Mary Yang

Mary Yang is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Boston University's College of Fine Arts, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate programs. Previously, she has held teaching positions at the Rhode Island School of Design and University of Washington, bringing extensive academic experience to her current role.

Her research interests center on the intersection of graphic design, cultural identity, and typography, with particular focus on Chinese characters (Hanzi) in design contexts. Yang explores how visual language can express cultural narratives while developing innovative design methodologies that bridge commercial and cultural practices. She is particularly interested in how generative AI is transforming design education and practice, having recently experimented with AI integration in her Boston University courses.

Yang founded Open Rehearsal, a design practice established in 2017 that specializes in exhibition design, identity systems, editorial work, and book design for academic and cultural institutions. Notable projects include the graphic identity for Harvard University's Houghton Library exhibition about Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American movie star in Hollywood.

As co-founder of Radical Characters with Zhongkai Li, Yang leads a study group and curatorial project exploring graphic design through Chinese characters. This initiative manifests through exhibitions, publications, lectures, and workshops that research cultural histories and build collective knowledge within Chinese and Chinese American communities. Current work involves studying a Chinese type archive containing typography designed by Xu Xuecheng, one of China's first type designers.

Her professional journey includes significant industry experience, having worked on the graphic and brand design team at Victoria's Secret PINK in NYC, the University of Washington Press, and Studio Blue in Chicago. Her design portfolio spans diverse projects including the New England Triennial 2022 exhibition identity, RISD Commencement 2022, and various academic institution projects across multiple media formats.