Visual Design for Democracy expert to speak at Purdue

Marcia Lausen will present findings from her forthcoming book "Design for Democracy: Election Design" at 5 p.m. in Krannert Building, Room G016. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Patti and Rusty Rueff Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

Lausen uses the confusing design of the "butterfly" ballot used in Florida in the November 2000 election as a demonstration of how poor design choices can adversely affect the function of a democracy.

"Marcia is one of the design leaders who has stepped forward since then to improve election materials and processes to increase citizen participation," said Rosanne Alstatt, a visiting art historian at Purdue.

Lausen continues to work with the American Institute of Graphic Arts' Design for Democracy group and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to create a comprehensive design system to disseminate to state and county government and election officials. The Design for Democracy initiative seeks to use the power of design to increase trust in government, increase the transparency of government activities and facilitate citizen participation.

Lausen is director of the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She co-founded the award-winning design consulting firm Studio/lab with colleagues in Chicago and San Francisco. She received her bachelor's degree in graphic design from Indiana University before earning a master's degree in graphic design from Yale University. She serves on the American Institute of Graphic Arts national board.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Source: Rosanne Alstatt, (765) 494-6469, ralstatt@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Design for Democracy: https://www.designfordemocracy.org

American Institute for Graphic Arts: https://www.aiga.org

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