Erin Collins (née Meekhof) is a graphic designer, artist, and educator. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Maryland Institute College of Art and a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art and Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science from New York University Abu Dhabi. Erin currently works as an Instructor of the Arts in Design in New York University Abu Dhabi's Arts & Humanities division.
Her research interests are at the intersection of design, cognitive science, sustainability, and culture — how design can transform human behavior. Though trained as a graphic designer with expertise in publication design and branding, she is dedicated to interdisciplinary work and employing design research methodologies to address many kinds of challenges. She currently manages the Visual Design Lab at NYUAD and supports the university’s Art & Art History BA and Design minor program through teaching and design activities.
Prior to joining NYUAD, she worked as a graphic designer at 10/Half Studios and a graduate teaching assistant at MICA. Erin has also worked as a freelance designer and artist since 2013. She lives in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with her husband and their two children.
Awards
Tasmeem Poster Competition Winner
For Sym-poesis/ploitation, 2022
Worldwide Logo Design Award Bronze Award
For Arts & Humanities Capstone Festival Identity, 2020
Christo & Jeanne-Claude Award, UAE
Winner and artist, December 2013, exhibit opened March 2014
Exhibitions
Design Works: A Decade of In-House Design at NYU Abu Dhabi, New York, NY, USA
Co-curator and featured artist, September—December 2022
The Transformative Power of the Anthropocene, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Participating artist, September 2022
Tasmeem Inaugural Exhibition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Selected artist, August 2022
Nomad Lab at Quoz Art Fest, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Participating artist, January 2020
Noon Art Award Exhibition, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Participating artist, November 2019
DESIGN WORKS: Design at NYUAD 2012-2018, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Co-curator and featured artist, January 2019
MICA Grad Show 2016, Baltimore, MD, USA
Participating artist, April 2016
Imaginary Museums Exhibit, Baltimore, MD, USA
Participating artist, April 2015
Christo & Jeanne-Claude Award Exhibition, various locations, United Arab Emirates
Solo artist, March—July 2014
Workshops, Talks, & Lectures
Introduction to Adobe Illustrator (multiple)
Introduction to Adobe InDesign (multiple)
Introduction to Adobe Photoshop (multiple)
Creating a Digital Portfolio (multiple)
10 Rules for Creativity (multiple)
Designing Your Living Space for Health & Well-Being (2023)
Principles of Visual Communication for Science (2022)
Design Works: A Decade of In-House Design at NYU Abu Dhabi (2022)
Documenting Your Creative Work (2022)
Designing for the Visual Brain (2022)
Information Design Basics (2021)
Logo Design (2021)
