John Maeda (born 1966), is an executive, designer, and technologist, whose work exemplifies the intersection between business, design, and technology. His education began at MIT, where he studied Computer Science, and later received his Ph.D. in design at Tsukuba University’s Institute of Art and Design (Willis 2010). His artwork ranges from explorations in technology producing art or commentary on technology, allowing him to ask questions that may not be answerable (Torgovnick 2014).
Maeda’s work in technology and design was not limited to production, but to education as well. Maeda served as a professor at the MIT Media Lab for a community called the “Aesthetics + Computations Group“, where he mentored designers who could code. Later, he established the Design by Numbers project to teach artists and designers how to code.
Maeda advocated for simplicity in the digital age, outlining a set of ten laws for fostering simplicity. In his book, The Laws of Simplicity, he urges readers to create technology that minimizes users’ cognitive load through the use of reduction, organization, and balance. Inspired by the simple interface of Apple’s iPod, he sought to explore the ways in which designers could create products that are easy to use, but perform complex tasks that the user may need. This is particularly significant in the surge of technology, as he cherishes the modernist perspective of “less is more” in that technology should not necessarily be more complex to be deemed “better” (Maeda 2020).
The variance in Maeda’s work highlights his refusal to be categorized to being solely a “designer”, “executive”, or “technologist”, but rather blurs the boundaries between the three roles. (Maeda 2014) He remains steadfast in a set of core values, and allows them to inform his work regardless of type (Willis 2010). He advocates for inclusion with the belief that diversity is a key proponent for success, even insisting on the addition of “A” for art in STEM programs. To Maeda, human creativity is crucial to technological development, stating that “we need human thinking.”
Design, Rian. The Laws of Simplicity / John Maeda, 2020, lawsofsimplicity.com/.
Maeda, John. “John Maeda.” TED, 2014, www.ted.com/speakers/john_maeda.
May, Kate Torgovnick, et al. “4 Works from John Maeda That Explore the Intersection of Technology, Art and Design.” TED Blog, 9 Oct. 2014, 1:59 pm, blog.ted.com/4-works-from-john-maeda-that-explore-the-intersection-of-technology-art-and-design/.
Willis September 9, Holly. “2010 AIGA Medalist: John Maeda.” AIGA, 9 Sept. 2010, www.aiga.org/medalist-johnmaeda.
