Ideas worth spreading

1,208,644 views | John Maeda • TEDGlobal 2012

How art, technology and design inform creative leaders

John Maeda, former President of the Rhode Island School of Design, delivers a funny and charming talk that spans a lifetime of work in art, design and technology, concluding with a picture of creative leadership in the future. Watch for demos of Maeda's earliest work -- and even a computer made of people.

Become a TED Member

Want to hear more great ideas like this one? Sign up for TED Membership to get exclusive access to captivating conversations, engaging events, and more!

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Petition the US House of Representatives to include the arts in STEM funding.

John Maeda, former President of the Rhode Island School of Design, delivers a funny and charming talk that spans a lifetime of work in art, design and technology, concluding with a picture of creative leadership in the future. Watch for demos of Maeda's earliest work -- and even a computer made of people.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Petition the US House of Representatives to include the arts in STEM funding.

About the speaker

See speaker profile

John Maeda, the former president of the Rhode Island School of Design, is dedicated to linking design and technology. Through the software tools, web pages and books he creates, he spreads his philosophy of elegant simplicity.

Learn more