Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Program

Our vision

Curriculum →

Mission →

Community

Who we celebrate

Faculty →

Chair →

Staff →

Students →

Work

We strive for

Recent Work →

Ventures →

News →

FAQs →

Apply Now →

Search

Fall 2026 priority deadline for transfer and graduate studies is January 5.

Program

Our vision

Curriculum →

Mission →

Community

Who we celebrate

Faculty →

Chair →

Staff →

Students →

Work

We strive for

Recent Work →

Ventures →

News →

FAQs →

Apply Now →

Search

strips of black material spelling the word IYA on a beach photograph

Nicolette Francis selected for award

Nicolette Francis selected for award

Date

By Todd Carroll

Congratulations to Nicolette Francis, class of 2024, who is being awarded the Claudia Atencia Linares ('01) Alumni Prize for her distinguished work and contribution to the MFA Design program.
Have a look at her project "Iya," which she describes as a typeface that expresses the ocean’s anger toward the transatlantic slave trade, in which 1.8 million enslaved people died. Iya, meaning mother in many West African countries, is a typographic love letter to all the enslaved women who never had the chance to be mothers.

afro american woman with white background



strips of black material in a bunch with the words bodies superimposed on top



stips of materials forming letters in a grid pattern



strips of material forming letters

Newsletter

Newsletter

Newsletter

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

310 East 22nd St - 5th Floor

New York, NY 10010

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu

(212) 592-2600

mfadesign@sva.edu