Carley Law

Carley Law, neé Cullen, is a graphic designer, educator, and letterpress printer. She received a MA and MFA in Graphic Design from the University of Iowa with a secondary area emphasis in Printmaking. Carley also holds a Graduate Certificate in Book Arts and Book Technologies from the University of Iowa Center for the Book (UICB).

Carley’s academic research combines analog print and digital technologies in graphic design courses to improve student learning outcomes. This research informs the structure of her curricula and assignments. Her course projects emphasize the creative process and how that process informs project deliverables. Students use hands-on creating practices: they begin working on paper, then move to digital spaces and softwares, and then bring those projects back into the physical world using historical and modern production tools. Coursework in her classes integrate the Rob Roy Kelly American Wood Type Collection to enrich student comprehension of typography, grid structures, page layout, historical image-making techniques, and graphic design principles.

Graphic design and letterpress printing are the foundation of Carley’s creative research practice. Carley’s current body of work applies design principles, type, printmaking methods, modern fabrication equipment, and design software to establish a visual language system. The application of color, type, patterns, and rhythm communicate emotions stored within the body. These communication systems are installed in physical and digital spaces.

Carley is perpetually growing her letterpress printing practice. She teaches skill-specific workshops privately and publicly at print shops across the nation. Her professional portfolio ranges from conceptual art, zines, posters, literary broadsides, business cards, to stationery suites for select clients.