Ahmed served as Webmaster and designer within the largest academic unit of Howard University implementing creative intelligence and best practices into innovative print and web solutions. She was lead designer with several client organizations in the DC area including the Embassy of Jamaica and the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago. Early in her career, as an intern at Lonsdale, Saatchi & Saatchi, she worked on campaigns for Absolut and Hilton. She has recently begun interrogating the heavy indoctrination of modernism within her previous graphic work in favor of exploring and teaching culturally diverse and relevant typography and grid systems.
 
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Ahmed is a globe trotter and values immersion in unfamiliar cultures. She has traveled from Egypt to Europe, Mideast to Japan, Southeast Asia and throughout the US and Caribbean, and hasn’t seen near enough of the world yet.

Positions

2020 - Present Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Nova Southeastern University ‐ Halmos College of Arts and Sciences - Department of Communications, Media, and the Arts
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2013 - 2020 Lecturer, Howard University ‐ Department of Art
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2006 - 2014 Webmaster, Howard University ‐ College of Arts and Sciences
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2006 - 2007 Adjunct Lecturer, Howard University ‐ Department of Art
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2007 Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, American University in Dubai ‐ Department of Visual Communication
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2004 - 2006 Teaching Assistant, Howard University ‐ Department of Art
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August 2002 - May 2004 Editor, Nation and World Pages, Howard University
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July 2003 - August 2003 Internship: Graphic Designer, Lonsdale, Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, Ltd.
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2001 - 2002 Administrative Assistant, Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago
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July 2000 - August 2000 Design and Editing Internship: Trinidad Guardian Newspaper, Trinidad Publishing Co.
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Curriculum Vitae

Disciplines

Research Interests

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Professional Service and Affiliations

2001 - Present Member, Golden Key International Honor Society
2019 - 2020 Working Group Member, College of Fine Arts Bylaws Working Group
2019 - 2020 Member, College of Fine Arts Transition Team
2019 - 2020 Committee Member, Howard University Assessment Committee
2020 Mentor, AIGA DC SHINE
2020 Committee Member, Howard University Graduate Studies Committee
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Honors and Awards

  • (April 2019) Outstanding Lecturer of Fine Arts 2018-2019, College of Arts and Sciences, Howard University
  • (2012) American Graphic Design Award
  • (2010) In House Design Award (x5)
  • (2009) American Graphic Design Awards (x2)
  • (2008) American Graphic Design Award
  • (June 2008) Leader's Training Course, US Army Cadet Command
  • (April 2007) Certificate of Appreciation as Webmaster, Department of Military Service / US Army ROTC, Howard University
  • (2004-2006) Special Talent Scholarship
  • (Spring 2004) Certificate of Creative Excellence, Howard University Design Program
  • (2003-2004) Section Editor of the Year, Howard University Hilltop Newspaper
  • (2002-2003) Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Hilltop, Howard University Hilltop Newspaper
  • (2003) 1st Place, Swarthmore College Badminton Tournament, Mixed Doubles
  • (2003) 2nd Place, Towson University Collegiate Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles
  • (2002) Honors Program Study Abroad Scholarship, Howard University

Education

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May 2019 - August 2019 Harvard CORe Credential of Readiness, Harvard University ‐ Harvard Business School Online
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2008 - 2013 Ph.D. Mass Communication & Media Studies, Howard University
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2004 - 2006 M.F.A. Graphic Design, Howard University
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2000 - 2004 B.F.A. Graphic Design, Howard University
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Links

Contact Information

(954)262-7611

Email:

ORCID

Articles (2)

Books and Book Contributions (1)

Conferences & Lectures (4)

Discussions, Workshops, Artist Talks & Round Tables (8)