Published on December 4, 2025 by Kathryn Slaughter  
Ampersand Calendar Set

Samford University is spotlighting a unique fusion of art, design and faith through Ampersand, a new calendar and poster series created by René Zimny, assistant professor of graphic design. Developed through the Center for Worship and the Arts’ Engaging Worship grant program, the project transforms the ampersand symbol into a meaningful visual centerpiece inspired by Scripture. 

Each of the 12 pieces highlights a Bible verse that prominently features the word “and,” such as Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Zimny uses the large, stylized “&” as a focal point, drawing attention to the conjunction’s ability to connect ideas and expand meaning within the text. 

The concept grew from Zimny’s longstanding fascination with the ampersand. “Ever since I started studying typography, I’ve been fascinated by the ampersand symbol,” he said. “I wanted to explore its aesthetic qualities, but I also felt it was important to add function to the form—something that added meaning and emphasis to this unique character.” 

A grant from the Center for Worship and the Arts’ Engaging Worship Program provided the spark to move the project forward. Zimny studied passages of Scripture and found new significance in a word that often goes unnoticed. 

“I was struck by how this small coordinating conjunction quietly expands, connects and enriches meaning,” he said. “Bringing the ampersand forward visually became a way to highlight its role in the text — pointing to what comes next, what gets joined and what we might otherwise overlook.” 

Zimny, who earned national awards for his excellence in graphic design earlier this year, hopes the series encourages viewers to read Scripture more deeply and engage with typography as an art form. 

“By drawing attention to this simple yet important word, I hope viewers are encouraged to read beyond phrases that are often conveniently cherry-picked,” he said. “My hope is that this series helps readers notice the Bible’s complexity, inclusivity and depth.” 

Ampersand was recently featured in the Faculty Exhibition at the Samford Art Gallery. The calendar and poster series is now available for purchase .

View the project in action through this unboxing video and purchase copies online. 

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.