John Gravdahl
john@gravdahldesign.com. • john.gravdahl@colostate.edu
Designer, Illustrator, Educator
Master of Fine Arts/Illustration Syracuse University
Bachelor of Fine Arts/Graphic Design, Colorado State University
Professor, Graphic Design, Department of Art and Art History, Colorado State University
Core Faculty, Richardson Design Center, Colorado State University
Graphis Design Master Portfolio
Graphis Journal #379 – Career profile
Member, International Poster Design Committee (CIDC)
Founder Gravdahl Design, Propeller Press
Recent work: Researching experimental techniques in visual storytelling. Ongoing creative focus on poster design, book illustration, and public art
Recognition: International exhibitions and museum collections - Warsaw, Trnava, Tehran, Taipei, Sofia, Shanghai, Seoul, Seoungam, San Luis Potosi, Rzeszow, Pecs, Macau, Moscow, Mexico City, Nanjing, La Paz, Lahti, Kharkiv, Jiangnan, Florence, El Paso, Dalian, Busan, Brno, Beijing, Baltimore
Juror, Graphis Poster Annual 2024
Solo Exhibition, Autonomous Metropolitan Univ, Mexico City Oct 2022
President of the International Jury, International Biennial of the Poster in Mexico (IBPM) 2016.
Graphis Poster, Graphis Design, Graphis Type in Use international juried annuals – platinum award, numerous gold and silver awards from 2010-2024
Poster Masters of the USA, selected exhibitor honoring contributions of the United States in international poster design, Seventh Biennial of the Poster in Bolivia - 2021
Designers for Glaser, international invitational poster exhibition, 2021
Fellini Project Homage, international invitational poster exhibition, 2020
Zero Corruption, 4th Block invitational poster exhibition, Ukraine 2020
Jan Rajlich 100 Homage, invitational poster exhibition, Czech Rep 2020
Marine Environmental Protection, invitational poster exhibition, Taiwan, 2020
Foucault’s Pendulum Homage to Umberto Eco, invitational poster exhibition, Sixth Biennial of the Poster in Bolivia - 2017
The Evolving Silk Road, invitational poster exhibition, Florence Italy, 2015
Workshops and Conferences
Workshop, Autonomous Metropolitan Univ Azcapotzalco, Mexico City 2021
Workshop, Discovery and Design, The Power of Asian Design Conference, University of Asia, Taichung Taiwan - 2019
Workshop, Alice in Wonderland, Congress of International Design, San Luis Potosi, Mexico - 2016
Workshop, Jose Guadalupe Posada, Congress of International Design, – Congress of International Design, Querétero, Mexico -2012
Speaker/Workshop, 10x10 Shanghai Global Design Summit, 2023
Speaker, Fifth Biennial of the Poster in Bolivia - 2015
Speaker, 23rd National Meeting of Graphic Design Schools, Universidad Ibero-Americana - 2012 Mexico City
Speaker, Taiwan International Student Design Competition Advocacy Conference, 2011 Taipei
Speaker, Design Encounter/Ninth International Biennale of the Poster in Mexico, 2002 - San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Juror, International Student Design Competition 2013, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei Taiwan.
Books/Publications
Essay “Watch, Look, Listen”, TISDC 25 Years commemorative book, 2024
Author/Illustrator/Designer, Curious Catwalk children’s Illustrated picture book, Propeller Press, 2003
Author/Illustrator/Designer, The Tale of Dog Giovanni Illustrated children’s picture book, Propeller Press, 2001
Co-Author: The Physical Characteristics of Poster Art, Visual Resources: An International Journal of Documentation