Josh Owen
Vignelli Center Director
Josh Owen
Vignelli Center Director
Education
BA, BFA, Cornell University; MFA, Rhode Island School of Design
Bio
Josh Owen is the Massimo and Lella Distinguished Professor of Design and the Director of the Vignelli Center for Design Studies at RIT. Prior to his current role, Owen was Director of the Industrial Design Department in which he continues to teach his popular course known as the Metaproject. Owen is also the president of his eponymous design studio, Josh Owen LLC. His professional projects are produced by major manufacturers and have won many awards. Owen's work is included in the permanent design collections of the ADAM Brussels Design Museum (BE), the Centre Georges Pompidou (FR), the Chicago Athenaeum (USA), the Corning Museum of Glass (USA), the Denver Art Museum (USA), the Museum of American Jewish History (USA), the Musee des beaux-arts de Montreal (CA), the Philadelphia Museum of Art (USA) and the Taiwan Design Museum (TP). His students' works have won awards, been exhibited and featured in international publications and critical venues and have been put into mass production prior to graduation. Owen's professional work has been featured in major exhibitions, numerous books on design and is regularly included in critical design discourse. He is the author of the book, Lenses for Design and the forthcoming book, Design for Study.
Currently Teaching
In the News
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September 22, 2020
Watch: RIT Design Conversations – Level Up Design with Natalie Nixon
Design Milk highlights the Vignelli Center’s Design Conversations Lecture Series.
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September 11, 2020
RIT’s Vignelli Center for Design Studies teaming up with Design Milk for lecture series
Beginning with next week’s inaugural lecture on Sept. 16, the Vignelli Center’s Design Conversations Lecture Series presented by Design Milk will feature a wide variety of diverse designers whose compelling work has made important impacts on the design world.
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August 26, 2020
RIT’s Metaproject will collaborate with alumnus’ sustainable design firm
For Metaproject 11, senior industrial design students will spend the semester designing products for Staach, which focuses on functional sustainable design. Founded by Seth Eshelman '06 (industrial design/graphic design), the company designs and domestically manufactures sustainable products including furniture, interiors, and built structures.
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November 20, 2019
Scratching the Surface: Josh Owen
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November 13, 2019
Professor’s design added to museum
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October 16, 2019
Professor’s stool design included in museum
Featured Work
Confluence Exhibition Catalog
Josh Owen
Roberto Bertoia explores site, context, material, and craft as it relates to his investigation of isolation, absence, and presence at the intersection of sculpture, landscape, architecture, and design...
Stryk Match Holder for OTHR
Josh Owen
A refinement of the traditional match-stick holder, this multi-faceted heirloom vessel features a striking surface as well as a safe deposit for spent matches. Historic examples of this product left...
Torq Nut Cracker for OTHR
Josh Owen
Inspired by industrial components, Torq is the first 3D printed object commissioned by OTHR that explores the mechanical potential of 3D printed output. Turning the business of nut cracking into a...