is a Cuban-American designer, researcher, artist, and educator whose work explores the intersection of cultural identity, equity, and diversity within the field of design. Elaine acquired her BFA from the University of Florida (2007), and her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (2019), both in graphic design. She is currently a faculty member in the Communication Design program at Pratt Institute's School of Design. Elaine has been awarded the AICAD Postgraduate Teaching Fellowship at the Maryland Institute College of Art where she taught in the undergraduate and graduate Graphic Design programs.
︎ ELOPEZ12
︎ ELOPEZ12@GMAIL.COM
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Faculty in Graduate and Undergraduate Communication Design
School of Design
Pratt Institute
2021-current
Faculty in Graphic Design
AICAD Fellowship
Maryland Institute College of Art
2019-2021
Pre-Press and Risograph Printing Workshop
Rhode Island School of Design
Spring 2019
History of Graphic Design—Teaching Assistant
Rhode Island School of Design
Fall 2018
Artistic Practice in Public Space—Teaching Assistant
Rhode Island School of Design
Rome, Italy
Summer 2018
Design Fundamentals
Chicago Portfolio School
2012-2017
EDUCATION
Teaching as Art
School For Poetic Computation
Summer 2020
The Op-Ed Project
Write to Save the World
Spring 2020
Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
2017 - 2019
Werkplaats Typografie—ISIA Summer School
Urbino, Italy
Summer 2018
Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
2003 - 2007
AWARDS
2019 AICAD Post Graduate Teaching Fellowship, MICA
2019 GD USA Designers to Watch
2019 Hispanic Scholarship Foundation
2018 AIGA Worldstudio Coyne Family Foundation Award
2018 Henry Wolf Scholarship
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Making Common
Otis College of Art and Design
February 22, 2021
Bound Together Workshop
Boston University
February 19, 2021
Making Common: Using Design to Work Towards a More Just Society
and Bound Together Workshop:
In/Visible Talks
January 14, 2021
The Power of Community Panel
with Jazmin Johnson and Katalina Mayorga
moderated by Margaret Rosario
Samsung's Global UX Studio
November 30, 2020
Art + Design Talk: Elaine Lopez
Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
November 20, 2020
Making Common Lecture
Intercultural Discourse
Maryland Institute College of Art
October 30, 2020
Artist Talk: Elaine Lopez
Be Here Now
The College of New Jersey
October 19, 2020
Hispanic Heritage Talks: Education Panel
AIGA Unidos
October 14, 2020
Designing Change: How to Advocate for Diversity in the DC Design Space
Breakout group: Mental Health in the Design Industry
DC Design Week
September 2020
What’s Next Panel
moderated by Roxane Gay
featuring Antionette Carroll, Kelly Walters, Chris Livaudais,
Alexandra Graham Cunninham-Cameron
Where Are The Black Designers?
June 2020
Diversity in Design Survey
Where Are The Black Designers?
June 2020
Making Common
SFSU Designspace
San Francisco State University
February 2020
Graphic Design Was Never Colonized...It Is a Tool of Colonization
Maryland Institute College of Art
November 2019, October 2020
Making Common
Thesis Presentation
Rhode Island School of Design
May 2019
Parsons CD Symposium: Authenticity
Parsons School of Design, The New School
May 2019
Thesis Position Presentation
Rhode Island School of Design
October 2018
Graduate Student Orientation
Rhode Island School of Design
September 2018
Design for Good: Exploring Diversity
AIGA Chicago
November 2016
Designing Diversity: Insights for Building More Inclusive Teams
AIGA Chicago
July 2017
Design For Good: Celebrating Creativity in the Black Community
AIGA Chicago
February 2017
Introduction to the Design Community
AIGA Chicago
October 2016
What Makes a Great Creative Director?
SheSays Chicago
March 2016
EXHIBITIONS
On The Edge of Normal, MFA Biennial
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
April 2019
Graphic Design Triennial
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
October 2018
Souvenirs From The Futures Exhibition
Global Futures Lab
Rome, Italy
March 2018
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Jacobin, Prophet, 3st Design, Greater Good Studio, gravitytank, Leo Burnett, Geometry Global, closerlook
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Student Leader
Graduate Student Alliance
Rhode Island School of Design
2017 - 2018
Graduate Student Representative
Vice President of Social Equity and Inclusion Search Committee
Rhode Island School of Design
2017 - 2018
Diversity and Inclusion Co-Lead
AIGA Chicago
Chicago, IL
2016
Faculty in Graduate and Undergraduate Communication Design
School of Design
Pratt Institute
2021-current
Faculty in Graphic Design
AICAD Fellowship
Maryland Institute College of Art
2019-2021
Pre-Press and Risograph Printing Workshop
Rhode Island School of Design
Spring 2019
History of Graphic Design—Teaching Assistant
Rhode Island School of Design
Fall 2018
Artistic Practice in Public Space—Teaching Assistant
Rhode Island School of Design
Rome, Italy
Summer 2018
Design Fundamentals
Chicago Portfolio School
2012-2017
EDUCATION
Teaching as Art
School For Poetic Computation
Summer 2020
The Op-Ed Project
Write to Save the World
Spring 2020
Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
2017 - 2019
Werkplaats Typografie—ISIA Summer School
Urbino, Italy
Summer 2018
Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
2003 - 2007
AWARDS
2019 AICAD Post Graduate Teaching Fellowship, MICA
2019 GD USA Designers to Watch
2019 Hispanic Scholarship Foundation
2018 AIGA Worldstudio Coyne Family Foundation Award
2018 Henry Wolf Scholarship
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Making Common
Otis College of Art and Design
February 22, 2021
Bound Together Workshop
Boston University
February 19, 2021
Making Common: Using Design to Work Towards a More Just Society
and Bound Together Workshop:
In/Visible Talks
January 14, 2021
The Power of Community Panel
with Jazmin Johnson and Katalina Mayorga
moderated by Margaret Rosario
Samsung's Global UX Studio
November 30, 2020
Art + Design Talk: Elaine Lopez
Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
November 20, 2020
Making Common Lecture
Intercultural Discourse
Maryland Institute College of Art
October 30, 2020
Artist Talk: Elaine Lopez
Be Here Now
The College of New Jersey
October 19, 2020
Hispanic Heritage Talks: Education Panel
AIGA Unidos
October 14, 2020
Designing Change: How to Advocate for Diversity in the DC Design Space
Breakout group: Mental Health in the Design Industry
DC Design Week
September 2020
What’s Next Panel
moderated by Roxane Gay
featuring Antionette Carroll, Kelly Walters, Chris Livaudais,
Alexandra Graham Cunninham-Cameron
Where Are The Black Designers?
June 2020
Diversity in Design Survey
Where Are The Black Designers?
June 2020
Making Common
SFSU Designspace
San Francisco State University
February 2020
Graphic Design Was Never Colonized...It Is a Tool of Colonization
Maryland Institute College of Art
November 2019, October 2020
Making Common
Thesis Presentation
Rhode Island School of Design
May 2019
Parsons CD Symposium: Authenticity
Parsons School of Design, The New School
May 2019
Thesis Position Presentation
Rhode Island School of Design
October 2018
Graduate Student Orientation
Rhode Island School of Design
September 2018
Design for Good: Exploring Diversity
AIGA Chicago
November 2016
Designing Diversity: Insights for Building More Inclusive Teams
AIGA Chicago
July 2017
Design For Good: Celebrating Creativity in the Black Community
AIGA Chicago
February 2017
Introduction to the Design Community
AIGA Chicago
October 2016
What Makes a Great Creative Director?
SheSays Chicago
March 2016
EXHIBITIONS
On The Edge of Normal, MFA Biennial
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
April 2019
Graphic Design Triennial
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
October 2018
Souvenirs From The Futures Exhibition
Global Futures Lab
Rome, Italy
March 2018
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Jacobin, Prophet, 3st Design, Greater Good Studio, gravitytank, Leo Burnett, Geometry Global, closerlook
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Student Leader
Graduate Student Alliance
Rhode Island School of Design
2017 - 2018
Graduate Student Representative
Vice President of Social Equity and Inclusion Search Committee
Rhode Island School of Design
2017 - 2018
Diversity and Inclusion Co-Lead
AIGA Chicago
Chicago, IL
2016