In this edition of Media Matters, Fublis is proud to spotlight Sean Adams — an influential design leader, author, educator, and creative visionary whose contributions have shaped the visual language of contemporary communication.
As the Dean of Visual Arts and Communication at ArtCenter College of Design, Sean brings decades of professional experience into the academic realm, mentoring the next generation of visual storytellers. His work fuses deep historical insight with forward-thinking creative exploration, empowering students to engage with the world through design.
Sean is also the founder of Burning Settlers Cabin and the co-founder of the legendary design firm AdamsMorioka, whose bold, modernist aesthetic helped redefine American graphic design in the 1990s and early 2000s. He is the only two-term national president of AIGA, the most prestigious professional organization for design in the United States, and in 2014, he received the AIGA Medal, the highest honor in the field.
An accomplished author, Sean has penned nine influential books including The Designer’s Dictionary of Color and How Design Makes Us Think — both celebrated for bridging theory and practice with visual clarity. His writing extends to multiple magazine columns and educational platforms, including LinkedIn Learning, Adobe, and Domestika, where his accessible and thought-provoking teaching style has influenced thousands of learners globally.
Sean’s impact reaches far beyond the classroom. He is an AIGA and Aspen Design Institute Fellow, serves on the editorial board of Design Observer, and has been honored by nearly every major design competition, from Communication Arts to The Type Directors Club. His work has been showcased in leading exhibitions — including a solo show at SFMOMA — and he has been named among the ID40 most important international design influencers and one of the Top 10 Most Influential Designers in the U.S.
Beyond his professional accolades, Sean brings humility, curiosity, and joy to every project — whether he’s writing, teaching, designing, or, as he often jokes, reorganizing drawers on the weekend.
For an in-depth conversation with Sean Adams on the intersections of design, leadership, and education, check out our full one-on-one interview below.
