John Maeda
President, Rhode Island School of DesignJohn Maeda is a world-renowned artist, graphic designer,
computer scientist and educator whose career reflects his
philosophy of humanising technology. For more than a decade, he has
worked to integrate technology, education and the arts into a
21st-century synthesis of creativity and innovation. Maeda became
President of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in June
2008.
At RISD, Maeda seeks to champion the necessary role that artists
and designers play in the 21st century creative economy. He
sees the traditional, hand-crafted techniques that are fundamental
to a RISD education as increasingly relevant in a overly-digital
world, as people seek to reconnect with what is real and
authentic. As President, he seeks to connect RISD to the
political, economic, social, and business spheres where artists and
designers will make a difference, and has prioritised fundraising
for scholarships to ensure the broadest possible access to a RISD
education.
A former professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), Maeda taught media arts and sciences there for 12 years and
served as Associate Director of research at the MIT Media Lab.
Maeda's early work redefined the use of electronic media as a tool
for expression by combining skilled computer programming with
sensitivity to traditional artistic concerns. He has published four
books, his most recent, The Laws of Simplicity, has been translated
into 14 languages. In 2008 Maeda was named one of the 75 most
influential people of the 21st century by Esquire magazine.
A native of Seattle, Maeda earned bachelor's and master's degrees
in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT, followed
by a PhD in Design Science from the University of Tsukuba Institute
of Art and Design in Japan and an MBA from Arizona State
University.