OMA&D 50th Anniversary Historical Display

To recognize its 50^th anniversary in 2018, OMA&D collaborated with UW Libraries, as well as UW Professor Kristine Matthews and her design-firm, Studio Matthews, to produce this historical display, “Revolution and Evolution.”

Originally showcased in Allen Library, the exhibit can now on display in the Husky Union Building during the 2019 winter quarter.

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

“Revolution and Evolution” is designed to reflect five barriers to education that are thematically tied to the five demands that members of the Black Student Union issued to then-UW President Charles E. Odegaard in May of 1968. President Odegaard’s response to these demands led to the establishment of what today is known as OMA&D.
The content featured within the structures represents how OMA&D has worked to break down these barriers (injustice, underrepresentation, marginalization, exclusion and discrimination) and build up excellence on behalf of the UW community over the past 50 years. To develop a design concept for the exhibit, Professor Matthews engaged students in her DESIGN 467 Exhibition and Installation Design class during the 2018 Winter Quarter. After learning about OMA&D’s history from founding BSU member Emile Pitre, students worked in teams of three or four to develop design concepts. The groups presented their work at the end of January and a final concept – named Tearing Down & Building Up – was selected to serve as the inspiration for the current design.