John Maeda

Life is a series of hurdles, and setbacks are inevitable. Join John Maeda as he explores the art of recovering faster and developing resilience in the face of adversity. In this talk, Maeda shares practical strategies for overcoming obstacles, bouncing back from failures, and navigating the many uncertainties in life. And given that we have entered a new era of disruptive AI technologies, Maeda also walks through how to deal with the new breed of uncert(AI)nties coming our way.

John Maeda (MBA, PhD) is a Vice President of Design and Artificial Intelligence at Microsoft. He is an American technologist and designer whose work explores where business, design, and technology merge to make space for the ​“humanist technologist.”

As an artist, Maeda’s early work redefined the use of electronic media as a tool for expression by combining computer programming with traditional artistic techniques, laying the groundwork for interactive motion graphics on the web. He has exhibited in one-man shows in London, New York, and Paris. His work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Cartier Foundation in Paris.

Previously, Maeda served as CTO of Everbridge, and was the 16^th President of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He led advancements in computational design, low-code/no-code, and creative commerce at the MIT Media Lab. He has received numerous awards including three honorary doctorate degrees, TIME Best Twitter 140, Fast Company Masters of Innovation, LinkedIn Top 10 US Influencer, Esquire 75 Most Influential of the 21^st Century, Japan’s Mainichi Design Prize, the Lucky Strike Designer Award, the AIGA Medal, the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame, and the Tribeca Film Festival Disruptor Award for launching the STEM to STEAM movement in the US. He is a trustee of the Cooper – Hewitt, National Design Museum. According to Wired Magazine: ​“Maeda is to design what Warren Buffett is to finance.”

With support from Design Core Detroit. This project was made possible by a grant from the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan.

Series presenting partners: Detroit Public Television and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Radio.