Karen M Zimmermann

Interim Director, School of Art
Professor, Art
Associate Director
Member of the Graduate Faculty

Contact

kzim@arizona.edu

Biography

Karen Zimmermann is the Associate Director of the School of Art and a professor in the Illustration, Design & Animation (IDA) program. She is also the director of the Book Arts & Letterpress Lab. She has taught Typography, Information Graphics, Motion Graphics, Design History, Design, Culture and Language, Design Studios, Visual Narratives, and Letterpress and the Multiple. Courses explore technique and practice as well as theoretical, historical, and critical issues. Karen has received numerous grants and awards for her design and artwork, including a School of Art Professional Development Grant, an Arizona Project Grant by the Arizona Commission of the Arts, the UA Deans Fund for Excellence, and a UA Faculty Fellowship. She was a 2020 UA Academic Leadership Institute recipient.

Her writing has been published in “The Education of a Graphic Designer,” “The Education of an E Designer,” “The Education of a Motion Designer,” JAB (Journal of Artists’ Books), “Design Education in Progress: Methodology and Process,” American Institute of Graphic Arts, Adobe Magazine, FATE, SIGGRAPH, and Zed.

Selected design clients include The Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona, Fort Lowell Historic Board, and Tinfish Press. Her art practice examines print and book production and visual communication.

She has been on the boards and planning committees to organize several conferences, panels, and events, including and participated in Amalgamated Printers Association (APA), College Book Arts (CBAA) Annual Meeting, and AIGA Geopgraphics, and presented work in: “Action/Interaction” Panel, Columbia College; Design Studies Forum (DSF) College Arts Association “Collaboration in Design” Panel; the UA Digital Arts Education Symposium; “Women, Identity and Borders” video screenings and presentations; “Alternate Routes” Video Art Series; and “Departure/Arrival A Reflection on Diaspora” Lecture and Visiting Artist.

Degrees

M.F.A. Communicaiton Arts

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, Virginia, United States
A Comparison of Rivers and Cities

B.A. Computer Art

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States

Work Experience

School of Art, University of Arizona (2018 - Ongoing)
School of Art, University of Arizona (2011 - Ongoing)
School of Art, University of Arizona (2004 - 2011)
School of Art, University of Arizona (1998 - 2004)
Art Department, University of Hawaii (1994 - 1998)

Awards

Small Grant

School of Art, Spring 2025
School of Art, Summer 2024
School of Art, Spring 2024

Culturally Responsive Curriculum Development Institute Fellowship Award.

CRCDI is a collaborative endeavor between HSI Initiatives, University Center for Assessment, Teaching, & Technology (UCATT), Center for University Education Scholarship (CUES), Faculty Affairs, College of Science, College of Education, and College of Engineering, Summer 2024

Sabbatical

College of Fine Arts, Spring 2024
University of Arizona, Fall 2017 (Award Finalist)
Spring 2011
Fall 2010
Spring 2004

Academic Leadership Fellow

University of Arizona Academic Leadership Institute, Fall 2019

Charles and Irene Putnam Teaching Award

University of Arizona, Spring 2017

Purchase Prize Award

Sandy 23 Gallery, Fall 2015

Faculty Fellow

Senior Vice President, Student Affairs and Enrollment ManagementSenior Vost Provost, Academic Initiatives and Student Successs, Spring 2015
University of Arizona, Fall 2013
Spring 2012
Spring 2011
Spring 2010
Spring 2009
Spring 2008

Faculty Professional Development Endowment Award

School of Art., Spring 2013

2012 Preservation Awards

Spring 2012

Faculty Interaction Grant

Spring 2012
Spring 2011

Artist Residency

Spring 2011

Student Interaction Grant

Spring 2009

Beyond the Call of Duty Award

Spring 2008
Spring 2007

Fine Arts Small Grant

Spring 2008

Turning Information into Knowledge

Fall 2004

Backflow Prevention Assemblies Public Art Project

Spring 2002

Digital Arts Award

Spring 2002

Interests

Teaching

Graphic Design, Typography, Type Design, Letterpress, Publishing, Print, Information Graphics, Processing, Writing, Infographics, Semiotics, Representation, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Adobe After Effects, Motion Design, Design Thinking, Information Graphics, Communication, Wayfinding, Data Visualization, Processing

Research

Courses

No activities entered.

Scholarly Contributions

Chapters

Zimmermann, K. M. (2019). The Visual History of Type. In Design and Culture: The Journal of the Design Studies Forum(p. 135). New York: Routledge.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2008). Introduction to Motion Design. In Teaching Motion Design(pp 247-253). Allworth Press.

Journals/Publications

Zimmermann, K. M. (2005). "Visual Culture, Community and Distance". United Design: Graphic Design Practice and Education, 5.
More info
Karen White and John Bowers; Inyoung Choi, Editor,

Presentations

Zimmermann, K. M. (2019, Fall). Independent Publishing in the Southwest. Center for Creative Photography. Tucson, Arizona: Center for Creative Photogarphy.
More info
Discussion at the Center for Creative Photography on publishing. Attendance was around 50 people.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2019, November). Curious. Public History Collaborative (PHC). University of Arizona, Chavez 406: Public History Collaborative / Department of History.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2017, October). Letterpress and Typography Today. Invited to Present to Residents at Splendido. Tucson: Splendido.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2017, September). Design, Print, and Book. St. Louis Print Week/Ladies of the Letterpress. St. Louis, MO: Ladies of the Letterpress.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2017, Spring). The Book is Dead: Long Live the Book. School of Art Advisory Board Event. Tucson: Art Advisory Board.
More info
Philip Zimmermann and I both gave lectures for this event; I lectured on Design and Printing of the book historically and technically.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2016, August). Inter and Multi-Disciplinary in Design Education Panel. ICO-D Platform. ArtCenter, Pasadena CA: ICOGRADA (International Council of Graphic Design Assocaition).
Zimmermann, K. M. (2016, Fall). Visting Artist Presentation. Senior Design Student Lecture. Boone, North Carolina: Appalachia State Univeristy.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2015, MARCH 28). Interactions: Tree Mortality and Big Cooper in the American Southwest. BALANCE/UNBALANCE. Pheonix: ASU.
More info
This was a conference where Ellen McMahon, Beth Weinsten, and I presented each seperatly addressing the same project.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2015, October). 2015 AIGA Design Conference. American Institute of Graphic Arts.
More info
Roundtable Discussion Leader
Zimmermann, K. M. (2015, October). 2015 AIGA Design Conference. National American Institute of Graphic Arts. New Orleans: American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).
More info
Affinity Session on Design Pedagoy
Zimmermann, K. M. (2012, Spring). Education in Letterpress. Ladies of the Letterpress Conference. Ashville, North Carolina.
More info
Panel Speaker
Zimmermann, K. M. (2011, Fall). Design and Digital Arts Lecture. SISTA Student Group. U of A, School of Hearing.
More info
Individual Presenter
Zimmermann, K. M. (2011, Spring). Visiting Artist Lecture: Design and Art. School of the Art Institute. Chicago.
More info
Individual Presenter
Zimmermann, K. M. (2007, Spring). Collaboration and participation in Design Education. College Art Association Annual Conference. New York City.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2007, Spring). Graphic Design and Book Arts. Action/Interaction. Columbia College Center for Book and Paper.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2005, August). Visual Culture, Community and Distance. Eastman IDSA National Design Education Conference. Washington DC.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2005, October 26-28). Design, Teaching, and the Bauhaus. Envisioning design for the XX1 Century. Mexico City, Mexico.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2004, April). Learning/Teaching Design using Interactive Web Technolog. Center for Teaching and Learning Design. Barcelona, Spain.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2004, April). UNC Design Lecture: Karen White. Visiting artist. University of North Carolina | Ashville.
Zimmermann, K. M. (2004, October 26, 2003). Shaping Design Education Through: Distance, Visual Culture and Community. American Institute of Graphic Arts, Chicago. Chicago, Illinois.

Creative Productions

Zimmermann, K. M. (2022.
Hand Papermaking, Inc., End of Year Broadside, Print & Design. Cave Paper, Pam Wood, Illustrator, Sandra Marchetti, Poet.
Hand Papermaking, Inc..
Zimmermann, K. M. (2022.
Southwest Print Fiesta Portfolio, Silver City, NM.
. Portfolio ExchangeSouthwest Print Fiesta.
Zimmermann, K. M., & Kim, J. (2022.
Alta Literary Translation Poetry Broadside., Hysteria by Kim Yideum Collaborated with Prof. Jehe Kim, Designed and printed.
. National. Tucson: Alta American Literary Translation Association.

Others

Zimmermann, K. M. (2014, September). New Ventures: Instersections in Design Education. American Institute of Graphic Arts Education Conference.
More info
Roundtable Discussion Leader

Creative Works

People vs The Empire Poster; Lawrie Shabibi in Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai; September 2011; Sama Alshaibi Catalog; Designed poster to be included in an exhbition and catalog for Sama Alshabi's show.
Graphic Design and the Book Arts; Columbia College Chicago Center for the Book & Paper Arts; September 2007; JAB 22 The Journal of Artists' Books
State of the Art; University of Arizona | School of Art; October; Unititled, 2004, 12x12 inches, mixed-media encaustic on birch plywood.
Visiting Artist Central Print; Letterpress Visiting Artist; October 2018; Internal Advertising St. Louis; Visiting artist at Central Print in St. Louis. Interactions with community and college students from Washington Univerisity. Invitational.
Corridor; Grahame Galleries; October 2012; Lessons in History Vol. II â€“ Democracy Calatlog; Catalog of exhibition / See under exhibitions.
Invitations for the Center of Creative Photography; Graphic Design; March; Designed and oversaw the production of several invitations for the Center of Creative Photography.
Poeta en San Francisco; Graphic Design; March; Invited to designed a book of poems by Barbara Jane Reyes. The book was the winner of the 2005 Jmes Laughlin Award of The American Poets. It is over 100 pages, two color and perfect bound.
Touch: A Vista Sans Type Project; Letterpress Art Project; Pointed Press Studio; June 2013; Book
Playa Summer Lake; Design; Residency in Oregon. Creative mixed media experiments.
Design Incubation Fellow; Design Scholar; Bloomsbury; Design and Culture; Design Incubation Fellowship Workshop at St. Johns in Manhattan, NYC. Invitational participation in 3-day intensive workshop with designers and publishers.
Frameworks; print; ILSSA; ILSSA Frameworks; ILSSA Frameworks is ILSSA’s latest call & response, asking impractical laborers What frameworks are essential supporting structures for your practice?
Post Humanism vs Humanism Design Workshop; Collaborative Workshop; web; Pedagogical Design Practice Workshop. This is a design experience. Proceedings are published on the web and presented in conferences by the organizers. All collaborative and speculative work is done by all participants. Workshop was held at California College of Arts, San Francisco.

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