Meaghan Barry

Meaghan Barry, Associate Professor of Graphic Design and the Chair of the Department of Art, Art History and Design, also serves as a Partner and Creative Director at Unsold Studio, an award-winning Detroit-based branding firm. Barry's creative scholarship focuses on design as an economic driver for communities, with an emphasis on branding for small businesses and nonprofits. Her design work has been recognized by Graphis Design Annual, Indigo Design Awards, Creative Communication Awards and Detroit Commerce Design Awards. Her forthcoming book, “Designing for Local Communities: A guide to freelancing and empowering groups in your neighborhood” will be released in May 2025 from Bloomsbury.

She was selected as a "2020 Notable Woman in Design" by Crain's Detroit Business, a "2019 Oakland County Executive 40 under 40", and a "UNESCO City of Design Delegate" where she represented the United States at Singapore Design Week 2019. She has presented about her teaching and research at conferences in Canada, Greece, Mexico, Singapore, and throughout the United States. Her writing has appeared in AIGA Eye on Design and Design & Culture. Barry received her M.F.A. in 2D Design from Cranbrook Academy of Art (Bloomfield Hills, MI) and her B.F.A. in Communications Design from Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, NY).