ABOUT
BRAND STORY
Since its inception as a professional discipline, European influences have dominated the history, instruction, and practice of Visual Communication. An emphasis on the clean, universalist aesthetics of the Bauhaus, de Stijl, and the Swiss School in design education has allowed for little time and few resources focused on the contributions of people of color to Visual Communication. When students of color do not “see” themselves in the arts—or view the arts as relevant to their lives—they do not participate, study, or value art and design. Consequently, Black and Latinx students and professionals are underrepresented in VisCom.
Design is everywhere—from the latest shoes and wearable fashions to the movies and brands consumers crave. As the US moves closer toward a pluralistic society, it is critical for Black and Latinx people to acquire the design skills needed to tell their counter-stories, develop culturally relevant communications, and help brands authentically connect with consumers of color. Unfortunately, these goals are not achievable if students of color are not first interested in studying Visual Communication.
“Initiatives that make design relevant and accessible to students of color are essential for developing the next generation of Black and Latinx communication professionals.”
Researching this topic has provided a better understanding of why students of color avoid art education and culturally appropriate forms of artistic expression. As a result, the Type Stylin’ Project (TSP) utilizes the parallels between graffiti art and design as the pedagogical basis for a program that introduces BIPOC high schools to the field of Visual Communication. By defining pathways for studying and careers in graphic design, the goal of the Type Stylin’ Project is to increase the number of BIPOC students in collegiate Visual Communication programs.
Eric Venegas, founder of the Type Stylin’ Project, is a multi-disciplinary visual communication professional who wears many hats—figuratively speaking. On any given day and at any given time, he is the owner of Small Hat Studio, a designer, illustrator, art director, writer, production manager, or customer service representative. As needed, Venegas collaborates with other creatives—including copywriters, photographers, and developers—to achieve his clients’ goals.
In Eric’s professional career, he has worked with clients from various industries, including mass-market and luxury retail, luxury automotive, human resources, restaurant and hospitality, fitness, legal, dental, non-profit, and start-up. The creative needs of his clients range from wearables to stationery systems, web design to large format graphics, and everything in between.
For 25 years, Mr. Venegas’ peers have recognized him as a seasoned design professional. However, more recently, he has been a newcomer to the world of academia. Eric displays a passion for bringing the same enthusiasm from the boardroom into the classroom to groom the next generation of graphic designers. As an adjunct faculty member at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Venegas has taught classes in visual communication branding and creative methodologies. Additionally, as an MFA candidate, his research interests include increasing the number of Black and Latinx students in design through art forms such as graffiti and muralism.
