Associate Professor Lucy Ganje has been teaching at the University of North Dakota since 1988. Originally a faculty member of the School of Communication, she joined the Art Department to build a new graphic design program in 2004. Ganje received her BA at Black Hills State University and her MFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. Ganje’s research focuses on graphic design as a social or political tool. She is also interested in the ethical dimensions of design and design curriculum.

In addition to establishing the Art Department’s BFA program in Graphic Design and New Art Media, Ganje is the founder of UND’s Native Media Center and also teaches classes in the Indian Studies Department. She has published articles on the design of Native American newspapers and the impact of Reservation newspapers on community race relations. She has also published political cartoons in national American Indian newspapers. Her research in semiotics and visual persuasion informs her work regarding culturally appropriated imagery.

Ganje plans to begin a sequence of mixed media designs focusing on intercultural communication and relationships, while continuing her series titled, “Where are the Churches?” This graphic design series investigates the role of the churches in contemporary social and political issues.

An important element of “advocacy graphic design," according to Ganje, is an understanding of its ephemeral nature. Her “Where are the Churches?” posters are accompanied by “Prayer Cards.” These small cards, inspired by devotional art, have an image on one side and information about the poster’s issue on the reverse.
People are invited to take a card as they view the poster.

Prayer Card–Front.

Prayer Card–Back.

2006. Computer generated illustration, graphic design, digital photography. 2 3/4" x 4 1/2 ”.

* Photography by: Megan Anderson

 

Who Owns Life. 2006 Computer generated illustration, graphic design, digital photography. 36” x 24”.

* Photography by: Megan Anderson