Megan Irwin

Megan Irwin is an Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator of the Book Studio at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University. She also holds an Assistant Professor position at East Carolina University's Graphic Design department. Her roles include teaching graphic design, typography, and studio practices while maintaining a creative studio practice focused on narrative design through books and artifacts.

Education: Megan earned an MFA in Graphic Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art (2022) and a BFA in Visual Communications from Truman State University. She has held professional roles including Associate Creative Director at Cheree Berry Paper (2016-2020) and Art Director at ALIVE Magazine (2006-2008).

Her research interests emphasize the interplay between analog and digital methodologies in graphic design, exploring typographic experimentation, materiality of artifacts, and object-based storytelling. She uses archival research and custom lettering to create narratives that challenge digital uniformity and highlight human elements in design.

Notable awards include the STA 100: Typographic Excellence (2023 and 2022) and Communication Arts Typography Competition Winner (2023). Her exhibitions and projects like Climate for Change Exhibition Design (2024) and The Don’t Give a Dames (in Museum für Kunst & Gewerbe Hamburg’s collection) showcase her innovative approach to design.

Advising and Grants: She has led multiple mentorship initiatives in design education, including internships at MICA (2020-2022). Her projects often involve collaborative zine-making and typeface design, funded through institutional grants and exhibitions. She has advised on projects like Typographic Tourism and Nome: Speculative Design, exploring themes of cultural heritage and future societal implications.

Labs/Teams: While not explicitly mentioned, her work involves interdisciplinary collaborations with mentors and institutions, such as projects with Jennifer Cole Phillips (BAM Next Wave Festival design) and Ellen Lupton (The Takeout Manifesto). These partnerships reflect her engagement with cutting-edge design methodologies and pedagogical innovation.