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Ziddi Msangi

faculty

Ziddi Msangi

he/him

Professor

Design

Curriculum Vitae

Contact

508-999-9291

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College of Visual & Performing Arts 310A

Education

1996Cranbrook Academy of ArtMFA in Graphic Design
1993Boise State UniversityBFA in Graphic Design

Teaching

  • Graphic Design
  • Professional Practice
  • Community Engagement
  • Graduate Program

Programs

Courses

Graphic Design basics. Introduction to icon development, packaging design, information design. Students are introduced to communication concepts of audience, form and content, and semiotics. Handcraft is reinforced and vector-based design technology is introduced.

Collaborative process and human-centered design. In addition to practicing team development and presentation methods, students will follow the stages of Design Thinking: empathize, define, research, ideate, prototype, and test. Predicated on solving a human issue, assignment outcomes are not restricted to any one media. This course encourages students to develop a variety of solutions.

Capstone course. Students focus on their self-directed, multi-dimensional degree project. Students are encouraged to develop a personal approach to design, exploring their individual strengths and interests in the field. Guest critics and lecturers are in integral part of the course, which culminates in the Senior Exhibition.

Research

Research activities

  • East African textiles and their role as communication systems
  • Human Centered Design

Research interests

  • Design
  • Design + Society
  • Design + History
  • Design + Politics

Select publications

See curriculum vitae for more publications

  • Ziddi Msangi (2026).
    Matarajio
    Identity Is Variable: Essays, Interviews, & Reflections on Identity & Typography

Ziddi Msangi, a designer and educator, holds an MFA in Graphic Design from Cranbrook Academy of Art (1996). His scholarship and artistic exploration are deeply rooted in the African diaspora. Msangi has dedicated considerable time to studying the material culture embodied by kanga cloth, which operates on both public and private levels and spans various cultures and countries. Over the years, he has created multiple kanga cloth pieces, sharing them through presentations, articles, and exhibitions to shed light on their captivating narratives.

Additional links