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 Vignelli 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 Centre Georges Pompidou (FR), the Chicago Athenaeum (USA), the Corning Museum of Glass (USA), the Denver Art Museum (USA), the Design Museum Brussels (BE), 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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May 11, 2022
RIT students, faculty, and alumni ready to descend on Manhattan for Design Week
After a three-year pause because of the pandemic, students, faculty, staff, and alumni from the College of Art and Design will descend on Manhattan this week for NYCxDesign—New York City’s annual celebration of design that attracts hundreds of thousands from around the globe—which is marking its 10th year.
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March 10, 2022
Architect Michael Maltzan to deliver Vignelli Center Design Conversation Lecture March 17
Architect Michael Maltzan, whose firm is the design architect behind RIT’s performing arts complex, will be the next featured speaker for the Vignelli Center for Design Studies' Design Conversations Lecture Series.
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December 6, 2021
Vignelli Center's 'Beyond Fashion' event unites RIT and community designers
RIT and local designers partnered to create garments and wearables inspired by the Vignelli Center archives for display during a first-of-its-kind fashion show on Dec. 10. The event is open to the public.
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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...