Meet Thesis Advisor

Hi everyone!

I’m Munus.

Are you my student?

I teach a wide range of classes…

My work ethos

I love to make my own tools

I believe that making your own open source design tool is the first step to build a resilient practice without relying on proprietary software.

I was able to produce all the design for the AIGA 50 Books x 50 Covers Exhibition this semester using my own custom tool. Another alternative is possible!

In collaboration with Gaia Hwang, Marily Papanastasatou, Ananya Soogoor and Yashasyaa Arya

AIGA 50 Books x 50 Covers Exhibition — www.munusshih.com ↗

professional practice

Selected Projects

I work with many mission-aligned organizations and independent researchers to build design systems and digital work.

I also do...

Research & Exhibitions

I collaborate with other artists and researchers to produce exhibitions, workshops, and publications. My research focuses on open source ecosystem, experimental publishing, and solidarity economy.

Collaborated with Tee Topor and Nikki Makagiansar, a time-based store

Duty Free — www.munusshih.com ↗

Collaborated with Nikki Makagiansar, Franco Chen, Em DeVincentis, Showcased at NEW INC x Demo Festival 2025

Syllabus (Subject to Change) — www.munusshih.com ↗

Conversation between Anoushka Bhalla, Alexandria Deters and Munus Shih, showcased at Accent Sisters

Threads of Memory — www.munusshih.com ↗

Collaborated with Ihao Liao and Chun-Huang Lin

Practicing Ecological Distance — ntu01.jpg ↗

I run a cooperative

Worker-owned!

with my two best friends Tzuyun Wei and Ihao Liao!

design co-op

CoAssembly — sponact-1.jpg ↗

Art Bookfair in Taipei

PCD Taiwan — sponact-2.jpg ↗

new book!

Recent Publication — sponact-3.png ↗

new exhibition at National Taiwan University!

Recent Publication — sponact-4.png ↗

However, thesis is not about me...

Thesis is about You!

Here are some things I’m familiar with…

But I’m also interested in learning about your interests, your practice, and your thesis project. I want to support you in making the work that you want to make, not the work that I want you to make.

We will work well if...

We will work well together if…

You're a book lover, I've been diving into this book by Mark Fisher's lectures on capitalism. I read many books as part of my research and I want to share them with you!

Postcapitalist Desire — kyl.neocities.org ↗

You love archive, index and collection. This work by Nora Wang archives nostalgic commercial products in China and the authentic memories associated with them in the age of globalization and capitalism.

Nora (Huixin) Wang — nora.png ↗

You investigate systems and power! Jenelle Zhao's work ____topia is speculative storytelling kit that invites users to imagine and build alternative worlds that rejects the common dystopian and utopian narratives and instead embraces the complexity and contradictions of our world.

Jenelle (Wenjing) Zhao — Jenelle.jpeg ↗

You love preso and crits! We will have regular preso and crits sessions to share our work and get feedback from each other. I will also invite guest critics to join us and provide feedback on your work.

crits — preso.JPG ↗

You are experimental! I will support you in making the work that you want to make, not the work that I want you to make. I will also encourage you to experiment with different mediums, formats, and tools to find the best way to express your ideas.

Me with Student Books — books.jpg ↗

No pressure!

It’s just another project!

Email me at munus.shih@pratt.edu

Or find me in the hallways of Pratt!

references

Bibliography

• “(4066.62, 62) — Munus Shih.” munusshih.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “AIGA.” aiga.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Archive - The Only Thing That Lasts.” blackburnoralhistoryproject.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Asian Labor Future Institute.” asianlaborfutures.substack.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Black Zine Fair.” blackzinefair.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “CoAssembly — Design Co-op.” instagram.com/spon.act. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Duty Free — Munus Shih.” munusshih.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Fellowships 2025.” processingfoundation.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “GOCA | Home.” goca.gallery. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Graduate Studio: Technology A.” tech-a.munusshih.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Graduate Studio: Visual Language B.” vlb.munusshih.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Image of the Studio — Data Designer.” imageofthestudio.athleticsnyc.io. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Just Tech Fellowship.” ssrc.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Munus Shih — Portfolio.” munusshih.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “New Museum.” newmuseum.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “New York Review of Books.” shop.nybooks.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Open Assembly.” openassembly.processingfoundation.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “p5.book.” editor.p5js.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “p5.zine.” openprocessing.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Postcapitalist Desire: The Final Lectures.” kyl.neocities.org. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “R&M Studio.” r-and-m.co. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Syllabus (Subject to Change).” munusshih.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Thesis I (DES-796-07).” thesis-i.munusshih.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Thesis II (DES-799-07).” thesis-ii.munusshih.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Threads of Memory.” munusshih.com. Accessed May 5, 2026.
• “Unearthing Air.” todd-dev.free99.work. Accessed May 5, 2026.