THE HISTORY OF VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS: FAMILYALBUM #I

The Department of Art's Visual Communications Group, otherwise known as DEsigners, has started a family album.

Raymond Nichols, professor of art, directs the group and came up with the concept while working with his colleagues.

"I've been heavily involved with my family tree trying to finish what my mother had done in the last years of her life," Nichols said. A similar idea–to record group events and accomplishments as a way of preserving the history and character of each graduating class and the group–appealed to Nichols. So, he suggested the group begin compiling a family album to capture its genealogy as it is evolving.

The group started working on the book in January, and Nichols said they hope to have 200 pages by May. The 17" x 11" format looks like an accounting ledger with two large posts securing the pages. Nichols said he anticipates adding 300-400 pages each calendar year. Eventually, the book will rest on a special stand, yet to be purchased, and be displayed in Recitation Hall.

Most of the pages will be researched, written and designed by students, who will be evaluated on what goes into the book. Each page will be about a single event, and descriptions of the event will be posted so that students can choose whatever appeals to them most. Each page will follow a basic format in which a description of the event or accomplishment appears at the center of the page.

When students, faculty or alumni win awards or special honors for their work, when they are featured in the media, when they travel abroad to do research, the event will become the subject of a page in the album. "We will always remember we went, but now, there will be a record of it," Nichols said.

Some of the first pages will be devoted to the study-abroad trip to London that Nichols, Bill Deering, assistant professor of art in applied photography, and 24 seniors took last summer.

"London's a really hot spot for advertising and graphic design. Some of the best studios are there," Nichols said.

They visited ad agencies and design studios that produce award-winning commercials, like one of the top commercials of all time–the first Macintosh ad that ran during Super Bowl 1984–as well as ads for the Museum of the Book, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Type Museum. That trip will become a series of individual events or pages in the family album.

Eventually, pages in the book will be condensed for a smaller Wir-o-bind version to be used as "thank you" gifts for individuals and organizations that play a part in VC group activities, for recruiting and for alumni. The "thank you" books will be signed by everyone who participated in the activity.

Nichols said he hopes that someday when the 2010 VC group is about to graduate, they'll be able to leaf through the book on the stand and take pride in their roots.