A renowned interdisciplinary arts center, the Wex, as it’s called, has drawn national attention to the area with its interactive events and innovative exhibitions…” —Ingrid K. Williams, The New York Times
COLUMBUS—The Wexner Center for the Arts, designed by ground-breaking architect Peter Eisenman, opened its doors at the Ohio State University in November 1989. Envisioned as a laboratory for the contemporary arts, the center combines performances and exhibitions as well as artist residencies, workshops, and lectures across a variety of disciplines, including the visual and performing arts, film and video, and architecture and design. The Wexner Center has honored the work of artists as diverse as photographer Annie Leibovitz, costume designer and director Julie Taymor, guitarist/composer Bill Frisell, choreographer William Forsythe, architect Renzo Piano, and filmmaker Martin Scorsesse.
The design team at the Wexner Center for the Arts is responsible for the creation of marketing, communication, and educational material for the center, including print and electronic collateral, advertising, exhibition and environmental graphics, and catalogues and publications. The strength of the design work has been acknowledged by their peers, including recognition from The American Association of Museums and accolades from the Columbus Society of Communication Arts, including numerous Creative Best awards.
Film/Video Calendar
I can say without reservation that there is no finer film program to my knowledge than that offered by the Wexner. It is always ahead of the curve and able to attract to it the most creative and original film makers working today.” —Ken Brecher, Executive Director of the Sundance Film Institute
The Wexner Center for the Arts presents a monthly series of films and videos from around the world, including the work of established and emerging filmmakers and artists. Documentaries, dramas, comedies, and the experimental are screened, often accompanied by director, including Spike Lee, Milos Foreman, Martin Scorsese, and Richard Linklater.
Each document presented a calendar of events; a description of each film and series, including lectures by filmmakers, producers, and critics; artist biographies; film debuts; special event information; and essays from the Film/Video curators.
Quantity: 3,500–6,000
Size: 17″ × 22″
2-color (Pantone® and black)
Design, Meet Architecture: The Wexner Center Store
When the Wexner Center opened on Nov. 17, 1989, the building was hailed as a major cultural happening. Writing in The New York Times, the architecture critic Paul Goldberger called it ‘one of the most eagerly awaited architectural events of the last decade,’ and since then it has helped turned Columbus into a cultural destination.” —Robin Pogrebin, New York Times
When architect Peter Eiseneman broke the rules with his Deconstructivist masterpiece, the Wexner Center for the Arts quickly made a name for itself as a cutting-edge contemporary arts center and as one of the country’s best places to shop for arts-related media and products. The Wexner Center Store stocks thousands of rare and hard-to-find titles, on topics ranging from film and video to painting, the performing arts, architecture, photography, and theory and criticism.
The visual redesign of the website makes allusions to the square module used in the brick-and-mortar store, including the custom glass showcases, shelving, and wooden panels lining the walls. There are additional references to building materials, including stainless steel, glass, oak, and black wooden laminates. The 6 × 2 grid is filled with graphics of products sold, and a designer can create new layouts by choosing from a variety of product shots provided by the publishers. This simplification allowed designers to make updates quickly and easily, with greater extensibility.
Promotional Posters
As a multi-disciplinary contemporary arts center, programing at the Wexner Center includes exhibitions, film and video, and the performing arts. These posters, designed between 2005 and 2008, showcase visiting artists including musicians Dave Douglas and Jacky Terrasson, dancers Kiroaki Umeda and Jérôme Bel, filmmaker David Lean, and comic artist Jeff Smith.
Size: 30.5″ × 45.5″
4-color
Advertising
Printed in well-known local, regional, and national papers as well as more esoteric magazines and journals, advertisements promote the programming of the Wexner Center as well as the line of rare and unusual products sold within the store.
Sizes: various
4-color, black-and-white
Postcards
Mailed to thousands of Wexner Center members and available for visitors, the full-color postcards were typically used to promote the performing arts, including appearances by musicians Bill Frisell, Ali Farka Touré, and the Dakshina Ensemble.
Quantity: 2,000–6,000
Size: 8.5″ × 6″
4-color
Tim Jacoby: Multimedia Designer and Educator 