Ellen Lupton

Ellen Lupton is an Instructor at The Cooper Union's School of Art, specializing in Graphic Design. She holds dual roles as Senior Curator of Contemporary Design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and Director of the Graphic Design MFA Program at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Her work bridges academic teaching, museum curation, and design practice. She earned her BFA from The Cooper Union in 1985.

Lupton’s research focuses on design processes, typography, and storytelling. Her influential books include Thinking with Type, Graphic Design: The New Basics, and Type on Screen, which explore foundational design principles and their contemporary applications. Her upcoming book Design Is Storytelling (2017) emphasizes narrative strategies in design.

Her exhibitions include Beauty—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial and How Posters Work, showcasing innovative approaches to design communication. Lupton’s contributions span academic publishing, museum exhibitions, and educational leadership in graphic design.