Loyola University’s School of Communication and Design to Host “Great Ideas of Humanity” Exhibit at the Diboll Design Center
The Department of Design at Loyola University is proud to present “Great Ideas of Humanity,” a poster show that reimagines a renowned mid-20th-century advertising campaign, on loan from the Design Museum of Chicago.
The exhibit opens Nov. 6 as the inaugural show at the Diboll Design Center, on the fourth floor of Monroe Library at Loyola. An opening reception will take place from 5-7 p.m., as will a celebration of the newly renamed center, formerly Diboll Gallery.
The exhibition, which the Design Museum of Chicago launched in 2014, brings together talented designers from local, national and international backgrounds, who give their interpretations of thought-provoking statements by historical and contemporary thinkers, said Benjamin Benus, Professor of Art and Design History at Loyola.
“The series has been exhibited in numerous venues, but the Diboll Design Center’s display will be unique,” Benus said. “Students in Loyola’s Design program have developed several innovative and interactive features to enhance visitors’ experiences and deepen engagement.”
“Great Ideas of Humanity” reimagines the “Great Ideas of Western Man” advertising campaign, in which the founder of the Container Corporation of America sought to marry the words of great thinkers with the visuals of great artists and designers. The campaign ran as full-page magazine ads for 25 years, from 1950 to 1975.
This new iteration of that campaign embraces the globalization of our world, and celebrates the cross-pollination of ideas, philosophies, societies and cultures. As such, the new series seeks to visually interpret thought-provoking quotes from a wide range of thinkers through design.
Last spring, the Design Museum of Chicago invited members of the public – including Loyola students, staff and faculty – to suggest quotations for the posters, Benus said. Students, as well as faculty members Daniela Marx, Scott Gericke and Matt Normand, also contributed several designs for this newest round of posters, he said.
The exhibition also contains the work of a number of prominent designers, including Neville Brody, Debbie Millman, Rick Valicenti and Christoph Niemann, among others, Benus said.
“We could not be more honored and excited to welcome this wonderful exhibition from the Design Museum of Chicago to Loyola,” said Marx, chair of the Department of Design. “‘Great Ideas of Humanity’ celebrates the thinkers and visionaries whose ideas have shaped our world. It offers our students, faculty and community a chance to experience the power of human creativity and the enduring impact of knowledge.”
In conjunction with the exhibition’s opening, Loyola is hosting a Design Forum with students on Nov. 5. “Designing a New Museum: A Conversation with Tanner Woodford and Kevin Reader of the Design Museum of Chicago” will take place from 4:55-6:10 p.m. in Nunemaker Auditorium.
The exhibition will run through March 26, 2026, and is free and open to the public. The Diboll Design Center will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information, visit https://www.dibolldesigncenter.com/show/great-ideas-of-humanity-poster-show.
About the Diboll Design Center
Diboll Design Center is an innovative space dedicated to design and visual storytelling. Managed by the Loyola’s Department of Design, the Center showcases the work of both local and international designers and artists. In addition to exhibitions, it serves as a hub for the New Orleans design community, hosting engaging lecture series and exhibition openings.
About the College of Music and Media
The College of Music and Media is comprised of two schools — the School of Music and Theatre Professions and the School of Communication and Design. Students who choose to study in the college prepare for careers in music, theatre, music industry, graphic design, motion design, UX design, filmmaking, strategy, mass media and more.
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