John Gravdahl
DESIGNER, ILLUSTRATOR, EDUCATOR
Recent work: Researching experimental techniques in visual storytelling. Ongoing creative focus on poster design, book illustration, and public art.
Recognition: Many juried and invitational exhibitions, competitions and publications worldwide over 35 years. Including one Platinum, 17 Gold, and numerous Silver Awards in various Graphis Annual competitions (Poster, Design, Type in Use).
International exhibitions and museum collections include - Warsaw, Ulaanbaatar, Toyama, Trnava, Tehran, Taipei, Sofia, Shanghai, Seoul, Seoungam, San Diego, San Luis Potosí, Rzeszow, Querétero, Pecs, Macau, Moscow, Mexico City, Nagoya, Nanjing, La Paz, Lahti, Kharkiv, Jiangnan, Jerusalem, Florence, El Paso, Dalian, Busan, Brno, Beijing, Baltimore.
RECENT WORK
COLLABORATION - Taiwan/Korea International Poster Exhibition. 2026
• Graphis Institute Design Master 2023 • Graphis Journal #379 – Career profile • Juror, Graphis Poster Annual 2027 • Solo Exhibition, Autonomous Metropolitan Univ, Mexico City Oct 2022 •Posters Without Borders - Biennial International Invitational Exhibitions.
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.
RECENT WORK
CHILDHOOD - Museum of the Seam, Jerusalem International Outdoor Poster Exhibition. 2026
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
Workshop, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts. December 2023
Asia University 2019 Taichung, Taiwan
WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES
Visiting Professor, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts 2023 Workshop: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
Workshop students, Autonomous Metropolitan Univ Azcapotzalco , Mexico City 2021
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
Speaker/Workshop, 10x10 Shanghai Global Design Summit, 2023
Workshop: Alice in Wonderland, Congress of International Design, San Luis Potosí, Mexico - 2016
Speaker, Fifth Biennial of the Poster in La Paz Bolivia - 2015
Workshop: Jose Guadalupe Posada, Congress of International Design, Querétero, Mexico -2012
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.
Research Wall Mural - Colorado State University, Lory Student Center. Permanent installation of digital screen-prints on brushed aluminum with digital video monitors in place.
Research Wall Mural Panels • Lory Student Center • CSU
Reading Room Series Propeller Press
PROPELLER PRESS – Founder Award winning educational posters, cards and books for youthful audiences.
•The Reading Room Series - 25 posters on children’s reading and literacy.
•The Lunch Room Series - 25 posters on the topic of good food and nutrition.
Lunch Room Series Propeller Press
PUBLICATIONS Two picture story books: 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 •Author/Illustrator/Designer
CURIOUS CATWALK Image Gallery Propeller Press
Essay: “Watch, Look, Listen”, Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC ) 25 Years Anniversary commemorative book, 2024
Co-Author: The Physical Characteristics of Poster Art, Visual Resources: An International Journal of Documentation, 1992
Works featured in graphic design text books: •Design Composition Training – Rikuyosha - Publishing, Japan. 2017 •Communicating Design Through Numbers – P.I.E. Books - Japan 2016
Interviewed/Contributor: •Graphis Journal #379 – Career profile 2022 •Brain Magazine, Taiwan 2011 •Communication Arts Magazine, USA 2010
Student works featured in international exhibitions: •International Poster Biennial in Mexico (IPBM), “Category D” finalists 2013–2026 •Graphis New Talent Awards, Gold, Silver, Honorable Mention, 2017-2026 •SDGs Taiwan International Image Design Invitational Exhibition 2025 •Taiwan International Student Design Competition 2017, 2023 •B.I. International Poster Art Biennale, South Korea 2023 •Biennial of International Design/Poster in Bolivia (BICeBé) 2022 •Print Magazine (CSU graduate program highlighted) 2015. •Novum Magazine (CSU undergraduate program highlighted) Germany 2001. •Brno International Biennial of Graphic Design, Czech Republic 1992