Karen Zimmermann

Karen Zimmermann is the Assistant Director of the School of Art and a Professor in the ID: Graphic Design and Illustration Division at the University of Arizona. She teaches courses such as Typography, Information Graphics, Design, Culture and Language, and Letterpress & the Multiple. Her work integrates technical practice with theoretical and historical analysis.

• Education: MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University

Her research explores the interplay between art, design, culture, technology, and the environment. Recent projects analyze visual and typographic signs along the Arizona-Mexico border. She has received grants and fellowships from the Arizona Commission of the Arts and the University of Arizona.

Zimmermann has published in The Education of a Graphic Designer, JAB (Journal of Artists’ Books), Adobe Magazine, and others. She actively participates in professional organizations, serving on the AIGA Design Educator National Board and the College Book Art Association.

• Professional Contributions: Organized panels for CBAA, AIGA GeoGraphics, and presented at venues like Columbia College and the UA Digital Arts Education Symposium.
• Labs/Teams: Collaborates with institutions like the Center for Creative Photography and Tinfish Press.