Claire Bula

Claire Bula

Lecturer in Art, Graphic Design

Claire Bula has been an artist since she can remember, learning to paint and draw from her architect father and becoming self-taught after that. However, in 2018, after spending 15 years in marketing and experiencing an unplanned “life break,” Claire knew she had to build her career around something she truly loved. Thus, she transitioned into making art and design as her full-time pursuit. Claire took formal classes in drawing, painting, design, and color theory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Later on, she pursued a Master’s in Fine Arts in graphic design from Boston University.

Claire has never looked back – being a designer is what she was born to do. It brings her happiness to create and bring joy to others. Her focus lies in utilizing design as a means to connect with others, fostering empathy, and contributing to a more welcoming world. She acknowledges that there’s more for her to learn than what she already knows, and she is willing to embrace challenges in order to acquire new skills.

Claire possesses a deep appreciation for various creative endeavors, ranging from handmade to digital, and she continuously seeks out novel approaches to creation. While her initial passion remains in watercolor, it serves as the foundation for much of her client work. Her expertise also extends to branding and identity creation, typography, and design for print materials such as posters, magazines, and books.

At present, Claire manages an independent design studio named Claire Bula Designs. Additionally, she is part-time graphic design faculty at Boston University and holds a Design Fellowship with the American Institute for Graphic Artists (AIGA).

Awards
  • 2021-Present, Fellow, Design Writing Fellowship: American Institute of Graphic Artists, Design Educators Community
    Member of the DEC Design Writing Fellowship working individually and collaboratively to explore the Visual Essay/Narrative. This format of visually displaying and combining both writing and images offers an avenue for design educators who conduct and disseminate their research through making practices. The group meets monthly to review, collaborate, and provide feedback on each individual’s progress. Research and design is conducted independently throughout the fellowship. Selected as one of 18 participants nationally through a competitive, peer-reviewed process.
  • 2022, Grant Recipient, Boston University Center for Teaching & Learning, Part-time Faculty Development Fund
Publications

2023

  • Forthcoming publication this fall in Dialogue (publication of the AIGA Design Educators Community) of my visual essay “Graphic Design and Authority: How the visual design of documents and signage creates, endorses, and authenticates power structures”
  • “111th CAA Annual Conference New York” Abstracts 2023, My abstract, “Graphic Design and Authority: How the design of documents and signage creates, endorses, and authenticates power structures” published in Abstracts 2023 the document of record for presented content at the 111th CAA Annual Conference. Abstracts2023 highlights recent scholarship from leading art historians, artists, curators, designers, and other professionals in the visual arts at all career stages.

2022

  • “2022 DESIGN + WRITING FELLOWSHIP A Visual Essay Poster Exhibition,” SURFACE AIGA National Design Conference Featured in companion booklet for exhibition at 2022 AIGA National Conference in Seattle, WA. https://educators.aiga.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DECFellows_PosterExhibit_ZINE_ReaderSpreads.pdf
  • “New England’s Local Makers” Featured Artist, AIGA Boston, Featured on the AIGA Boston’s website highlighting and promoting the work of designers and artists around New England.
  • “Design and Writing Fellowship” Featured Artist AIGA Design Educators Community, Featured on the AIGA Design Educators Community page about the Design Writing Fellows and our group show at the AIGA 2022 National Conference in Seattle, WA. https://educators.aiga.org/design-writing-fellowship/
  • “BU MFA Poster Collection,” Published by Body & Forma Studio, Poster designs and interview featured in a book published by Body & Forma studio.

2021

2020

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