Ashley John Pigford // Curriculum Vitae

Associate Professor // Department of Art & Design
Affiliated Faculty, Fashion & Apparel Studies // University of Delaware ashley@designisgoodforyou.com // www.designisgoodforyou.com

Education

2006
Master of Fine Arts: Graphic Design (with honors)
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island

1996
Bachelor of Science: Visual Communications
University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Lectures & Workshops

2022
37th Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference - Paper Presentation, Juried
“Open Source & Low Cost Assistive Devices for ADL”, Anaheim, CA

2021
Typecon 2021: Together - Paper Presentation, Juried
“The Type Play Project”, Online
Engagement Scholarship Consortium - Paper Presentation, Juried
“Helping AMC Families with Assistive Devices”, Online

2020
Interaction Design Education Summit - Paper Presentation, Juried
“Teaching Physical Computing in IxD Curricula”, Milan, Italy
Domus Academy Milano - Visiting Professor, Invited
Presentation of Creative Research, Milan, Italy

2019
New Media Caucus Border Control Symposium - Paper Presentation, Juried
“Breaking Boundaries with Assistive Technologies”, Ann Arbor, MI
14th Annual Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Support, Inc. (AMCSI) Conference
“ Adaptive Technology: From D.I.Y. to Low-Cost Robotic Solutions to Independent Eating”,
Norfolk, VA

2018
AIGA Design Educator’s Conference: Make - Paper Presentation, Juried
“Technology as Creative Tool: Rapid Prototyping Assistive Eating Devices for Children with AMC”, Indianapolis, IN

2017
Letterform Archive Salon Series - Invited Lecturer
Presentation of Creative Research, San Francisco, CA

2016
Association Typographique Internationale - Paper Presentation, Juried
“Learning the Strokes: Teaching Typography though Hand-Lettering”, Warsaw, Poland
Typecon 2016: Resound - Paper Presentation, Juried
“The Phonografik Collectivo”, Seattle, WA
Zoom Milwaukee - Invited Lecturer & Workshop Leader
“Technographic Research Project”, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
AIGA Design Educator’s Conference: Nuts + Bolts - Paper Presentation, Juried
“Learning the Strokes: Teaching Typography Through Hand-Lettering”, Bowling Green, OH

2015
Penland School of Crafts - Invited Lecturer & Workshop Leader
“Digital Fabrication and Letterpress”, Penland, North Carolina
Tasmeem Doha 2015: 3ajeeb! - Workshop Leader, Juried
“Mechanisms of Delightful Interaction”, Virginia Commonwealth University, Doha, Qatar

2014
Association Typographique Internationale - Workshop Leader, Juried
“Technographic Workshop: alphaBots”, Barcelona, Spain
Siggraph 2014: Naturally Digital - Workshop Leader, Juried
“Technographic Workshop: alphaBots”, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU Arts) - Invited Lecturer & Workshop Leader
“Technographic Workshop: Digital Fabrication + Letterpress Printing”, Richmond, VA
AIGA Philadelphia & The Hacktory - Workshop Leader
“alphaBots: Creating Robots to Draw Letters”, Part of Design Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Typecon 2014: Capitolized - Workshop Leader, Juried
“Technographic Workshop: Digital Fabrication + Letterpress Printing”, Washington DC

2013
Tasmeem Doha 2013: Hybrid Making - Invited Lecturer, Juried
Virginia Commonwealth University, Doha, Qatar
Tasmeem Doha 2013: Hybrid Making - Workshop Leader, Juried
“Imperfect Drawing Machines”, Virginia Commonwealth University, Doha, Qatar
TypoBerlin - Invited Lecturer
Book Release of Touch: The Vista Sans Wood Type Project Book, Berlin, Germany
Paper Weight: An Exploration of Artist’s Books  - Invited Panelist
Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Appalachian State University - Workshop Leader
“alphaBots: Creating Robots to Draw Letters”, Boone, NC, USA

2012
Association Typographique Internationale - Paper Presentation, Juried
“The Vista Sans Wood Type Project”, Honk Kong, China
Type Directors Club of New York - Invited Lecturer
“The Vista Sans Wood Type Project”, New York, NY
Typecon 2012: MKE Shift  - Paper Presentation, Juried
“The Vista Sans Wood Type Project”, Society of Typographic Aficionados, Milwaukee, WI, USA
College Art Association -  Session Chair, Juried
“Design Education 2.0: Teaching in a Techno-Cultural Reality”, Los Angeles, CA, USA
College Art Association -  Paper Presentation, Juried
“Artist’s Machines: Postdigital Design Education for the Real World”, Los Angeles, CA, USA
College Book Arts Association - Paper Presentation, Juried
“Vista Sans Wood Type Project”, San Francisco, CA, USA
Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts - Invited Lecturer
“Postdigital Practice: from Phenomenal to Narrative”, Wilmington, DE

2011
Southern Graphics International - Workshop Leader, Juried
Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA
OnStream: MACAA/FATE Bi-Annual Conference - Session Chair, Juried
“Designer as Artist” , St. Louis, MO, USA

2010
University of Pennsylvania Penn Design - Invited Lecturer
Presentation of Creative Research, Philadelphia, PA
Curiouser: Joint SECAC & MACAA Annual Conference - Session Chair, Juried
“Interdisciplinary Design Education for the New Creative Economy”, Richmond, VA, USA
College Art Association - Paper Accepted  (unable to attend due to weather), Juried
“Thinking Through Making: Letterpress in Contemporary Graphic Design Education”, Chicago, IL, USA
4th International Conference on Design Principles and Practices - Paper Presentation, Juried
“A Design Methodology for Contemporary Cultural Production”, Chicago, IL, USA

2009
St. Bride Printing Library - Invited Lecturer
“Analog Source: Letterpress in an American Design Education,” London, England
University of Texas at Austin - Invited Lecturer
Presentation of Creative Research, Department of Art and Art History, Austin, TX
Southeastern College Art Conference - Paper Presentation & Panelist, Juried
“Thinking through Making:  A Functionalist Approach to Graphic Design Education”, Mobile, AL, USA
The Hybrid Book International Book Arts Conference - Invited Panelist
“The Future of Letterpress” University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, USA

2008
Typecon 2009: Punkt - Paper Presentation, Juried
“Letter/Form: A Kinesthetic Approach to Type & Design Education”
Society of Typographic Aficionados, Buffalo, NY, USA
International Conference on Technology, Knowledge and Society - Paper Accepted, Juried
“Teaching Design with 19th Century Technology” Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
Continuities and Innovations: Popular Print Cultures - Paper Accepted, Juried
“Teaching Graphic Design with 19th Century Technology” University of Alberta, Canada

2007
Oak Knoll Festival XIV - Invited Panelist
“The Renaissance of Letterpress Printing” New Castle, DE, USA


Solo Exhibitions


2014
twoLovers, Solo Exhibition, Juried
Greenleaf Gallery, Whittier College, Whittier, CA

2012
Translationships, Solo Exhibition, Juried
Living Arts of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

2010
Spin, Click, Knock, Solo Exhibition, Juried
Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, Grand Rapids, MI
Collective Conscious, Solo Exhibition, Juried
Mezzanine Gallery, Carvel State Building, Wilmington, DE
SoundPlay, Solo Exhibition/Installation, Curated
Delaware Center of Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE

2009
Sound of Sight: Experiments in Audio-Visual Translation, Solo Exhibition, Curated
InLiquid Video Lounge, International House, Philadelphia, PA
P’unk Avenue Active Intersection, Solo Exhibition/Installation, Curated
P’unk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA


Two-Person Exhibitions & Performances

2012
Lexicology  2-Person Digitally-Mediated Spoken Word Performance, Juried
(with Tricia Treacy) Skylight Gallery, San Francisco Public Library, CA

2010
Revolve - 2-Person Audio-Visual Performance, Juried
(with Marianne Gythfeldt) Society of Electro-Acoustic Music in the U.S., St. Cloud, MN
Lexicology - 2-Person Digitally-Mediated Spoken Word Performance, Curated
(with Tricia Treacy), Conflux Festival, New York University, New York, NY

2008
Transcendence: Object, Culture and Technology - 2-Person Exhibition, Curated
(with Jason Ferguson) New Wilmington Arts Association, Wilmington, DE
Sound & Image - 2-Person Exhibition, Invitational
(with Bill Deering) University of the Arts, London, England


Group Exhibitions & Performances

2018
New Experiences: Digital Art & Design Exhibition at JCAL, Curated
Jamaica Center for Arts and Living, Jamaica, NY
Fertile Ground: Artists Respond to a Collective Geography, Juried
2018 CBAA Juried Members’ Exhibition, Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery at The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

2017
This Machine Kills Fascists, Curated
OCAD Graduate Gallery, Toronto, Canada

2016
Assimilation, Curated
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Phonografik Collectivo, Curated
Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA
This Machine Kills Fascists, Curated
Eyebeam, New York City, NY
This Machine Kills Fascists, Curated
University Galleries, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL

2014
Mediating Technology, Curated
Crux Space, Philadelphia, PA

2013
Void Loop - 4 Person Exhibition, Curated
Press Street’s Antenna Gallery, New Orleans, LA
ImPerfect City - Group Exhibition, Curated
Delaware Center of Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE
Vista Sans Wood Type Project - Group Exhibition, Curated
Albin O. Kuhn Gallery, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
Homespun Technology - Traveling Group Exhibition, Curated
PrintMKE: Southern Graphics International Conference, Milwaukee, WI
Impact 8 International Printmaking Conference, Dundee, Scotland
Rocky Mountain Printmaking Alliance symposium, Salt Lake City, UT

2012
Vista Sans Wood Type Project - Group Exhibition, Curated
Type Directors Club of New York, New York, NY
AIGA Philadelphia SPACE Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Belfast Print Studios, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Object Play - 4-person Exhibition, Curated
Press Street’s Antenna Gallery, New Orleans, LA
BiblioTech - Group Exhibition, Juried
Skylight Gallery, San Francisco Public Library, CA

2011
Wood Type, Evolved: Experimental Letterpress - Group Exhibition, Curated
Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts, Chicago, IL
Un-Speak-Able - Group Exhibition, Juried
The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR
Trashed - Group Exhibition (traveling), Curated
The Walsh Gallery at Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ,
PLAY+TIME: A Digital Dialog - Group Exhibition, Curated
Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, Lafayette, IN

2010
Process Festival: Sound from Systems - Film/Video Festival, Curated
Ausland, Berlin, Germany
Urban Research - Film/Video Festival, Curated
Directors Lounge, Berlin, Germany
Simultan Festival #6 - Video, Media Art, & Electronic Music Festival, Juried
Timisoara, Romania
OUTLOUD: Artist’s Books Performed - Exhibition and Performance, Juried
The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA
SECAC/MACAA Juried Members Exhibition - Group Exhibition, Curated
1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA
ImPrint - Group Exhibition, Curated
Anne Wright Wilson Fine Arts Gallery at Georgetown College, Georgetown, KY
Award Winners X - Group Exhibition, Invitational
Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover, DE

2009
Shift: Kinetic Sculptures - Group Exhibition, Curated
Delaware Center of Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE
I Don’t Watch the Internet - Group Exhibition, Juried
Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
You Become Your Thoughts: International Juried Exhibition - Group Exhibition, Juried
Punch Gallery, Seattle, WA
Pandora’s Box - Group Exhibition, Juried
Target Gallery @ The Torpedo Art Center, Alexandria, VA
12 Nights Electronic Music and Art - Group Exhibition, Juried
Harold Golen Gallery, Miami, FL
Visual Fringe - Group Exhibition, Curated
Fringe Wilmington Festival, Wilmington, DE
Information Translated - Group Exhibition, Curated
Crane Arts Center, Philadelphia, PA

2008
Pixilerations v.5: Fragments and (W)holes - Group Exhibition, Juried
Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence RI
RISD Philadelphia Alumni Exhibition - Group Exhibition, Juried
Brett Webber Architects, Philadelphia, PA

2007
3rd Annual Sound Experimental Film Festival - Group Exhibition, Juried
Sound Alternative Space for Contemporary Art, Laredo, TX


Grants, Awards, Fellowships, Honors


2022
Maggie E. Neumann Research Grant - College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware

2021
Silver Award - Graphis Protest Posters 2
Research Grant - Engagement Scholarship Consortium

2017
Horn Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows Grant - University of Delaware
General University Research Grant - University of Delaware

2014
Project Grant - Center for Creativity, Craft and Design , Asheville, NC
Center for Teaching, Assessment and Learning Innovation Grant - University of Delaware
International Travel Award - University of Delaware
Faculty Research Grant - University of Delaware
Excellence in Teaching Award Nomination - University of Delaware Faculty Senate

2013
Faculty Research Grant - University of Delaware

2012
Artist Opportunity Grant - State of Delaware, Division of the Arts
International Travel Award - University of Delaware
Faculty Research Grant - University of Delaware

2011
Center For Material Culture Studies Research Grant - University of Delaware
Mezzanine Gallery Selection Panelist (Juror) - State of Delaware, Division of the Arts

2010
Established Artist Fellowship in Sculpture - State of Delaware, Division of the Arts
Phoenix Award for Significant Editorial Achievement in a Scholarly Journal
Faculty Research Grant - University of Delaware

2009
PUNCH Choice Award - Punch Gallery, Seattle, WA
“Faculty Scholars” Research Grant - University of Delaware
General University Research Grant - University of Delaware
Faculty Research Grant - University of Delaware

2008
Summer Faculty Fellow - University of Delaware
Research Fund for Arts and Humanities  University of Delaware
Faculty Enrichment Grant - University of Delaware

2007
Excellence in Teaching Award Nomination - University of Delaware Faculty Senate
Faculty Enrichment Grant - University of Delaware

2005
Project Grant - Creative Arts Council, Brown University

2003
Print Magazine Regional Design Annual Art Direction for Zoic Studios identity

2002
Horizon Interactive Awards Gold Award: Abandoned Pools Entertainment Website
MTV Video Music Awards Nominations  “Breakthrough Video” + “Best Rap Video”
HOW Magazine Self-Promo Contest Finalist: Meat and Potatoes Self Promotion Book


Commissions

2011
Clifford Brown Listening Room - Permanent, Public, Interactive Sound Installation, City of Wilmington , DE
Vox Populi: We’re Working on it. - Book Design, Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2009-12
Writing Center Journal - Book Design, University of Delaware

2007
The House That Herman Built - Exhibition Catalog Design, Artists Space Gallery, NY
City Guide 2007-2008  Photography, Philadelphia City Paper


Permanent Collections

Yale University - Robert B. Haas Family Arts Special Collections, New Haven, CT
University of Pennsylvania - Sp. Collections, Rare Books & Manuscript Lib., Philadelphia, PA
University of Washington - Book Arts Collection, Special Collections, Allen Library, Seattle, WA
Swarthmore College - Swarthmore College Library Special Collections, Swarthmore, PA
University of Delaware - Special Collections, Newark, DE
Southern Graphics Council International
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, WI


Publications

2012
“Artists’ Machines: Postdigital Design Education for the Real World” Media-N Journal, V.08 N.01.

2011
“Vista Sans Wood Type Project” Wood Type Evolved: Experimental Letterpress & Relief Printing in the 21st Century. Sheridan, April and Sherman, Nick, curators.
Exhibition Catalog, Center for Book and Paper Arts at Columbia College Chicago.

2010
“Thinking Through Making: A Kinesthetic Approach to Design Education” I Smoke Crack Rocks: Design Education Critiques. Gridneff, Rose.  MA Design Writing Criticism Thesis, University of The Arts, London.

2009
“Visual Communications at the University of Delaware” Baseline Magazine, Issue 57.
“Raven Press: An Education in the Making” Matrix: A Review for Printers and Bibliophiles, Issue 28.


Bibliography




2014 Wagner, Amanda V.,  “Philadelphia's new media space: CRUX”

www.philly.com, September 30.

Fallon, Roberta. “October Grand opening of CruxSpace”

www.theartblog.org, October 5.

UDaily, “Robot designers”

www.udel.edu/udaily, September 22.

2013 Flaherty, Joseph. “Typecast: How New Technology Is Reinventing Typography”

https://www.wired.com/2013/04/reinventing-typography/, April 30.

Eye Magazine, “Books Received 5”

http://www.eyemagazine.com, December 2.




It’s Nice That, “The Weekender: It's Nice That's weekly fun supplement – are you ready?”

http://www.itsnicethat.com, August 9.

Bookhardt , D. Eric, “Review: Void Loop”

http://www.bestofneworleans.com, August 25.

The Post Family, “Touch”

http://thepostfamily.com, August 20.

New Lights Press, “Vista Sans Wood Type Project”

http://newlightspress.blogspot.com, February 19.

Paper Specs, “Freeing Vista Sans from the Screen”

http://www.paperspecs.com, July 30.

The Center for Book Arts, “Tuesday Typeface: Vista Sans Wood Type Project”

http://centerforbookarts.blogspot.com, February 19.

San Francisco Center for the Book, “Touch: The Vista Sans Wood Type Project”

http://sfcb.org, February 26.

Peters, Yves, “Touch: The Vista Sans Wood Type Project”

http://fontfeed.com, March 7.

Anthology Magazine, “Vista Sans Wood Type Project”

http://anthologymag.com, March 5.

Gibbs, Diane, “Touch: The Vista Sans Wood Type Project”

http://www.designrecharge.org, November 27.

Perdue, Robby, “Weekly Kickstarter: touch – the Vista Sans Wood Type Project Book”

http://www.geekadelphia.com, February 25.

2012 Moore, Tammy, “Art Review: Vista Sans Wood Type Project,”

http://www.culturenorthernireland.org, July 19.

Tasker, Ann. “On Press”. University of Delaware Messenger, Vol. 20 No. 2.

Heller, Steven. “From Pixels to Splinters: Digital Type in Wood,” 
http://imprint.printmag.com, July 16.

Catanese, Paul and Geary, Angela. Post-Digital Printmaking: CNC, Traditional and Hybrid
Techniques. London: A&C Black.

Urban, Jason. “Book Review: Post-Digital Printmaking,”  www.Printeresting.org, July 5.

Muddiman, Andrea. “Yale Exhibition,” www.udel.edu/udaily, April 25.

Stokes, Wesley. “Object Play at Antenna,” www.invadenola.com, April 2.

Guck, Sarah. “Art & Technology pt. II: Ashley John Pigford,” www.thehacktory.org, March 28.

Emmons, Amze. “Vista Sans Wood Type Project,”  www.Printeresting.org, March 12.

Jensen, Sami. “At the Intersection of Tech & Touch: The Vista Sans Wood Type Project,”

www.feltandwire.com, January 7.,

2011 Emmons, Amze. “More on the Verge of SGCI,” www.printeresting.org, March 4.

Brewer, Don. “Information Translated - University of Delaware @ Crane Arts Center,”

www.brewermultimedia.com, November 11.

“Award-winning Journal a Group Effort,” www.udel.edu/udaily, February 10.




2010 ImPrint Exhibition Catalog, Anne Wright Wilson Fine Art Gallery

Georgetown College, Georgetown, KY

Emmons, Amze. “Philagrafika 2012: Out Loud, Artist’s Books Performed,”

www.printeresting.org, April 30.

Kukich, Diane. “Researchers Use Peer Art to Disseminate Anti-Smoking Messages,”

www.udel.edu/udaily, Jan 6.

“UICA Interview: Ashley John Pigford,” www.therapidian.org, March 8.

2009 Newhall, Edith. “Shhhh!,” The Philadelphia Inquirer,  December 27.

Fallon, Roberta. “Postmodern Flurries in Fleisher-Ollman’s Emerging Artist Show,”

www.theartblog.org, December 23.

Fallon, Roberta. “I Don’t Watch the Internet,” www.philadelphiaweekly.com, December 22.

“DCCA Presents “SHIFT: Kinetic Sculptures,” www.designtaxi.com, October 2.

Otterbein, Holly. “Electric Feel,” Philadelphia City Paper, Issue #1257, June 25 - July 2.

Kirk, Brian James. “Shop Talk: P’unk Avenue Active Intersection,”

http://technicallyphilly.com, April 1.

Villarreal, Ignacio. “Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts Celebrates 30th Anniversary

with Exhibition,” www.artdaily.org.

2007 Pilonieta, Gabriel Blanco, ed. “Artist Spotlight,” El Tiempo Hispano, Jan. 26.

“Stop-Smoking Poster Contest Under Way,” www.udel.edu/udaily, February 16.

2006 TK. “Intelligent Snowboard Fashion Design,” Creativity Magazine, Feb 1.

2005 Sterling, Brad. “Artist Spotlight” Bonfire Snowboarding Catalog







Professional Experience




2004+ Proprietor of Graphic & Interaction Design - Design is good for you, Newark, DE

2000-3 Co-Founder / Creative Director - Meat and Potatoes, Los Angeles, CA

1999-0 Senior Art Director - Think New Ideas, Los Angeles, CA  

1998-9 Art Director - Spinacle Design, Los Angeles, CA

1997-8 Freelance Designer - DNA Studio, Los Angeles, CA

1996-7 Design Assistant / Freelance Designer - MCA Records, Los Angeles, CA