World-renowned designer, innovator, entrepreneur, educator, author and artist, Bruce Mau is CEO and co-founder Massive Change Network, a design consultancy in the Chicago area. His latest book is a collaboration with Julio M. Ottino, "The Nexus: Augmented Thinking for a Complex World –The New Convergence of Art, Technology, and Science," (May 31, 2022). In this provocative and visually striking book, the authors explore where art, science, and technology converge – the Nexus – to expand our creativity and augment our insight. Reaching the Nexus is essential to individuals and organizations whose goal is seamless movement across traditional silos and the integration of thinking that leads to breakthrough ideas and innovation. Visit The Nexus landing page to learn more about the opportunities for creativity and innovation at the convergence of art, science, and technology: https://thenexusbook.com/
Mau's holistic, life-centered approach to design has enabled him to apply his methodology towards solving virtually any kind of challenge across a broad spectrum of business, educational, cultural and entertainment activities. In his 30 years of design innovation, Mau has led trailblazing projects for the Coca-Cola Company, McDonald’s, MTV, Herman Miller, MoMA, Danish Architecture Center, Seattle Public Library, Panama Museum of Biodiversity, MetLife Stadium, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Arizona State University; the countries of Saudi Arabia, Guatemala, United Kingdom, Denmark; and leaders like Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas, Claes Oldenberg and Larry Gagosian, among others.
Throughout his career, Mau has made a significant creative impact in the area of book design. He became an international figure with the publication of his breakthrough book, "S,M,L,XL," designed and co-authored with Rem Koolhaas. He also wrote "Massive Change" and collaborated on "The Third Teacher." In all, Mau has authored, designed and collaborated on some 300 books, including the iconic and celebrated Zone Books series. His Incomplete Manifesto for Growth, 43 aphorisms articulating his personal philosophy and design strategies for unleashing creativity, achieved global fame and has been translated into 17 languages.
In his book, Mau: MC24, Mau presents his life-centered design methodology to inspire readers to create change in their lives and work. He argues design is an inherently optimistic endeavor that has empathy and compassion for all of life at its center. Through listening and caring, designers gain insights on how to create sustainable change, positive impact and better experiences.
Better experiences – not fancy products that look good – are Mau’s definition of the goal of design. Freeing design from its purely visual function allows design to become a methodology for leadership: it is a process for envisioning a better future and developing a plan to systematically achieve that vision. Leaders of businesses and organizations can apply the design principles found in Mau: MC24 to rapidly pivot and innovate in these times of unprecedented change.
Mau has lectured widely and served as a visiting professor at prestigious institutions including the Getty Research Institute in California and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, as the Cullinan Chair at Rice University, and was conferred a Distinguished Fellowship at Northwestern University. Mau is a recipient of The Design Mind Award from the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, Collab Design Excellence Award, AIGA Gold Medal, and numerous honorary degrees. In 2010 he was invited by the Royal Society of Arts in London to be an Honorary Royal Designer for Industry, one of only 200 awarded this honored distinction.
