Students Design for Mural Arts Program

Earlier this year, graphic design students in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design conducted research on the history of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program, which has created more than 3,000 murals in Philadelphia since it began in 1984. The students interviewed artists and representatives from mural arts, and toured the space that will serve as the staging area for How Philly Moves, a 50,000-square-foot mural being installed at the Philadelphia International Airport by artist and photographer Jacques-Jean “JJ” Tiziou.

How Philly Moves will serve as a visually stunning gateway to Philadelphia.To construct this enormous piece of art, the mural arts program established a staging area—the entire third-floor space at the Gallery Mall at 9th and Market Streets. Graphic design students in professor Amy Reed’s exhibition design course set out to make the most of this space and create temporary pop-up exhibit spaces to inform visitors of the history of the mural arts program and the important work it does in the community.

The students presented their concepts to Drexel faculty and mural arts staff, including founder Jane Golden. The two final concepts chosen were created by senior Randi Dean and now alumnae Emily Kleimo. Their work will be on display when the mural arts program opens an exhibition on the third floor of the Gallery Mall this fall.