Great Ideas of Humanity
Design Museum of Chicago
Ongoing exhibit series
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Exhibit: Out of the Container
Photo: DMoC
© 2018
In the 1950s, Chicago's Container Corporation of America ran one of the most celebrated corporate ad campaigns in history, commissioning bold experimental artwork inspired by great quotations. John Massey, the company's former head of design, encouraged the Design Museum of Chicago to reimagine it for a new era. DMoC happily obliged.
Launched in 2014, Great Ideas of Humanity embraces the increasing globalization of our world and celebrates the cross-pollination of ideas, philosophies, societies, and cultures. Where the original drew from the Western canon, this reprise opens the floor to poets, students, and emerging voices. Each selected phrase is interpreted by a designer or artist, resulting in work that reflects the complexity of its moment.
Now in its second decade, the project has appeared in exhibitions, on billboards and bus shelters, and in public spaces from Chicago to Hong Kong.
Learn more → GreatIdeasofHumanity.com
Video Installation at 150 Media Stream
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Exhibit: Business of Design Week, Hong Kong
Photo: Matthew Terdich
© 2016
↓ Select posters
Tanner Woodford on Emily Dickinson
Giclée Poster, 24×36”
Design Museum of Chicago, 2025
“‘hope’ is the thing with feathers.
that perches in the soul.
and sings the tune without the words.
and never stops. at all.”
— Emily Dickinson
Tanner Woodford on Edith Wharton
Giclée Poster, 24×36”
Chicago Cultural Center, 2024
“There are two ways of spreading light, to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” — Edith Wharton
Tanner Woodford & Cushing on Sojourner Truth
Giclée Poster, 24×36”
Chicago Cultural Center, 2024
“If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!” — Sojourner Truth
Tanner Woodford on Andy A., Grade 8
Giclée Poster, 24×36”
Design Museum of Chicago, 2018
“People might judge you on how fabulous you are, but… who really cares?” — Andy A., Grade 8
↓ Digital archive
An archive organized by theme. 146 posters across 12 categories: 6 philosophical (art, courage, equality, knowledge and the mind, love, progress and change), and 6 community-specific (826CHI, Chicago Voices, Cooper Dual Language, Loyola Marymount, Rush More, Young Chicago Authors). 21 tags track individual events and installations. Custom WordPress installation with a dozen plugins
Projects designed to grow with the organizations they serve
tanner@iterativework.com