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

Co-Director Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition (CIIPE). Core Faculty, Richardson Design Center, Colorado State University.

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: Over 50 juried or invitational exhibitions, competitions and publications in recent 12 years. Including One Platinum, 10 Gold and numerous Silver Awards in various Graphis Annual competitions (Poster, Design, Type in Use).

International exhibitions and museum collections include - Warsaw, Trnava, Tehran, Taipei, Sofia, Shanghai, Seoul, Seoungam, San Luis Potosi, San Diego, Rzeszow, Pecs, Macau, Moscow, Mexico City, Nanjing, La Paz, Lahti, Kharkiv, Jiangnan, Florence, El Paso, Dalian, Busan, Brno, Beijing, Baltimore.

Graphis Institute Design Master Portfolio •https://graphis.com/portfolios/john-gravdahl3 Graphis Journal #379 – Career profile Juror, Graphis Poster Annual 2024

Member, International Poster Design Committee (CIDC) Solo Exhibition, Autonomous Metropolitan Univ, Mexico City Oct 2022

Producer/Curator - PAST MASTERS Memoriam Exhibition. Features works of passed exhibitors over the 45 year history of the Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition (CIIPE). First exhibition Chengdu Academy of Fine Art, China. 2024.

Designers for Glaser, international invitational poster exhibition, La Paz, Bolivia, 2021

Poster Masters of the USA, selected exhibitor honoring contributions of the United States in international poster design, Seventh Biennial of the Poster in Bolivia (BICeBé) - 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, Czechia 2020

Marine Environmental Protection, invitational poster exhibition, Taipei 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 & CONFERENCES

Visiting Professor, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts 2023 Workshop: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).

Workshop: Tolerance and Safety, 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.

PUBLIC ART

Commissioned to create a four-panel architectural mural for the “Research Wall” at the Colorado State University Lory Student Center – digital prints on brushed aluminum. I portrayed the interdiscipinary tenents of scientific and creative research by illustrating four of the seven steps of the Scientific Method: Inquire, Experiment, Analyze, and Communicate. Several kinds of merch were available to the public after the opening reveal, January 2015.

PUBLICATIONS

Founder - Propeller Press Award winning educational posters, cards and books for younger audiences. •The Lunch Room Series - 25 posters on the topic of good food and nutrition. •The Reading Room Series - 25 posters on children’s reading and literacy

Two picture story books: •Author/Illustrator/Designer, Curious Catwalk children’s Illustrated picture book, Propeller Press, 2003 •Author/Illustrator/Designer, The Tale of Dog Giovanni children’s Illustrated picture book, Propeller Press, 2001

Essay “Watch, Look, Listen”, TISDC 25 Years commemorative book, 2024

Co-Author: The Physical Characteristics of Poster Art, Visual Resources: An International Journal of Documentation, 1992