UC Alumni Association honors DAAP graduate Brendán Murphy for global design leadership

Among this year’s honorees was College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning alumnus Brendán Murphy, whose career in global design leadership spans more than three decades.

Each year, the Alumni Association selects a group of distinguished graduates from its network of more than 360,000 alumni worldwide. Honorees are recognized for their career accomplishments and contributions to their communities and the university, with awards presented during Alumni Week festivities each spring.

Murphy, DAAP ’04, has more than 30 years of experience developing identity systems across print, digital and environmental design platforms.

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Murphy’s work has focused on how organizations communicate identity across global audiences. Among his most notable projects is a redesign of the international wheelchair accessibility symbol, which emphasizes empowerment and movement.

He also contributed to the design of DAAPworks, one of the college’s signature student showcases, in 2019.

Murphy has also worked in higher education and public speaking. He previously served as a senior lecturer in information design and corporate identity at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has presented at organizations including the American Institute of Graphic Arts and South by Southwest. He is also the author and illustrator of a children’s book published by Disney-Hyperion and studied painting at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.

During the Alumni Celebration, Murphy credited educators and family members for shaping his career path. “I wouldn’t be here without the teachers in my life,” Murphy said. “I’m so grateful to DAAP and my family. They supported me in so many ways. I hope they see themselves in this recognition, because I wouldn’t be here without them. Teaching lays the foundation for who we are and where we can go, it’s an incredibly meaningful profession, and we should never forget the people who fed our curiosity."

In addition to individual honors, the Alumni Association unveiled a public mural in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood at 1430 Vine St. The artwork was commissioned by the association and created by Chroma Projects. It will remain on display through March 2027.

The installation is part of a broader effort to celebrate UC alumni contributions through public art and community engagement.

Banner on top of 2026 Alumni Celebration mural. Photo/UC Alumni Association