Thesis statement: With the election of President Obama in 2008 came a widely held belief that America is now a post-racial society. The country may have come a long way since Aunt Jemima and Frito Bandito, but racial minorities are still often depicted using stereotypical imagery in advertising and marketing materials. My thesis, “Think Before You Type: The Persistence and Evolution of Racial Stereotypes in Contemporary Design,” examines this topic and the imagery in use today. Some of the images may not be overt, but the subtle cues are there. As the minority becomes the majority, it is important that designers use caution when representing different races.

Faculty: Antonio Alcala, professor
School: Corcoran College of Art + Design