Christopher Dingwall

Christopher Dingwall is an Assistant Professor at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on American and African American design history, particularly examining the intersections of race, material culture, and commercial art. He is completing two major projects: Selling Slavery: Race and the Industry of American Culture, analyzing racial iconography in mass media, and Black Designers in Chicago, a study of African American designers' contributions to Chicago's design landscape, supported by the Terra and Graham Foundations.

His work explores racial capitalism through design history, curating exhibitions such as African American Designers in Chicago (2018) and Race and the Design of American Life (2013). He teaches design history, material culture, and race studies, previously at the University of Chicago, University of Toronto, and Oakland University. Dingwall has published widely in journals like American Art and AIGA Eye on Design, emphasizing critical engagement with visual culture.

His research bridges scholarly and public audiences, using everyday objects to explore racial narratives. He co-organized the Chicago Designs workshop at the Newberry Library, fostering dialogue on design's role in politics and commerce.