Michael McCoy
Encyclopedia
Michael McCoy is an American
industrial designer and educator who has made significant contributions to American design and design education in the latter half of the 20th century. McCoy is best known as the co-chair of the graduate program in Design at Cranbrook Academy of Art where he and spouse Katherine McCoy
pioneered semantic approaches to design.
with a degree in Industrial Design. During his career as an Industrial Designer, McCoy has worked with corporations such as Philips Electronics, Formica Corporation, NEC, Steelcase among many. As a designer, McCoy is best known for his work with furniture manufacturer Knoll International
. Along with Dale Fahnstrom, Fahnstrom/McCoy Design Consultants designed the 5 time award winning Bulldog chair. The Bulldog is Knoll’s best selling office chair to date.
McCoy’s innovative design of products, furniture, and interiors has led to museum exhibitions of his work worldwide, including the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum
in New York, the British Design Museum
, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
, the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
, the Axis Gallery in Tokyo and the Cranbrook Art Museum.
McCoy has had a profound impact on American design and design education. Along with his wife, Katherine
, McCoy served as co-chair of the graduate program in Design at the Cranbrook Academy of Art for 23 years. In addition, he served as Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art
in London from 1994 to 1996, and Senior Lecturer at the IIT Institute of Design
from 1995 to 2003. Today, he continues to support design education through High Ground, which offers workshops on innovation and design thinking to practicing design professionals.
McCoy continues to write and lecture internationally on his strategies for interpreting technology and information. He is Co-author of Cranbrook Design:The New Discourse published by Rizolli.
In 2005, Michael and Katherine McCoy were presented the first ever Design Mind National Design Award
by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
. This award “recognizes visionaries who have affected a paradigm shift in design thinking or practice through writing, research, and scholarship”.
McCoy continues to practice design through his work with McCoy and McCoy and as a founding partner in Fahnstrom/McCoy Design Consultants in Chicago. His new line of furniture is due for release in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
industrial designer and educator who has made significant contributions to American design and design education in the latter half of the 20th century. McCoy is best known as the co-chair of the graduate program in Design at Cranbrook Academy of Art where he and spouse Katherine McCoy
Katherine McCoy
Katherine McCoy is an American graphic designer and educator, best known for her work as the co-chair of the graduate Design program for Cranbrook Academy of Art....
pioneered semantic approaches to design.
Education and career
Michael McCoy graduated from Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
with a degree in Industrial Design. During his career as an Industrial Designer, McCoy has worked with corporations such as Philips Electronics, Formica Corporation, NEC, Steelcase among many. As a designer, McCoy is best known for his work with furniture manufacturer Knoll International
Knoll (company)
Knoll is a design firm that produces office systems, seating, files and storage, tables and desks, textiles , and accessories for office and for the home. The company also manufactures furniture for the home by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Harry Bertoia, Florence Knoll , Frank Gehry, Maya Lin and...
. Along with Dale Fahnstrom, Fahnstrom/McCoy Design Consultants designed the 5 time award winning Bulldog chair. The Bulldog is Knoll’s best selling office chair to date.
McCoy’s innovative design of products, furniture, and interiors has led to museum exhibitions of his work worldwide, including the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Cooper–Hewitt, National Design Museum, a subsidiary of the Smithsonian Institution, is the United States' national museum of design history and contemporary design and the only museum in the U.S. whose collection is solely focused on contemporary and historic design...
in New York, the British Design Museum
Design Museum
Design Museum is a museum by the River Thames near Tower Bridge in central London, England. The museum covers product, industrial, graphic, fashion and architectural design. It was founded in 1989 and claims to be the first museum of modern design...
, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
, the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art is an art museum in Denver, Colorado. The museum houses three principal collections and includes the historic school and studio of artist Vance Kirkland...
, the Axis Gallery in Tokyo and the Cranbrook Art Museum.
McCoy has had a profound impact on American design and design education. Along with his wife, Katherine
Katherine McCoy
Katherine McCoy is an American graphic designer and educator, best known for her work as the co-chair of the graduate Design program for Cranbrook Academy of Art....
, McCoy served as co-chair of the graduate program in Design at the Cranbrook Academy of Art for 23 years. In addition, he served as Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
in London from 1994 to 1996, and Senior Lecturer at the IIT Institute of Design
IIT Institute of Design
Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology , originally founded as the New Bauhaus, is a graduate school teaching systemic, human-centered design.- History :...
from 1995 to 2003. Today, he continues to support design education through High Ground, which offers workshops on innovation and design thinking to practicing design professionals.
McCoy continues to write and lecture internationally on his strategies for interpreting technology and information. He is Co-author of Cranbrook Design:The New Discourse published by Rizolli.
Awards
In recognition of his influence on design education he has received the American Center for Design Education Award, the IDSA Education Award and the Chrysler Award for Innovation in Design.In 2005, Michael and Katherine McCoy were presented the first ever Design Mind National Design Award
National Design Awards
The National Design Awards, founded in 2000, is funded and awarded by Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. There are seven official design categories, and three additional awards...
by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Cooper–Hewitt, National Design Museum, a subsidiary of the Smithsonian Institution, is the United States' national museum of design history and contemporary design and the only museum in the U.S. whose collection is solely focused on contemporary and historic design...
. This award “recognizes visionaries who have affected a paradigm shift in design thinking or practice through writing, research, and scholarship”.
McCoy continues to practice design through his work with McCoy and McCoy and as a founding partner in Fahnstrom/McCoy Design Consultants in Chicago. His new line of furniture is due for release in 2009.
External links
- Cranbrook Selected Bibliography
- Michael McCoy Design personal website
- Michael McCoy's furniture website with furniture designed by Michael McCoy