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  • Banner image with bright blue background. Text on the left-hand side reads, "TDK Awards 2023, 2023 Top 30 Lecturers." A photograph of Meena Khalili is included on the right-hand side. Text underneath reads "Global Top 30 Design Lecturer, Meena Khalili, Associate Professor, Studio Art + Design, USC School of Visual Art + Design."

Meena Khalili recognized as a Global Top 30 Design Lecturer by The Design Kids

Posted on: February 14, 2024; Updated on: February 14, 2024
By Bailey Peterson, bawatts@email.sc.edu

Meena Khalili, Associate Professor in Studio Art and Design, has been honored as one of the 2023 Global Top 30 Design Lecturers by The Design Kids. This recognition places her among the elite educators from the world's leading design institutions, all nominated by students and recent graduates worldwide. 

Recognizing the Unsung Heroes of the Design Industry 

The Design Kids Is a global community and online resource dedicated to supporting emerging designers in launching their creative careers. With a community exceeding 425,000 students and graduates, The Design Kids offers valuable connections to budding designers around the globe. 

Now in its ninth year, The Design Kids' annual awards spotlight exceptional talent through a rigorous evaluation of worldwide portfolio submissions by a panel of 10 industry leaders. Among these submissions, 30 winners are selected, representing the pinnacle of design ingenuity. In a pioneering move for 2023, The Design Kids sought to acknowledge the indispensable contributions of educators within the design industry. As the driving forces behind the development of future designers, educators often go unrecognized for their dedication and impact. Introducing a category dedicated to honoring 30 outstanding lecturers worldwide, voted on by entrants, The Design Kids recognized Meena Khalili as a Global Top 30 Design Lecturer, standing alongside other esteemed educators from across the globe.   

Leading Design Innovation and Impact 

Meena Khalili is celebrated for her innovative approach to teaching and her commitment to fostering creativity in her students. Through her unconventional practices, she delves into themes of cultural identity and explores emerging and low-fi technologies. Her support empowers students to tell their stories, work with clients, and succeed. An AAF and AIGA speaker with consecutive International Design Awards, Professor Khalili's work has been showcased in prestigious exhibitions such as the Type Directors Club, Design Museum of Chicago, and the Library of Congress. She has also been featured in Issue 05 of The Great Discontent, which highlights creators who are deeply committed to addressing systematic challenges in their communities through creativity and emerging ideologies. 

We invite the university community to join us in celebrating Khalili's global recognition and her profound impact as a design educator. Her dedication to innovation and mentorship exemplifies the spirit of excellence we strive to cultivate within our academic community at the School of Visual Art and Design. Congratulations, Professor Khalili, on this well-deserved honor!  

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