Dorothy E. Hayes

Dorothy Earline Lorraine Hayes (December 1, 1935 – July 31, 2015) was an American graphic designer, sculptor, and educator. She was an early Black graphic designer and the owner of the commercial design studio, "Dorothy's Door" in New York City. She taught at New York City Technical College (now New York City College of Technology) in Brooklyn.

Early life and education Dorothy E. Hayes was born on December 1, 1935, in Mobile, Alabama. She attended high school in Pensacola, Florida.

Hayes graduated with a B.S. degree in secondary education from Alabama State College (now Alabama State University) in Montgomery; and at Cooper Union School of Art (now Cooper Union) in New York City. In her early career she worked in various design roles, starting at Robert N. McLeod Inc., and followed by Crowell-Collier Publishing Company, Murray Leff and Company, and Wallack and Harris Inc.. She was also a sculptor and made abstract sculptures of plastic. During this era, the challenges of Black designers were less discussed and there was a hope of building awareness.

She died on July 31, 2015, in Mobile, Alabama. Her archives at the Stanford Libraries.