At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs
Client: Smithsonian - National Museum of African American History and Culture
Location: Washington, D.C.
Opening Date: January 16, 2026
Square Feet: 3,000 to 5,000 sq. ft. (traveling exhibition)
One By Design Exhibit and Graphic Design
At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs invites visitors to experience the institutions, people, and ideas that continue to stand at the forefront of history, culture, and progress.
One by Design collaborated with the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) to create a traveling exhibition that honors the spirit and legacy of HBCUs while creating a dynamic environment which connects past achievements with present-day impact.
Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), the exhibition occupied 5,000 square feet at the museum. During its 6 month tenure at the museum, it welcomed over 190,000 visitors. It is scheduled to travel to the five partnering HBCUs before continuing to additional venues nationwide, bringing these powerful stories to audiences across the country.
This powerful exhibition boasts over 100 objects that bring together extraordinary works and archival treasures from Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University, Texas Southern University, and Tuskegee University. The exhibition highlights the lasting cultural, intellectual, and artistic influence of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
