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Ian Lynam

UDA Medallion 2016

Graphic Designer

Japan



Originally hailing from New York, Lynam has a BS in Graphic Design from Portland State University and an MFA in Graphic Design from CalArts. Ian Lynam is former Co-Chair and faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA Graphic Design program. Ian is also faculty at Temple University Japan. There, he teaches in the Undergraduate program in both the Art and General Education programs, actively engaged in developing curricula concerning Japanese graphic design history, typography, graphic design, semiotics, image-making, identity design, motion graphics, and sociology.

Ian is Visiting Critic in the MFA Graphic Design Program at CalArts where he works with final-year students on Thesis/Graduate Practice. He is also faculty in Tokyo at Meme Design School and Applied Typography Workshops Tokyo where he teaches typography and design history.

Currently, Ian writes for Idea Magazine (Japan), Slanted Magazine (Germany), and Modes of Criticism (Portugal/UK). He is a co-founder of the critical cultural online journal Néojaponisme and the associated print journal NJP. Ian runs Wordshape, a hybrid type foundry, publishing entity, distributor, and occasional software company.

Ian is one-half of Corinthians, a Tokyo-based art and design curatorial practice with partner Renna Okubo. He is a member of the STA, AIGA, and ATypI. He is a two-time winner of both the STA 100 and the Asian Pacific Design Awards.