In her Design Processes I course, Misty Thomas-Trout, assistant professor of art and design, reflected on the global health crisis that brought about the decision to conduct her studio course virtually in the fall of 2020. Students were asked to design a digital collage that delivers a message about the 1918 influenza pandemic (H1N1) and 2020 novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Students were asked to create the majority of the design through an analog collage process before finalizing the work in Adobe Photoshop.

In the midst of this pandemic learning structure, students had to find methods to create through the limitations of access to resources both on campus and off. Their classrooms were not accessible during this stage of the course if they had tested positive or were in mandatory quarantine. The pandemic drove the design of the project but led to incredible results.

Click through this gallery to view how students creatively approached creating off-screen works with very limited art materials. The messages delivered range from the impact of isolation on mental health to the parallel of injustice for people of color in both 1918 and 2020. Many messages were about coming together through loving one another and finding ways to bring peace. These graphic design posters exemplify students and faculty working together as we live through these unprecedented times.

The creator of each work owns copyright.