UC Davis Department of Design

07/16/2026

The City of Davis invites qualified artists to apply to create a new piece of public art for a redesigned skate park in the center of Davis. The new art will consist of ceramic, glass or tile mosaic, or other media, and visually enhance an existing 23-step staircase leading down to the skate park. The completed artwork will serve as a visual focal point, drawing visitors toward the skate park, and enhancing the skate park with a colorful backdrop. For complete details and to submit:
opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/17827/CAFE
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07/15/2026

Renowned performance artist Cassils has been appointed to the Maria Manetti Shrem Endowed Chair in the Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program at UC Davis. Cassils is a Canadian transgender artist who makes their own body the material and protagonist of powerful performances that examine the histories of LGBTQIA+ violence, representation and struggle while illuminating narratives of resilience and empowerment. Cassils' appointment began July 1.
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07/02/2026

A maker space for undergraduate research including projects developed by students from the Department of Design, the BioInnovation Lab at UC Davis provides a place to learn basic skills, experiment and innovate while also providing access to leading-edge technologies. A team of writers from Letters & Science Magazine explores the types of research developed in the lab in an insightful feature. Read at arts.ucdavis.edu/design
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06/24/2026

The work of Shelley Niro is on exhibit at the Gorman Museum of Native American Art at UC Davis through August 30. Niro, a Bay of Quinte Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) and member of the Six Nations of the Grand River, Turtle Clan, works in a variety of media including beadwork, painting, photography and film.
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06/12/2026

06/09/2026

UC Davis graduate students in the Department of Design were well represented at the Arts and Humanities 2026 Graduate Exhibition. Congratulations to Rafael Bertacini, M.F.A., who was the winner of the Savageau Award in the Department of Design for their "Designing for Homeostasis:" A wearable tVNS device for neurodivergent emotional regulation. Also the evaluation committee gave a Design Honorable Mention to Nathalia Guimaraes , M.F.A., Department of Design for their display "EcoPlay Landscapes." Photos: Muzi Li Rowe
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06/05/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZJEBYgPxOP/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
The DES 144 collaboration with the Davis Food Co-Op was a great success. This was the third iteration of collaborative efforts to have students apply historical knowledge about the design of historical retail and social interiors to a community space. This year they focused on the ongoing deli construction, redesign, and branding as well as the design of a dreamed-of café addition. Professor James Housefield handed the reigns off to Omar Mohammad who was willing to take on this course and to run with the Co-Op re-design challenge. Congratulations all!

06/04/2026

Come join us for the Arts and Humanities 2026 Graduate Exhibition tonight, June 4, from 5:30-9 at the Manetti Shrem Museum
Pictured: (Pockets of) Togetherness: Designing for Shared Attention by Megan Plunkett
DESIGN is the intentional shaping of attention to create moments of connection
Connection within families is increasingly important as everyday technologies fragment family togetherness. Rather than positioning itself in opposition to technology, this project proposes an alternative approach: short-cycle analog games that structure shared attention within families.
Megan Plunkett is an interaction designer with a background in graphic design. Using practice as a vehicle for play and connection, her work explores how visual and interactive systems foster shared attention, emotional engagement, and meaningful experiences.

06/04/2026

Come join us for the Arts and Humanities 2026 Graduate Exhibition tonight, June 4, from 5:30-9 at the Manetti Shrem Museum
Pictured: Floodplain Futures: Designing for Shared Ecological Understanding by Zahra Baxi
Project Description: The Yolo Basin, 15 minutes from Davis, is a unique landscape that functions as flood infrastructure,agricultural land, and a critical migratory bird habitat along the Pacific Flyway. This research investigates how information and interactive design communicates complex ecological systems to public audiences.
Baxi is an information and interactive designer focused on human- and planet-centered practices. Their work translates complex systems into accessible, engaging experiences through data visualization, interactive media, and physical design

06/02/2026

Gözde Göncü-Berk, associate professor of design and a leader in the emerging field of wearable technology, recently received the prestigious Jacquelyn Anderson Wellness Innovation Award from the UC Davis Office of Wellness Education (OWE). The award honors individuals who exhibit outstanding inno...