Sylvia Harris

Sylvia Harris (* 1953 in Richmond ; † July 24, 2011 in Washington, DC ) was an American graphic designer and art teacher.

Life

Harris studied communication art and design at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and moved to Boston to work for the public broadcaster. After graduating in 1975, she did a Master of Fine Arts at Yale in 1980 . Previously, she was trained under the direction of Walter Gropius at The Architects Collaborative (TAC) and at the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill . In 1980 she co-founded Two Twelve Associates with Juanita Dugdale and David Gipson, their first graphic design consultancy. She has taught at Purchase College State University in New York and Yale's graphic design program, and has been a visiting professor at various museums and universities. In 1994 she founded the company, Sylvia Harris, LLC, where she advised clients on the design of public information systems. She founded Citizen Research & Design to use the possibilities of graphic design to improve public communication. She is also known for her work at the Central Park Zoo in New York , the design of the United States Census Bureau, Census 2000, her postage stamp designs and as a co-founder of the Public Policy LAB. She was married to Gary Singer, with whom she has a daughter. The Sylvia Harris Citizen Design Award is presented in her honor.

Awards

2014: AIGA Medal

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Harris, Sylvia
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American graphic designer and art educator
DATE OF BIRTH	1953
PLACE OF BIRTH	Richmond
DATE OF DEATH	July 24, 2011
Place of death	Washington, DC