Chaz Maviyane-Davies has been described by the UK's Design magazine as "the guerrilla of graphic design". For more than two decades the award-winning, controversial Zimbabwean designer's powerful work has taken on issues of consumerism, health, nutrition, social responsibility, the environment and human rights. His credentials include an MA in Graphic Design (with distinction) from the Central School of Art and Design, London, and an Advanced Diploma in Postgraduate Film-making from the Central St. Martins School of Art and Design, London.
Chaz also spent a year in Japan studying three-dimensional design and ten months in Malaysia working on various world-reaching design projects for the International Organization of Consumers Unions and JUST World Trust. His professional experience in London includes time with Fulcrum (Design Consultants), Newell and Sorrell Design Ltd., as well as a stint in the Department of Graphic Design of BBC Television. From 1983 until recently he ran the renowned design studio in Harare, Zimbabwe called The Maviyane-Project.
As a result of the social, humane and confrontational nature of his work, he felt compelled to temporarily leave his homeland because of the adverse political climate there. He is presently an Associate Professor of Design at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. Films written, directed and produced by Chaz include "After the Wax" - a personal view of nationality and identity" (1991,17 min, 16 mm in color). This work has been screened at several film festivals and television channels around the world where it has won several awards and accolades.
His design work has been published in numerous International magazines and newspapers, and acknowledged in "Who's Who in Graphic Design", "First Choice: Leading International Designers", "Rewriting the Rules of Graphic Design", "Digital Portfolios Unzipped", "Graphic Agitation", and "Graphic Design Timeline: A Century of Design Milestones". He was included in the 1998 list of "ID Forty" ID magazine's annual honors list profiling leading-edge designers from around the world.
Besides extensive individual and group exhibitions worldwide, his design work has been represented in most of the largest international graphic, invitational and poster exhibitions from 1980 to the present time, while he has also been invited to judge several International exhibitions and competitions. His work is included in several international permanent collections in various galleries.
On Thursday, January 31, Chaz Maviyane-Davies will give a lecture about his work, life and design philosophy. He will especially focus on his experience on the frontline of design for social change. His lecture will follow the opening reception of the exhibition "Human Rights Human Lives: The Graphic Design of Chaz Maviyane-Davies.
This event is sponsored by Fox River Paper Company www.foxriverpaper.com
In-kind donation of printing by Merrill/Daniels Printing Company, Everett, Massachusetts.
Event coordination by Elizabeth Resnick, Chair, Communication Design Department, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston.
