Business Matters

Story by Anna Nemirovsky

Andrea Marks first discovered her passion for design as a teenager through Armin Hofmann’s “Graphic Design Manual.”  Hofmann, a pioneer in 20th-century Swiss graphic design, introduced the idea of using design as a problem-solving tool.

“I was 18 when I saw this book and it was so fascinating to me,” said Marks, who just retired from her Oregon State professorship after 31 years. “It showed how design ideas and forms could create wonderful visual solutions to problems.” 

This fascination with design and solutions led Marks to a long, prolific career at Oregon State University. In her 31 years at OSU, Marks served as a faculty member, program director, innovator and mentor. During her time at OSU, she also produced and created the film “Freedom on the Fence,” a documentary about the creative spirit of Polish poster artists following WWII. The project took her more than 10 years to complete.

On the eve of her retirement, Marks reflected on her commitment to inspiring and empowering others through the art of design and storytelling.

Driven by her newfound passion for design, Marks attended Philadelphia College of Art, where she received a BFA in graphic design. She later moved to Basel, Switzerland for two years after receiving a Fulbright Award to study design at the Basel School of Design.

The design program in Basel was started by Armin Hofmann. Though Marks never took a formal class with Hofmann, she still felt as if her design education had gone full circle, especially because she attended field trips with Hofmann and his wife Dorthea, an artist, educator and designer.

From her days as an undergraduate student, through her career at OSU, Marks said, “I have been fortunate to meet so many inspiring people in the world of design…it’s been fantastic.”

Following graduate school, Marks moved back to Philadelphia and worked as a freelance graphic designer and part time graphic design instructor.

When she visited Oregon State University for an interview she instantly fell in love with the landscape.

 “I saw how incredibly beautiful it was,” she said. “The landscape reminded me of parts of Switzerland.” 

Marks felt like she was in a place she could grow professionally and set roots in the community. “I liked the way Oregon made me feel, so I took the job 31 years ago,” she said.

Throughout her career at OSU, Marks has been a faculty member, the program director for the Graphic Design program in the College of Liberal Arts and until recently was  the program director of the College of Business’ seven-year old Design and Innovation Management (DIM) program.

Marks played a pivotal role in DIM’s development, guiding students through the intricacies of merging design with business.

“It was challenging to help start the program from scratch, but with passionate and supportive colleagues and eager students, it’s grown to be a unique and valuable major in the college.” Marks said.  “It’s become quite an amazing program.”

Marks takes pride in the accomplishments of her former students, many of whom have embarked on successful careers in design-related fields. They have landed positions at renowned design agencies, conducting design research for consulting firms and more.

“Our alumni are working in all sorts of places, from marketing agencies to studios,” she said. “It’s a testament to the program that students are getting jobs, even though internships and such are not easy to secure.”

Former students like Trenton Bevan ‘21, stand out as a testament to the program’s impact, according to Marks. A member of the inaugural graduating class, Trenton secured a position at Ziba Design, one of the world’s top design research agencies. His success serves as validation of Marks’ commitment to nurturing creative talent.

In 1997, one of Marks’ graphic design students, an international student from Poland, spoke to her about the decline of Polish posters following the fall of Communism, specifically posters celebrating film, theater and other cultural events. 

The posters, which often cloaked personal and political expressions of artists living under repression, sparked Marks’ curiosity and became the catalyst for a decade-long passion project, a documentary film titled, “Freedom on the Fence.” 

“This student had unintentionally opened my eyes,” Marks said. “It just kept sticking in my mind. I thought the posters were amazing.”

The 40-minute documentary, released in 2010,  was showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, as well as multiple film festivals around the world.

 “It was a once in a lifetime project,” Marks said.

As Marks bids farewell to her career at Oregon State University, she will still cherish the vibrant energy of the campus—a place buzzing with learning, curiosity, and meaningful conversations. 

“There are always lectures and interesting events on campus,” she said.

Marks plans to stay active connecting with alumni on LinkedIn and intends to initiate projects with some of her own former students.

At the heart of her remarkable journey lies a deeply ingrained personal philosophy: “One can go after anything they are interested in,” she said. “If you feel something needs to be put out into the world, it can be done.”