Design Department hosts luminaries for November speaker series
The Western Washington University Department of Design presents Michael Ellsworth, Peter Stocker, and Sheryl Cababa for a series of lectures in November. Ellsworth is a Principal/Co-founder of Civilization; Stocker is a Principal of the firm MG2; Cababa is Executive Creative Director at Artefact. All lectures are at 6 p.m. in Miller Hall 138. The talks are free and open to the public.
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, Ellsworth will discuss how design has the power to inspire conversations, create community and promote collective action. His talk showcases how visual communication throughout history has created communities, changed minds and ultimately saved lives.
On Monday, Nov. 18, Stocker, an industry veteran of 30 years and brand development specialist, will focus on the question “Why should I leave the house: Can design, creativity and experience save retail?” He will look at the leading-edge of retail, where experience is the product and design is paramount in getting consumers off the couch.
On Monday, Nov. 25, Cababa will discuss her conviction that the practice of design needs to be more outcomes-focused. She focuses on the need for designers and technology to take greater responsibility for their work by considering unintended consequences, ultimately pushing for design to be more transparent, meaningful, and ethical. “In the end, I’m all about a human-centered approach to design, and by way of that, improving people's lives.”
Michael Ellsworth
Michael Ellsworth is the director of Civilization. Civilization is a design practice that builds identity systems, digital experiences, printed materials, environmental graphics, exhibitions and campaigns that are engaging, empathetic, sustainable and create meaningful connections. They work on a variety of projects for public, private and non–profit clients that share their commitment to creating positive change and promoting greater insights about the world.
In conjunction with their studio work, they produce a variety of public programs such as the Design Lecture Series, Beyond This Point interview series and Non-Breaking Space a gallery dedicated to showcasing prominent works of graphic design.
Their organization is a recipient of the National Design Award for Communication Design from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in honor of “excellence, innovation, and enhancement of the quality of daily life.” Civilization’s internationally recognized work is included in the permanent collection of SFMOMA and the Milton Glaser Design Archives at SVA, has won numerous awards including a Webby Award for Best Activist Website, and is regularly featured in print publications as well as most major global media outlets such as The Guardian, The New York Times, The Huffington Post and NPR.
Peter Stocker
Peter Stocker creates memorable experiences for consumers interacting with retail, hospitality, and mixed-use experiences. Peter’s unique understanding of the design process and the details of the brand and marketing spectrum is informed by his entrepreneurial experience as founder of brand design and development firm: Story Trading LLC, and in his current role as Principal in the Consumer Experiences Studio of MG2.
Stocker has developed consumer brands for clients as well as his own consumer brand: Komforte Chockolates in 2008. He has engaged with 21 divisions of Amazon, helped reposition heritage brands like White Castle and been part of two game-winning designs for Cranium and Scene-It. Most of his days are spent considering, translating and acting on how design enables compelling retail storytelling and experiences.
Sheryl Cababa
With one foot planted in design research and strategy, and another in interaction design, Sheryl is a multi-disciplinary design director with the unique ability to see both the forest as well as the trees. She is currently an Executive Creative Director at Artefact, a strategy and design firm in Seattle.
Prior to joining Artefact, she worked at consultancies like frog and Adaptive Path, as well as technology companies like Philips and Microsoft. Sheryl has also worked freelance with clients including XPLANE, Whole Foods Markets, and the United Nations. She has experience leading projects for clients across industries from personal finance to robotic surgery systems. With her design weapon of choice (the Paper Mate Flair) handy at all times, she has also helped other designers spark their creativity by leading workshops in sketching, interaction design, and design research methods.