I N T R O W E L C O M E to Print on Purpose: Volume I, the visual voice of the students from the Fall 2022 cohort of DESIGN 236P, "Print on Purpose." As you turn the pages of this newspaper, you will discover that it goes beyond being a collection of words and imagery composed for the final assignment. It serves as a testament to the timeless power of print – a medium that has historically narrated tales of resistance, existence, resilience, and revolution. From humble lawn signs, provocative pamphlets, and graffiti to defiant newspapers like our own, print continues to catalyze discourse and drive change. Volume I is rooted in our students' stories, experiences, reflections, and their audacious efforts to harness the power of print. Inspired by historical and contemporary movements that have harnessed the strength of print design, Print on Purpose has taken us on a journey of discovery and innovation. It would be disingenuous to claim that everything went exactly as planned because our inaugural class surpassed expectations in ways none of us could have foreseen. From the outset, our course set a clear intention: to equip students with prompts and tools that would enable them to confidently determine and visually communicate what they care about. We did not expect them to solidify their individual purposes within the span of ten weeks, as we firmly believe that this endeavor often takes more time. Instead, our goal was for each student to leave the class with an expanded understanding of purpose and print, which they could continue to evolve even after the course concluded. Throughout every class session, homework assignment, and workshop, we delved deep into the craft of print, exploring its layers – typography, color, subject, and medium. We examined design history with a focus on activism and social change, encoura-
ging students to find purpose in their own stories, life experiences, insecurities, and personal passions. We were immediately struck by the openness with which they approached class discussions. This vulnerability and transparency translated into design assignments that felt deeply personal, fostering a creative environment where stories about colonial land possession, parental love, creative potential, ancestry, and more found a shared space to coexist. On our journey towards this final project, we not only explored the nuances of print and visual communication but also embraced the art of criticism and feedback, understanding their critical role in shaping better ideas and fostering growth. We created zines, experimented with screenprinting, and learned from experts about the technical aspects of storytelling and printmaking. Volume I showcases experiments with typography, ambitious ventures into defining purpose, and a shared dedication to exploration that transformed individual assignments into a collective triumph. These pages carry more than fonts and graphics; they carry a mission – a mission to echo the important, amplify the unheard, and bring visibility to what is often invisible. As you unfold these pages, remember that you are not merely reading a newspaper; you are stepping into a vibrant dialogue, a call for change, and a testimony to the transformative power of print. Just as "Print on Purpose" implies, we have created with purpose, printed with purpose, and now, we invite you to observe with purpose. Let the ink on these pages challenge your understanding, inspire thought, and encourage you to leave your own mark on the world. We express our heartfelt gratitude to our amazing inaugural class, and we thank you, the reader, for engaging with this body of work. – M I L A N D R A K E , P A T R IC K F E N T O N & IN D Y A M c G U F F I N (Print on Purpose Instructors)
P R I N T O N
P U R P O S E
d .s c h o o l.s t a n f o r d .e d u
(Contributors) D A N I E L J. A H R E N S KE AO HONUAI AKEA A N T H O N Y G A B R I E L L A D. B E R T R A N J U A N C A M A R A N Y A M E K Y E C O L E M A N M I L A N T. D R A K E ELLIE D U N N AL E X ANDE R E S C U D E R O PATRICK ALLEN F E N T O N TESS CHARL Y N HE G ART Y ELISSA A N N K L O P F E R C E C I L I A Y U L U LEI S T E L L A J I N G Y I LI INDYA M C G U F F I N TOBIAS MC I NT O S H BRYANT DANIEL M E N D E Z M E L C H O R A D R I A A. N Y A R K O J A R E D RYAN POBLETE EMI LI O E Z E Q U I E L RIVAS JULIA R O S E VEITH G A O S H E N G YANG
P R I N T O N P U R P O S E was a course hosted in Stanford University’s d.school Fall of 2022. It investigates how social justice is imprinted in our local, national, and global consciousness. Students learned about historical and contemporary contexts, from Noname Book Club to Emory Douglas’s prints for the Black Panther Party, and social movements that leverage print, as well as printed-matter production methods.
I N S T R U C T O R S : Milan Drake, Patrick Fenton, Indya McGuffin. C L A S S : Daniel J. Ahrens, Keao Honuaiakea Anthony, Gabriella D. Bertran, Juan Camara, Nyamekye Coleman, Ellie Dunn, Alexander Escudero, Tess Charlyn Hegarty, Elissa Ann Klopfer, Cecilia Yulu Lei, Stella Jingyi Li, Tobias McIntosh, Bryant Daniel Mendez Melchor, Adria A. Nyarko, Matthias Paschetag, Jared Ryan Poblete, Emilio Ezequiel Rivas, Julia Rose Veith, Skip Victor, Gaosheng Yang.
I N T R O D U C T I O N
T H A N K Y O U to our guest lecturers, Zio Ziegler, Pantea Karimi, and Maira McDermott. We also appreciate Menaja Ganesh and the Letterform Archive, as well as, Dylan Sherman and the McEvoy Foundation for the Arts for hosting amazing field trips.
Publication cover: Jared Ryan Poblete and Patrick Fenton. Publication interior: Gaosheng Yang and Indya McGuffin. Printed by www.PRINTNEWSPAPER.COM and typeset in Times New Roman and Syne.
