Creative Defiance: Graphic Design for Social Change

When we think of graphic design, it’s advertising, branding, commercials, corporations. But one man – the “guerrilla of graphic design” – uses his craft to challenge our perceptions and make us stop, look and think. Chaz Maviyane-Davies is designer, filmmaker, educator, activist – provoking through his art and re-envisioning the issues of our times.

Join him in his public lecture, Creative Defiance: Graphic Design for Social Change – part of Penang Institute’s People Empowerment Programme. Come and be inspired by Maviyane-Davies’s work and words as he walks us through the power of design as an enabler of change.

With an introduction by Dato’ Dr Anwar Fazal.

Date: December 12, Wednesday
Time: 8pm-9.30pm
Venue: Conference Hall, Penang Institute

About the speaker:

Chaz Maviyane-Davies

For over four decades, Chaz Maviyane-Davies has marshalled the power of design to enable effective communication for social change, taking on issues of consumerism, health, nutrition, social responsibility, the environment and human rights.

He achieved an MA in Graphic Design (with distinction) from the Central School of Art and Design in London, and an Advanced Diploma in Postgraduate Film-making from the Central St. Martins School of Art and Design London. He 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.

From 1983 until 2000 he ran a highly acclaimed design studio in Harare, Zimbabwe – The Maviyane-Project. The social and humane nature of his work was often confrontational and challenging to the authorities, so it was not surprising that in 2001, with the adverse political climate at the time, he felt compelled to leave his homeland for a post at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston. He taught at there until 2016, where he is now Professor Emeritus of Design.

His work has appeared in scores of international magazines and newspapers and he has been acknowledged in many publications. His work is also included in permanent collections in various galleries around the world and has been seen at over 200 extensive individual and group exhibitions. He has been represented in most of the largest international graphic, invitational and poster exhibitions from 1980 to the present time and he has been a judge on many international exhibitions and competitions.