John Maeda, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

John Maeda is a world-renowned graphic designer, artist, and computer scientist at the MIT Media Laboratory. He has pioneered the use of the computer for people of all ages and skills to create art, and is currently spearheading a new research initiative to "redesign technology" so that it consistently makes sense, is fun, and keeps us coming back for more.

Maeda, who has been teaching at MIT since 1996, holds the E. Rudge and Nancy Allen Professorship of Media Arts and Sciences, and is director of the Lab's design-oriented Physical Language Workshop. He also co-directs SIMPLICITY, a new research program aimed at redefining users' relationships with technology in their daily lives. This focus goes well beyond removing buttons, slimming down screens, and shrinking interfaces to fit into the palms of our hands. It is a radical reexamination of ways to break free from the intimidating complexity of today's technology and the frustration of information overload.

Maeda's early work redefined the use of electronic media as a tool for expression by combining skilled computer programming with a sensitivity to traditional artistic concerns. This work helped to pioneer the interactive motion graphics that are prevalent on the Internet today. He also initiated the Design By Numbers project, a global initiative to teach computer programming to visual artists through a freely available, custom software system that he designed. He has displayed his work at numerous exhibitions, lectured extensively worldwide, and has published several books featuring his graphic designs.

In 1999 Maeda was included in Esquire magazine's list of the 21 most important people for the twenty-first century. He is also the 2001 recipient of the United States' highest career honor for design -- the National Design Award, and Japan's highest career honor -- the Mainichi Design Prize. In May of 2003, he received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Maeda, who was born in Seattle in 1966, received both his BS and MS degrees from MIT, and earned his PhD in design from Tsukuba University Institute of Art and Design in Japan. He lives with his wife, Kris, and their four daughters, Saaya, Naoko, Rie, and Mika, in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Major Design Awards

• 2002 Japan's Mainichi Design Prize
• 2001 Smithsonian Institution's National Design Award
• 2000 DaimlerChrysler Design Prize
• 2001 Design Management Institute Muriel Cooper Prize

Solo Exhibitions

• 2003 'John Maeda: F00D,' Cristinerose Gallery, New York
• 2001 'John Maeda: Towards Post Digital,' NTT Inter-Communication Center, Tokyo
• 2000 'Post-Digital,' Cristinerose Gallery, New York
• "maeda@media,' California Institute of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco and Institute of Contemporary Art, London
• 1999 'one-line.com,' Ginza Graphic Gallery, Tokyo
• 1996 'John Maeda: Paper and Computer', Ginza Graphic Gallery, Tokyo and Dai Nippon Duo Dojima Gallery, Osaka
• 1995 'Deconstructing Cyberspace,' Axis Gallery Annex, Tokyo
• 1995 'Design Machines,' Axis Gallery, Tokyo

Group Exhibitions

• 2001 'Workspheres,' Museum of Modern Art, New York
• 2001 '010101: Art in Technological Times,' San Francisco MoMA
• 2000 'Design Triennale,' Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
• 1999 'Organic Computation,' New York Art Director's Club
• 1996 'NHK Heart Exhibition,' Bunkamura Gallery, Tokyo

Design Honors

• 2004 Fast Company Magazine 20 Masters of Design
• 2001 Köln Designer of the Year
• 2001 ResFest Magazine 10 To Watch
• 2000 American Association of Publishers, Best Book in Computer Science
• 1999 Esquire Magazine 21 Geniuses
• 1999 Yahoo 15 Master Graphic Designers
• 1998 New York Art Director's Club, Gold Prize
• 1998 ID Magazine, Gold Prize
• 1998 Japan Ministry of Culture, Interactive Prize
• 1998 Tokyo Type Director's Club, Interactive Prize
• 1996 Tokyo Type Director's Club, Gold Prize
• 1995 Multimedia Association of Japan Grand Prix, Interactive Prize

Publications

• 2004 'Creative Code', Thames and Hudson
• 2000 'maeda@media,' Thames and Hudson / Rizzoli / Bangert Verlag
• 1999 'Design By Numbers,' MIT Press
• 1998 'Tap, Type, Write,' Digitalogue Co.
• 1997 '12 o'clocks,' Digitalogue Co.
• 1996 'Flying Letters,' Digitalogue Co.
• 1995 'Reactive Square,' Digitalogue Co.

Lectures

John has lectured on the topic of his work and philosophy at numerous academic, cultural, and industrial institutions including: Sony Design Center, Tokyo Type Director's Club, Tokyo Design Center, Harvard University, Cooper-Union, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Princeton University, Basel University, American Institute of Graphic Arts Las Vegas Biennale, Intel Corporation, Comune di Milano, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Köln, Benetton Fabrica, Centre Pompidou, Carnegie Mellon University, Art Center College of Design, Walker Art Center, Rhode Island School of Design, University of California at Los Angeles, Vanguard Conferences, Ivrea Interaction Design Institute, University of Michigan, Royal College of Art, University of Minnesota, Japan Association of Graphic Designers, University of University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Toronto, Musashino University of Arts, Columbia University, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, University of Cincinatti, New York Art Director's Club, Samsung Design Center, University of Ohio.

Press

Interviews with John Maeda and/or reviews have appeared in media that include: The New York Times, The Economist, Art Forum, The San Francisco Gate, Eye, ID, The Boston Globe, Blueprint, Creative Review, Libération, The Washington Post, Le Monde, BBC, InterCommunication, Wired, Casabella, Brutus, Axis, Mainichi Shimbun, Brain, Interni, Design Week, POL Oxygen, Esquire, Shift, Interiors, Design Management Journal, Form, Better Homes and Gardens, Metropolis, Blackbook.

• Maeda Studio