Students from the Olivet College of Art & Design College took part in a series of seminars presented by San Francisco's Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD) and Inneract Project.  The Scholarly Voices services brought together scholars from around the world to speak on topics of art, design, and the African Diaspora.  Design students listened to graphic designer Andrea Pippins speak on art both as a practitioner and in academia.

"Design is powerful, use it for good," exclaimed Ms. Pippin in her presentation.    Ms. Pippin holds field trips with her students in Baltimore where she teaches design.  She involves her students into problem solving campaigns that utilized design to improve the quality of life for the city.

"Don't be afraid to like what you like," said Pippin as she points out the 7th lesson in her lecture.  Despite having a profession in academia, Pippin shows no fear when she likes things that are in trend and gaining inspiration from artists, even if it doesn't seem very academic.  The lessons hold true for many designers in Olivet’s design program where they are engaged with both practice and academics.

The rest of Ms. Pippin's topics include:

1, Presentation is everything

2, Work really really hard (with passion & curiosity)

3, Try to learn wherever you are

4, Show your work to anyone who will look

5, Design is powerful (use it for Good)

6, Be inspired & be a maker

7, Don't be afraid to like what you like

Ms. Pippin's recent work is a four poster series of prints called "Crowns of Color", which is “meant to be celebratory, quirky, documentation of our culture”. She has worked for brands such as Worth Global Style Network, Free People, Hallmark Cards and Nickelodeon, in addition to curating her award winning fashion, art and design blog 'Fly'.

Ms. Pippins is a designer and educator with a penchant for cool and personality as warm as her Brazilian roots.  She holds a BFA in graphic design and later earned her MFA at Temple University-Tyler School of Art. Andrea's love for design grew as she learned more about what it means to be a designer and what true design is all about.  She currently is an Assistant Professor of Art at Stevenson University in Washington DC.

Source:  http://www.andreapippins.com