About the 2026 M.F.A. Exhibition
KNOWN OTHERWISE introduces the work of the M.F.A. program’s emerging creative voices, offering an exhibition driven by innovation, research, and expansive approaches to design. It challenges the idea that knowledge is singular or neutral, spotlighting ways of knowing shaped by culture, memory, embodiment, and resistance. Visitors can expect bold material explorations and conceptually rich projects that surface overlooked perspectives and reframe what design can communicate, inviting audiences to encounter meaning as something continually made, questioned, and rediscovered.
Meet the Designers
Lala Amirguliyeva - "Shebeke"
Lala is an industrial designer from Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing on how culture shapes everyday objects.
Zach Bynes - "Words in the Wild"
Zachary is a designer from San Diego, California currently exploring how thoughtfully designed accessibility software can benefit their own children and other nonverbal children on the Autism spectrum.
Lauren Campbell - “The Problem of Picturing the Past: How Online Image Searches and Books Fall Short and What to Do About It"
Lauren was trained as an architect, worked as an installation artist, and now focuses her practice on graphic design, information architecture, typography, and design history.
Deana Dieujuste - "Uncontainable"
Deana is a multidisciplinary designer from South Florida focused on equity, sustainability, and creative direction across brand, social, publication, and print design.
Kelsey Gamino - “Tending to Self"
Kelsey is a designer and facilitator from Detroit focusing on print, brand, and publication design. Her thesis work addresses burnout and creative well-being.
Ariel Del Vecchio - "The Contradiction of Human-Centered Military Design: A New History of Silicon Valley Consulting Firm IDEO"
Ariel is a visual artist, designer, and historian based in Central Texas. Her work focuses on uncovering hidden histories of design.
Meet current and past cohorts of M.F.A. students boldly tackling the challenges of today to design a better future in the M.F.A. Student Directory.
Opening Night
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the images.
