Words of Mouth presents: Search Work

Join us for an evening with Rachel Meade Smith, editor of Search Work and author of the long-running newsletter Words of Mouth, for a conversation on job hunting, labor, design, and the search for meaningful work. Rachel will be joined by writer and book contributor Elizabeth Goodspeed for a presentation and discussion drawn from the book, followed by audience Q&A. This event is hosted by SVA MA Design Research, Writing & Criticism, MFA Design for Social Innovation, and MFA Interaction Design.

Search Work asks what we uncover when we pause and examine the textures of something as mundane and tedious as the job hunt. Bringing together more than fifty contributors across personal essays, archival job ads, labor research, and other forms, the anthology explores how the search for a paycheck so often becomes something deeper: a search for belonging, identity, and orientation in a changing world of work.

The book grew out of Words of Mouth, the free weekly newsletter Rachel Meade Smith began nearly a decade ago, which shares opportunities for good work and creative expansion with a large international readership. As entry-level paths vanish and AI reshapes the labor landscape, Search Work offers a timely and refreshingly critical look at the isolating, strange, and often absurd experience of job hunting.

The evening will include presentations by Rachel on the making of the book and by writer Elizabeth Goodspeed on her contribution to the book, followed by a short discussion about seeking work in the design industry today, and audience Q&A. Books will be available on site.

More information about the book: , OR Books (April 2026)

Rachel Meade Smith is a writer, editor, and civic design worker focused on information access and the world of work. Since 2016, she has authored Words of Mouth, a free newsletter sharing opportunities for good work and creative expansion with readers across the globe.

Elizabeth Goodspeed is an independent designer, art director, and writer specializing in branding, packaging, and book and editorial design. She’s also the US editor-at-large for It’s Nice That and publishes Casual Archivist, a design history focused newsletter.

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