Professional design association AIGA recently featured CalArts alum David Grey (MFA 2001) on their blog Eye on Design. The article highlighted the design program he founded at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, and how the curriculum not only gives students the conceptual and practical skills needed to compete in today’s industry, but also teaches mindfulness and meditation as a means for becoming more creative, socially engaged designers. We asked David how CalArts played a role in developing his contemplative art & design practice:

“It’s very easy to say that my CalArts education set the groundwork for graphic design to become a contemplative vehicle. The faculty never wavered from their heartfelt view of graphic design as both commercial practice and personal expression. The department’s pedagogy informed every aspect of the creative process from my ability to see, construct and manipulate to my intuition, intellect and discernment to my motivation, effort and discipline. At CalArts, I began to understand that design is a way of seeing, a way of appreciating and ultimately a way of being. Every view in my world expanded. Countless creative relationships that were previously hidden from my awareness became visible. I began to appreciate that the practice of graphic design did not always have to be about problem solving. It could actually be a safe exploratory space where one can transform visual language and allow even more questions to arise. Most important, I learned how to connect with the alchemic nature of the creative process which cultivated a level of curiosity and courage that has informed much of my life since.”

Read David’s full interview at Eye on Design.

View more of David’s work at his website and on instagram.