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Life's a "Pitch" for School of Visual Arts grads

Student-designed products will be on display at the New York school's Visual Arts Gallery May 2-17.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 4/16/2008 12:00:00 AM

Here's what socially minded moms of the future might be getting for Mother's Day: Stellaria software, a customizable gift of music based on the star patterns of a significant day. Or perhaps a system of flower pots called Floa that resemble blooming petals to encourage attentive care for plants. Or, for Jewish mothers, how about something by Kli, a line of contemporary Judaica?

These are some of the 18 thought-provoking products--including objects, public service campaigns, digital tools, and interactive play things--on display in "Pitch," an exhibition at New York's School of Visual Arts from May 2-17 curated by SVA faculty member Dorothy Twining Globus.

Created by students graduating from the school's MFA design department, the products were created through graphic, web, industrial, and motion design with the goal of being both commercially viable and culturally significant. The designers attempted to move beyond traditional graphic design in developing their original concepts and embraced market research, brand strategies, and business plans.

The exhibit is divided into five themes: informational campaigns and web resources; objects that inspire learning and reflection; the world of play; digital tools for communication; and contemporary lifestyles and popular culture. The work of the master's degree candidates ranges from Kevin McDonnell's Manhattan 1609, an educational campaign that visualizes New York City as the wilderness it was the year of the city's founding, to Bomina Kim's Nu, a line of repurposed, recyclable cardboard toy templates that allow children to construct their own imaginary worlds—just like graduate school.

The Visual Arts Gallery, 601 W. 26th Street, 15th floor; Mon-Sat, 10am to
6pm; closed Sundays and public holidays. Admission is free. Wheelchair accessible.
212-592-2145.