Sara is a research-based designer with a practice that spans between the realms of complex databases and visual communication, using human centered methodologies. With her expertise in leading teams of designers and researchers, she is currently helping teams of business, technology, and design in navigating complex business and regulatory requirements through designing processes and products.
Independent Iranian Stamp Committee commemorates events, people and humanitarian campaigns that are neglected and banned by the Iranian government.
She was previously Director of Undergraduate Studies and assistant professor of Graphic Design at Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, at George Washington University.
Before attending RCA, Sara worked at Design Observer, where she was senior designer working on editorial and commissioned projects as well as contributing to the website as a writer including for her column, The Observers. She also served on the editorial board of Neshan magazine, program director for AIGA Connecticut, selection committee for AIGA DC’s Fellow Award. She is currently mentors at Alphabette, and is on the scholarship committe for Iranian American Academics and Professionals (IAAP).
Sara has taught editorial design as adjunct faculty at Maryland Institute College or Art—MICA, where she was also a visiting crit for the students’ thesis class in the MA program. She was previously senior designer at Top Shelf Design, a boutique marketing and design studio in Washington DC.
She has conducted workshops in the UK and US at the RCA and other universities and schools focusing on combining graphic design and collaborative approaches with social methods of learning.
Education
Royal College of Art
MA Visual Communication
2018
Central Saint Martins Study Abroad
2013
University of Connecticut
BFA Communication Design
2013
Shahid Beheshti University
BSc Biology
2008
Royal College of Art
MA Visual Communication
2018
Central Saint Martins Study Abroad
2013
University of Connecticut
BFA Communication Design
2013
Shahid Beheshti University
BSc Biology
2008
Experience
Zenda
Design Principal
2021-Present
Corcoran School of the Arts & Design—George Washington University
Director of Undergraduate Studies—Graphic Design
2019-2021
Top Shelf Design
Senior Graphic Designer
2019
Royal College of Art
Student assistant to archives and collections manager
2016–18
Design Observer
Senior designer
2013–16
AIGA Connecticut
Programming Director
2014–16
Zenda
Design Principal
2021-Present
Corcoran School of the Arts & Design—George Washington University
Director of Undergraduate Studies—Graphic Design
2019-2021
Top Shelf Design
Senior Graphic Designer
2019
Royal College of Art
Student assistant to archives and collections manager
2016–18
Design Observer
Senior designer
2013–16
AIGA Connecticut
Programming Director
2014–16
Teaching
Corcoran School of the Arts & Design—George Washington University
Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies of Graphic Design, 2019–2021
Maryland Institute College of Art
Adjunct Professor, Graphic Design
2018
Royal College of Art
Project Leader
AcrossRCA, Encounters with Collections
2018 University of Connecticut
Teaching Assistant
Book design with Daphne Geismar, 2015; Design Center, 2014
Corcoran School of the Arts & Design—George Washington University
Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies of Graphic Design, 2019–2021
Maryland Institute College of Art
Adjunct Professor, Graphic Design
2018
Royal College of Art
Project Leader
AcrossRCA, Encounters with Collections
2018 University of Connecticut
Teaching Assistant
Book design with Daphne Geismar, 2015; Design Center, 2014
Workshops
GoLocal
Hove Park School in collaboration with RCA Visual Communication and Global Innovation Design,
2018
Design and Democracy
Royal College of Art, RCA Visual Communication and Sandberg Institute collaboration,
2017
10x10 Letterpress workshop
AIGA CT and University of Connecticut collaboration,
2015
GoLocal
Hove Park School in collaboration with RCA Visual Communication and Global Innovation Design,
2018
Design and Democracy
Royal College of Art, RCA Visual Communication and Sandberg Institute collaboration,
2017
10x10 Letterpress workshop
AIGA CT and University of Connecticut collaboration,
2015
Sara’s work has been exhibited internationally at Dubai Design Week, Typographic Singularity in London, and AIGA 50 Books 50 Covers in New York, among other exhibitions. Sara has received several scholarships including AIGA CT creative scholarship and was shortlisted for Art Directors Club’s Young Guns in 2016. She was awarded a grant by Magic of Persia foundation to develop her MA final project about Iranian stamps—Project M.
Analytical study of every official Iranian stamp printed after the 1979 Islamic revolution
For more information and to discuss a collaboration please contact Sara at sara.jamshidi@gmail.comMore of her commissioned work is also available on her studio’s website, Concept—Practice.
Exhibitions
Royal College of Art Graduate Exhibition,
London, 2018
Typographic Singularity—RCA, London
2017, 2018
Graphics RCA 50 Years and Beyond,
Dubai Design Week, Dubai
2018
AcrossRCA Exhibition, RCA
London
2018
Royal College of Art Graduate Exhibition,
London, 2018
Typographic Singularity—RCA, London
2017, 2018
Graphics RCA 50 Years and Beyond,
Dubai Design Week, Dubai
2018
AcrossRCA Exhibition, RCA
London
2018
Awards
Magic of Persia Foundation
Project M, 2018
Varley Memorial Award
developing GraphicsRCA Archive, 2018
50 Books | 50 Covers
Winner for book and cover design, 2017
Art Directors Club Young Guns Shortlisted, 2016
Magic of Persia Foundation
Project M, 2018
Varley Memorial Award
developing GraphicsRCA Archive, 2018
50 Books | 50 Covers
Winner for book and cover design, 2017
Art Directors Club Young Guns Shortlisted, 2016
Selected Collaborations
through independent practice
Magic of Persia Foundation
Royal College of Art
Neshan Magazine
Daphne Geismar
American Institute of Graphic Arts, Connecticut Chapter
Hove Park School
Union Square Dental Practice
University of Connecticut
Yale School of Drama Annual Magazine
Magic of Persia Foundation
Royal College of Art
Neshan Magazine
Daphne Geismar
American Institute of Graphic Arts, Connecticut Chapter
Hove Park School
Union Square Dental Practice
University of Connecticut
Yale School of Drama Annual Magazine
Selected Collaborations
through studio projects
Yale University School of Management
New York Times
Hotchkiss School
Watson Foundation The Association for Constrction Workers Georgetown University University of Maryland
The Wine and Spirits Association of America
Institute for State Effectiveness
through studio projects
Yale University School of Management
New York Times
Hotchkiss School
Watson Foundation The Association for Constrction Workers Georgetown University University of Maryland
The Wine and Spirits Association of America
Institute for State Effectiveness