Michael Rock (graphic designer)

Michael Rock
Rock speaking at Columbia University, 2015
Born1959 (age 65–66)
NationalityAmerican
EducationRhode Island School of Design
Occupation(s)Partner, 2x4
(1994–present)
Known forGraphic designer, creative director

Michael Rock (born 1959)[1] is an American graphic designer and recipient of the National Design Award.

Biography

Rock received his B.A. in Humanities from Union College in 1981, before going on to receive his M.F.A. in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design.[2]

In 1994, Rock, alongside designers Susan Sellers and Georgianna Stout, founded 2x4, a design firm based in New York City.

Rock has previously held teaching positions at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Yale School of Art, and Harvard Graduate School of Design.[3]

Writing

In 1996 Rock published The Designer as Author, an influential[4][5] essay examining the ideas of authorship, agency, and style in the context of graphic design.[6]

Rock is the editor and co-author of Multiple Signatures: On Designers, Authors, Readers and Users (New York: Rizzoli, 2013, ISBN 978-0847839735),[7] a collection of interviews and essays covering topics related to graphic design, visual culture, and projects Rock designed at 2x4. The book includes contributions by Rem Koolhaas, Iwan Baan, Rick Poynor, Jan Van Toorn, Paul Elliman, Jean-François Lyotard, and Michael Speaks.[8]

He is frequent contributor to publications including The New York Times[9] and Eye magazine.[10]

Recognition

Rock is the recipient of the 1999 Rome Prize in Design, and in 2006, was awarded the National Design Award.

As winner of the National Design Award, Rock was invited with other winners to the White House.[11][12] Rock gained notoriety as one of the signers of a letter to the White House declining the invitation. Also signing the letter were co-winners Susan Sellers, Georgianna Stout, Paula Scher, and Stefan Sagmeister.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Michael Rock | MoMA". The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  2. ^ Staff Faculty Bios: Michael Rock, Yale University, retrieved 22 January 2013.
  3. ^ "About". 2x4. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  4. ^ Hromack, Sarah (2015-06-01). "What is Metahaven?". Frieze. No. 172. ISSN 0962-0672. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  5. ^ Barnes, Alison (2012-01-01). "Repositioning the graphic designer as researcher". Iridescent. 2 (1): 3–17. doi:10.1080/19235003.2012.11428500. ISSN 1923-5003.
  6. ^ "Eye Magazine | Feature | The designer as author". Eye Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  7. ^ "Multiple Signatures". Designers & Books. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  8. ^ "Eye Magazine | Review | Book of revelations". Eye Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  9. ^ "Recent and archived work by Michael Rock for The New York Times". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  10. ^ "Eye Magazine | Author | Michael Rock". Eye Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-08-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Regrets Only: Observatory: Design Observer". Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  13. ^ National Design Award Winners decline White House Invitation. 12 July 2006. Design Observer.
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