Design Works offers an overview of the body of in-house visual design work by students and faculty at NYU Abu Dhabi from 2012 to present.

Visual design practice entered the curriculum of the university in January 2012 with the offering of an elective course named Designing Abu Dhabi.

The course resulted in a cohort of students who embraced the beauty and complexity of visual communication theories and practices. Following the conclusion of the course, they formed the Design Collective, an autonomous group with the objective of implementing good design practice within NYUAD. Their efforts played a major role in setting our visual identity in the city.

In-house design supported the institution’s needs in outstanding ways to help the University to define its mission and vision. The creation of an English/Arabic logotype designed by one of the students stands out as a prime example.

“Some of their work is gone for good but many of their best designs are here. And they are here to stay: every time we welcome new students at Marhaba Week, every time we cheer for our Athletics teams, every time our seniors get to hold the silver Torch on Commencement day, the relevance of in-house visual design is apparent. Important conversations on branding, wayfinding and accessibility stemmed out of the discourse around design, and as we continue to grow, these topics will become more and more impactful. It is our hope that this show will inspire new students to continue the work of their predecessors for many years to come.”