Master of Fine Arts Brochure

Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
Creative direction, editorial strategy, photography direction & design

The Stamps Master of Fine Arts Brochure is an annual recruitment publication used nationally and internationally to introduce prospective graduate students to the MFA program. I lead the creative direction and design of the publication each year, developing the visual approach for a 32-page piece that brings together student stories, artwork, faculty, curriculum, facilities, funding, and international research opportunities.

Working with a colleague, I help identify the students and stories that will best communicate the MFA experience. I then direct the individual photo shoots and spend time getting to know the students behind the work. MFA students often arrive at Stamps with very different life experiences. Some come directly from undergraduate programs, while others have spent years working, creating, and living in different places before deciding to return to school. Getting to know those individual paths is one of the parts of this project I value most.

Those conversations help inform how I approach the photography and design. Rather than fitting every student into the same visual formula, I develop an editorial system that gives their individual stories and artwork room to have their own personality while maintaining a cohesive identity throughout the publication.

Because this is a publication I create each year, I have the opportunity to continue evolving how Stamps presents its MFA program to prospective students while maintaining a recognizable and consistent representation of the program. The finished publication supports graduate recruitment at events throughout the United States and internationally.

Brochure cover for the Stamps School of Art & Design Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program at the University of Michigan. The background features a colorful geometric quilt pattern composed of triangles and chevrons in bright hues of orange, pink, yellow, purple, green, and teal. The large white text “MFA” spans the lower center, with smaller text below reading “MASTER OF FINE ARTS.” At the top, the University of Michigan block M logo appears alongside the words “STAMPS School of Art & Design, University of Michigan.” The overall design is vibrant and modern, reflecting creativity and visual diversity.
A graduate art student stands at a large worktable in a studio, arranging colorful fabric pieces for a quilt project. The workspace features wooden walls, a sewing machine, and bright geometric fabric panels in pink, orange, green, and yellow tones spread across the floor and pinned to the wall. Large white text overlays the image reading, “An immersive journey into your creative practice.” To the right, smaller text describes the Stamps School of Art & Design MFA program, highlighting its focus on innovation, research, and creative exploration. The overall scene conveys an atmosphere of focused artistry and vibrant experimentation.
A graduate student in an art studio leans over a cutting table, carefully trimming paper with a precision cutter. The workspace is filled with creative materials, including a printed image of a forest, a book of artwork, and spherical paper sculptures made from newspaper. Behind the student, a chalkboard and art displays are partially visible. On the right side of the image, a blue and yellow panel lists “MFA Program Highlights,” detailing features such as mentorship, exhibition space at the Stamps Gallery, graduate studio facilities, funding opportunities, and international projects. Large text at the bottom reads, “The Stamps MFA Experience,” followed by a description emphasizing the program’s creative community, global collaboration, and mentorship opportunities at the Stamps School of Art & Design, University of Michigan.