Christopher Corneal

(He/Him)

corneal@msu.edu
(517) 432-5299
Kresge Art Center 26A

Associate Professor

Art, Art History and Design

Biography

Chris Corneal is Associate Professor of Graphic Design in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design at Michigan State University. In addition to his regular teaching duties, Prof. Corneal also serves as the Faculty Advisor for Design Center and the Director of Graphic Design Internships. He received his BFA in Graphic Design from Western Kentucky University and his MFA in Graphic Design from University of Memphis. Throughout his career Prof. Corneal has continued to work as a freelance graphic designer, while also volunteering his design services for several non-profits. His work has been published in numerous award annuals and books, including: Graphis, Logo Lounge, Logoliscious, HOW International Design Annual, The Designer as… Author, Producer, Activist, Entrepreneur, Curator, and Collaborator: New Models for Communicating, American Corporate Identity, American Graphic Design and Advertising, The Means By Which We Find Our Way, The Creativity Awards Annual, 1000 Handmade Greeting Cards, Graphic Design USA, The New Big Book of Layouts, The Big Book of Design Ideas, and The Big Book of Logos. Prof. Corneal’s work has also been shown nationally and internationally in several juried exhibitions including: I Profess: The Graphic Design Manifesto, New Views 2: Conversations and Dialogues in Graphic Design, The Means By Which We Find Our Way, De:(Kon’strukt’), United Designs International Designs Alliance Exhibition, UCDA Annual Design Exhibition, A Mad Tea (Towel) Party, Sound and Fury: The Fine Art of Rock Posters and Adversary: A Touring Exhibition (of) Contesting Graphic Design.Prof. Corneal has presented refereed papers at national and international conferences hosted by College Art Association, University of the Arts-London, University and College Designers Association, and University of Minnesota. Student projects completed in Prof. Corneal’s design courses have been recognized nationally in Print Magazine, How Magazine, Presenting Shakespeare: 1100 Posters From Around the World, American Corporate Identity, Letterhead and Logo Design, and Big Idea Magazine.

Gallery

Includes the following quote by Martin Luther King, Jr: "Hatred confuses life, love harmonizes it." — Self-initiated project honoring Martin Luther King Jr. using expressive, but clearly communicated typography. It’s the design balancing act of wanting it to be visually dynamic enough to stop the viewer and invite reading, but also not so visually complicated that it creates channel noise hindering the communication.

Symbiotic Solutions is the name under which I do my graphic design projects. It’s a design firm of just one person…me. The name, Symbiotic Solutions, sums up the goal of my graphic design work. I believe the work should benefit all parties: both the clients and the audience. It also describes my ideal working relationship with the clients: One of give and take… working together toward a common goal. The rhino and the tick bird demonstrate this symbiotic relationship. The simplified style of the imagery is intended to connote refined simplicity and quiet, with a sense of potential power.

Cover of 20th Anniversary Edition of Exhibition Catalog. Purple color field with text that includes the exhibition title, I Profess: The Graphic Design Manifesto" — This is the cover of the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Exhibition Catalog for I Profess: The Graphic Design Manifesto, 2004–2025.

A red book cover with a distressed illustration of the medical symbol of the caduceus combined with the double helix of DNA. — Breeding Contempt, published by Rutgers Univ press deals with the U.S. history of coerced sterilization of individuals society has deemed socially deviant, unfit to pass on their genes, and unable to raise healthy children. The author, Mark Largent, shows how even in modern times, remnants of eugenics philosophies persist in this country as certain public figures advocate a brand of birth control that are only steps away from the castrations that were once performed. For the book cover, I used the medical symbol of the caduceus, and combined it with the double helix of DNA to communicate the attempt by those in power to genetically engineer society by controlling who is allowed to reproduce. The distressed style of the illustration is meant to connote on what side of the issue this book comes down.

Book cover containing a distressed illustration of a baby onesie with the words, Texas Girl", on it. — In my design approach to book covers, I attempt to communicate the layered, overarching themes of the texts through the use of succinct visual metaphors. In Robin Silbergleid’s memoir, Texas Girl, published by Demeter Press, the author tells the story of her decision to become a single mother, “not as a backup or Plan B, but as a first choice” while living in North Texas. For the cover of this book, I’ve used the baby onesie as an indexical reference to the child, the maternal relationship, and the anxious preparation for the baby’s arrival. A dream-like quality of memory, nostalgia, and wistfulness is connoted through the simplified, child-like style of the illustration. The script treatment of the author credit suggests the personal, autobiographical perspective of the memoir.

Book cover including a graphite drawing of the human brain. — The History of the Brain and Mind Sciences: Technique, Technology, Therapy, published by University of Rochester Press, explores the exceptionally complex scientific and medical techniques and practices that allowed practitioners to claim expertise in the brain and mind sciences over the past two centuries. Inspiration for the typography and restrained color palette came from the idea of the labels used to identify scientific specimens. My priority was also to complement and not distract from the beautiful quality of the medical illustration by Joseph Maclise.

Photo of a paper towel dispenser with the following text on the paper towel roll: "Each year in the US, we use more than 2.5 million tons of paper towels. Use cloth towels." — The typography on this poster is hand-inked on the paper towel. The text cites the amount of paper waste we create in the US in paper towels and it urges the viewer to “Use Cloth Towels.” This poster demonstrates my interest in the use of materials as metaphor, my preference for “doing it for real rather than Photoshop faking it,” and my affinity for hand-inked type.

Two speech balloons containing the image of a maze with the text, Check Facts, Check Sources, Now More Than Ever, Facts Matter. — In response to ongoing problems of the intentional spreading of misinformation, rumors, and absurd conspiracy theories online, I created this poster to inspire more critical engagement with mass communication. Using the metaphor of a maze included in multiple speech bubbles, I hope to communicate the challenges of simply accepting information that is being circulated. The original color palette used for this poster was much higher contrast, but I changed it to the low contrast color palette to further reinforce the need to look closer. Viewers/readers need to be critical and to check facts and sources in this era of intentional misdirection by message-makers. Now more than ever, facts matter.

College of Arts & Letters News

College of Arts & Letters Students and Staff Recognized with ADDY Awards for Outstanding Work
College of Arts & Letters
February 28, 2025
Ten students in Michigan State University’s Graphic Design program took home a total of five Gold, four Silver, and four Bronze American Advertising (ADDY) Awards at this year’s American Advertising Federation (AAF) Lansing Chapter ceremony. In the professional competition, […] Read Now →
Several College Projects Supported by HARP Development and Production Awards
College of Arts & Letters
December 13, 2024
Projects by College of Arts & Letters faculty, ranging from a linguistic course, to traveling exhibitions, to books on a range of subjects, received support this year from Humanities and Arts Research Program (HARP) Development or Production Awards. Funding for these HARP […] Read Now →
MSU Graphic Design Graduate Crowned Miss Michigan 2023
College of Arts & Letters
June 20, 2023
Maya Schuhknecht, a Spring 2023 Michigan State University graduate with a BFA in Graphic Design, was crowned Miss Michigan 2023 on Saturday, June 17, at the Frauenthal Theater in downtown Muskegon following a three-day competition. Along with the crown, sash, and Miss […] Read Now →
Graphic Design Students and College Marketing Staff Earn Multiple ADDY Awards
College of Arts & Letters
March 6, 2023
Some of the top American Advertising (ADDY) Awards presented this year by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Lansing went to Michigan State University students majoring in Graphic Design in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design. In total, MSU’s Graphic Design […] Read Now →
Graphic Design Student Designs Logo for National Organization
College of Arts & Letters
June 22, 2022
On June 6, the 78th anniversary of D-Day, the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art (Foundation) officially changed its name to the Monuments Men and Women Foundation to honor all the women who fought to rescue cultural treasures from theft and destruction during […] Read Now →