Lara Allison

Lara Allison is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Design History at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), serving since 2014. She also holds leadership roles as Editor-in-Chief of Chicago Art Deco Magazine (2017–present) and as Chair of Education on the Board of the Chicago Design Archive (2023–present). Her academic background includes a BA in Philosophy and Art History from Northern Illinois University (1994) and a PhD in Modern Architecture and African Art from Columbia University (2009).

Her research focuses on twentieth-century American design, particularly Cold War corporate graphics and the intersection of European avant-garde design with American advertising. She has published extensively on topics including Chicago art history and Bauhaus influences. Current projects include studies on Blanche Gildin and Cold War corporate citizenship, slated for publication in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

Teaching emphasizes interdisciplinary connections between design, industry, and politics. Courses include surveys of modern design, interwar design history, and object-based studies, often incorporating museum visits and field trips. Awards include a Research Fellowship from the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of African Art (2013–2016).