John Maeda

Latest Articles

At RISD: Art, science, and what's wrong with ATMs

Confabs
Among the most prominent solutions offered up for our present economic malaise and the broader decline of the republic: a robust investment in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | January 19, 2011

11 Big Ideas for Rhode Island

Great notions to make things better in tough times: internpreneurships, dance parties, and Netflix for underwear
Rhode Island has problems. We all know it. Unemployment, political corruption, the Providence College basketball team.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | October 05, 2010

Now playing — RISD: The Musical!

Revues
We all know RISD students like to paint and draw, but can they hoof it? Or belt out a show tune and carry a giant pencil at the same time? Well, yes, it turns out.
By ELIZABETH RAU | February 17, 2010

2009: Worth another look

The gallery highlights of 2009
The lousy economy hit home this year as Stairwell Gallery in Providence and Yes Gallery in Warren closed their doors.
By GREG COOK | December 22, 2009

Art for money's sake

Marketing dept.
This weekend, hundreds of arts marketing gurus and administrators from across the nation will descend upon the Creative Capital, aka Providence, for a four-day (October 30-November 2) national gath-ering entitled “CollaborACTION!”
By RICHARD ASINOF | October 28, 2009

Glasses, bikes, and a better world

Design Dept.
If you thought you saw more black-rimmed glasses and aluminum bikes around town this weekend, you weren't imagining it.
By ELLEN CUSHING | October 07, 2009

Limits of non-traditional leadership

The Academy
John Maeda arrived at the Rhode Island School of Design a year ago pledging a different sort of leadership.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | August 20, 2009

RISD's hope-less situation

Outrage over the Alswang 'Resignation.' Plus, too many sad passings
On August 3 it was announced by the Rhode Island School of Design that Hope Alswang had resigned as the director of the RISD Museum. Those who have followed the coverage of this story may be somewhat confused by the revelation that absolutely everyone acknowledged that Alswang was a superlative museum director and that absolutely no one involved in the arts scene at RISD or in the state of Vo Dilun thinks that she voluntarily "resigned." It was said that she loved the job, and the vague announcement that Alswang left to "pursue other opportunities" sounds as suspicious as elected officials dropping out of election campaigns to "spend more time with their families."
By PHILLIPE & JORGE | August 12, 2009

Artful dodger

Keep the RISD Museum open in August! Plus, the weirdness on C Street.
Phillipe and Jorge are quite disappointed to see that the Rhode Island School of Design Museum will be closing for the month of August, largely due to its endowment being down due to the economic recession.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | July 15, 2009

Brave new RISD

After a year at the helm, president John Maeda is balancing broad shifts in the worlds of art, design, and business
The Rhode Island School of Design, for all its artful ambition, is a conservative place. Students draw. They mold clay. They are awash in taxidermy. So there was more than a little anxiety when John Maeda — sneaker designer, MIT professor, digital media rock star — took over as RISD president last summer.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | May 27, 2009

RISD takes to the streets to show 'What We Do'

Bursting the bubble
"What We Do," an unprecedented, student-run event on April 11 at the Rhode Island School of Design, aims to capture, in a frenzied six hours at six locations, the spirit of Providence's most creative and offbeat college.
By MARION DAVIS | April 08, 2009

Worth another look

Intriguing views of a warped world
In 2008, real estate and jobs dominated local art news.
By GREG COOK | December 23, 2008

As RI struggles, entrepreneur sees promise

Techwatch
The revelation that Rhode Island faces a $300 million-plus deficit for the current year is just the latest bit of dire economic news about the state.
By IAN DONNIS | November 12, 2008

Why Rhode Island is hurting

Bad days are here, and there is little in the past to make the future seem hopeful
If the nation’s fiscal crisis confirms that Rhode Island isn’t alone in facing serious economic woes, the state doesn’t suffer from a lack of other challenges.
By IAN DONNIS | October 02, 2008

RISD redefined

With the dramatic new Chace Center, the art school reaches outward
Rhode Island School of Design’s new Chace Center is the physical embodiment of the 131-year-old institution’s effort to rebrand itself as a more open place.
By GREG COOK | September 25, 2008

Man and machine

John Maeda talks about technology — and his quest to understand RISD
Leave it to John Maeda, the Rhode Island School of Design’s new president, to invoke the long-term value of art at a time when global financial markets are gripped by uncertainty.
By IAN DONNIS | September 24, 2008