MEAGHAN BARRY is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Chair of the Department of Art, Art History and Design at Oakland University. Her research and practice challenge the "genericism" of the American visual landscape by advocating for design localism—a framework that restores agency to designers and visual dignity to local neighborhoods. This philosophy is the foundation of her monograph, Designing for Local Communities: A Guide to Freelancing and Empowering Groups in Your Neighborhood (Bloomsbury Academic, 2025). As a Partner and Creative Director of Unsold Studio, a Detroit-based branding firm, Barry treats her professional practice as a laboratory to test theories of community building and economic advocacy. Her work has earned over 30 juried awards and global recognition, including serving as a UNESCO Delegate for Detroit at Singapore Design Week and being selected as a “Notable Woman in Design” by Crain’s Business Detroit. Barry holds an M.F.A. in 2D Design from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a B.F.A. in Communications Design from Pratt Institute.