Pouya Jahanshahi is an Iranian-born graphic designer, educator, and curator, currently an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Oklahoma State University and the coordinator of their MFA program.
Migrating from Tehran to London and then Los Angeles, he earned his M.A. at Cal State Fullerton, with a focus on the “Anatomy of a visual message” and the realm of semiotics and motion graphics. He received his MFA in Graphic design and Integrated Media from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he researched. the global development of what he has termed “Hybrid Visual Cultures,” where the cross-pollination of cultures has resulted in the birth of new visual realms.
Focusing on the post-revolutionary and hybrid characteristics of Iranian typography, he has been the voice of Iranian graphic design in Western academia. He has presented on such related issues internationally in venues including ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale’), IGDS (Iranian Graphic Design Society), Encuentro de Tipografia, and College Arts Association (CAA), amongst others.
While working with a broad range of cultural organizations and clientele, he is the co-founder of Pasaj Collaborative and Local-Not-Local art and design collaboratives, and his 20x20 Posters for Peace collection is currently being exhibited internationally. When time permits, he pursues his hobbies of Persian calligraphy, silk screening, and concrete poetry.
/// RESEARCH
His current research focus is on the development of what he calls “Hybrid Visual Cultures”; where cross-pollination from cultures across the globe has resulted in birth of new visual realms. He has presented on this subject at ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) and IGDS (Iranian Graphic Design Society), and the Society for Calligraphy.
Previous research has pertained to semiotics of imagery in his primer MA thesis California State University, 2004) “Anatomy of a visual message” and secondary thesis "Semiotics of title sequence design”.
/// PROFESSIONAL
While being the past AIGA - Orange County’s Educational Chair, Mr. Jahanshahi is also a member of IGDS (Iranian Graphic Design Society), staying active in issues involving design on both sides of the globe. The website: FarsiTypography.com is amongst his ongoing efforts to educate the Western design community of the Evolution of Farsi typography and design.
/// ACADEMIC
Amongst others, Mr. Jahanshahi previously taught at numerous colleges and universities Chapman University (Orange, California), The Art Institute of California, University of California Irvine (extension), and California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA).
/// INTERNATIONAL
His international involvement in the realm of design spans the globe. From Istanbul, to Tehran, Dublin and the United States. Recent presentations at ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) Fusion of East and West: The Fifth Color, as well as recently at ATypI 2010 Kufic: from holy script to vector art.
/// CLIENTEL
XpatStudio's past and present clients include National Semi Conductors (NSC), Metro-Style Fashion, AquaTek Inc., Stanley Electric and Chanteh Interior Designs to name a few
