Joost Grootens is a University Lecturer/ Researcher Academy of Creative and Performing Arts.

More information about Joost Grootens

Profile

Joost Grootens is a graphic designer, educator and researcher. His studio SJG designs books, maps, typefaces, spatial installations and digital information environments. SJG has won numerous prizes for its designs. Among them the ‘Goldene Letter’ and two Gold Medals in the Best Book Design from all over the World competition in Leipzig, twice the Dutch Design Award for Graphic Design, and the Rotterdam Design Prize 2009. A monograph about Grootens‚’ work titled I Swear I Use No Art at All was published by 010 Publishers in 2010.

Grootens studied architectural design at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and obtained his doctorate at Leiden University. He is an university lecturer at Leiden University’s Academy of Creative and Performing Arts where he supervises PhDArts candidates. Grootens is head of the Master programme Information Design at the Design Academy Eindhoven, and holds teaching positions at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, Copenhagen and the Istituto Superiore per le Industrie Artistiche, Urbino.
 

Publications

Joost Grootens, Blind Maps and Blue Dots: The blurring of the producer-user divide in the production of visual information (PhD dissertation, 2020).
‘Jan Tschichold Award for Jonas Voegeli’ in The Most Beautiful Swiss Books 2018 (Bern: Swiss Federal Office for Culture, 2019), 24–26.
‘Complexity and Contradiction in Map Design’ in Back-Office #2 (Paris: éditions B42, 2018), 20–35.
‘The Rhetoric of Withholding Judgment’ in Atlas of the Copenhagens (Berlin: Ruby Press, 2018), 78–83.
Deane Simpson, Kathrin Gimmel, Anders Lonka, Marc Jac, Joost Grootens, Atlas of the Copenhagens (Berlin: Ruby Press, 2018).
Christiane Berndes & Joost Grootens, ‘Data Visualisation on Artists’ Migrations. Research in Progress’, in L’Internationale Online (2017),
‘The Book as Instrument’ in Graphic #35 (2015), 21–36.
Joost Grootens, Book 101 (Rotterdam: 010 Publishers, 2011). 
Joost Grootens, I swear I use no art at all: 10 years, 100 books, 18,788 pages of book design by 
Joost Grootens (Rotterdam: 010 Publishers, 2010).
‘The Atlas as Tool’ in Designing Global Choices (Rotterdam: Jap Sam Books, 2010), 20–23.
‘Voorbij het ambacht’ in Items #2/2010 (2010), 56–61.
 

Teaching (current)

Design Academy Eindhoven, head Information Design Master, Eindhoven, NL (2011–)
Leiden University, Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, university lecturer, Leiden, NL (2019–)
ISIA Urbino, Editorial Design Master, professor Information Architecture, Urbino, Italy (2018–)
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, Urbanism & Societal Change Master, 
Tutor mapping and graphic representation, Copenhagen, Denmark (2014–)

Teaching (previous)
Design Academy Eindhoven, Co-Head (with Louise Schouwenberg and Jan Boelen) Design Curating & Writing Master, Eindhoven, NL (2014–15)
MaHKU, Tutor Cross-disciplinary studies, Design tutor, Utrecht, NL (2010–13)
Post St. Joost, Co-author (with Simon Davies and Reynoud Homan) Curriculum Graphic Design Master, Breda, NL (2010)
Design Academy Eindhoven, Design tutor, Contextual Design Master, Eindhoven, NL (2005–10)
Design Academy Eindhoven, Design tutor, Man and Living Bachelor, Eindhoven, NL (2002–05)
Berlage Institute, Design tutor, Architecture and Urbanism Master, Rotterdam, NL (2001–02)
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Design tutor, Architectural design Bachelor, Amsterdam, NL (1999–2000)
 

Workshops

Mappings as Joint Spatial Display, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany (2018)
HKB, CAS Data Visualization department, Bern, Switzerland (2018)
ZHdK, Graphic Design department, Zurich, Switzerland (2017)
ECAL, Graphic Design department, Lausanne, Switzerland (2016)
HEAD, Graphic Design department, Geneva, Switzerland (2015)
ISIA, Graphic Design department, Urbino, Italy (2013)
Bergen Architecture School, Bergen, Norway (2010, 12)
Post St. Joost & Pratt, NY, Graphic Design departments, Breda, NL (2011)
Texas State University, Communication Design Department, San Marcos, United States (2011)
 

External examiner, visiting critic, jury member

Most Beautiful Swiss Books, jury member, Bern, Switzerland (2018, 19, 20)
Piet Zwart Award, Association of Dutch Designers – BNO, jury member, NL (2015, 17, 19)
Gerrit Rietveld Prize, Gerrit Rietveld Academy, jury member, Amsterdam, NL (2018)
EPFL+ECAL Lab, external examiner, Lausanne, Switzerland (2018)
TUM, Department of Architecture, visiting critic, Munich, Germany (2016)
ETH Zurich, Department of Architecture, visiting critic, Zurich, Switzerland (2015)
ECAL, Graphic Design department, external examiner, Lausanne, Switzerland (2014)
TOP Awards, jury member, Verona, Italy (2014)
Design competition Out of Balance, jury member, Berlin, Germany (2013)
ENSAD, Graphic Design department, external examiner, Paris, France (2012)
Rotterdam Design Prize, scout, Rotterdam, NL (2012)
Post St. Joost, Graphic Design department, external examiner Breda, NL (2010, 11)
 

Lectures (2015-)

The Architect As Generalist lecture series, The Berlage, Delft University of Technology, Delft, NL (2019), www.theberlage.nl/galleries/videos/watch/2019_12_13_the_architecture_of_books
University of Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany (2019)
The Most Beautiful Swiss Books 2018, Helmhaus, Zurich, Switzerland (2019)
Visualizing Knowledge 2019 Symposium, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland (2019),
https://vimeo.com/363521913
Scuola Politecnica di Design, Milan, Italy (2019), https://vimeo.com/340941081
VI PER Gallery for Architecture, Prague, Czech Republic (2019)
Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst, Basel, Switzerland (2019)
S-H-O-W, Emotions in data visualisations & information design, Utrecht, NL (2019)
Future Urban Regions, Amersfoort, NL (2019)
Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam, NL (2019)
Keynote lecture Symposium Mappings as Joint Spatial Display, HKW, Berlin, Germany (2018)
ELISAVA, Barcelona, Spain (2018), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvUFiCz8XTQ
Hochschule der Künste, Bern, Switzerland (2018)
Symposium Jacques Bertin et le Laboratoire de Graphique, EHESS, Paris, France (2017)
AGI Open, Paris, France (2017)
ESAD, Porto, Portugal (2017)
Bijzondere Collecties, University of Amsterdam, NL (2012, 17)
Symposium Exemplaires, formes et pratiques de l’édition, HEAR, Strasbourg, France (2017)
Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, Zurich, Switzerland (2014, 17) https://vimeo.com/89617597
Academy of Architecture Amsterdam, NL (2017)
ECAL, Lausanne, Switzerland (2016)
Interchange Symposium of East Asia Book, Paju Book City, South Korea (2016)
National Design Centre, Singapore (2016)
ETH SEC Future Cities Laboratory, Singapore (2016)
Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, NL (2016), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEe-zfcosI
Jan van Eyck Academy, Maastricht, NL (2016)
Design Debates, Design Academy Eindhoven, NL (2016)
TUM, Dept. of Architecture, Munich, Germany (2016)
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Denmark (2014, 16)
Integrated Conference, Desingel, Antwerp, Belgium (2015)
HEAD, Geneva, Switzerland (2015)
AGI Open, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland (2015)
WEI SRAUM, Innsbruck, Austria (2015), https://vimeo.com/121343123
 

Awards (Selection)

Best Dutch Book Design, Amsterdam, NL (21 books awarded, 2004–2020)
Die Schönsten Deutschen Bücher, Frankfurt, Germany (2019)
Lille Arne Award, Copenhagen, Denmark (2019)
Deutsches Architekturmuseum Book Award, Frankfurt, Germany (2015, 18)
Dutch Design Award Graphic Design, Eindhoven, NL (2006, 2016)
Nomination Designs of the Year, Design Museum, London, England (2016)
D&AD Award 2010 Book design (‘graphite pencil’), London, England (2016)
Gold (2x), Silver and Bronze awards, Laus, Barcelona, Spain (2016)
UK National Urban Design Book Award, London, England (2016)
Silver medal ‘Schönste Bücher aus aller Welt’, Leipzig, Germany (2016)
Bronze award, ADC New York, USA (2016)
Goldene Letter ‘Schönste Bücher aus aller Welt’, Leipzig, Germany (2011)
Bronze European Design Awards (2010)
D&AD Award 2010 Book design (‘yellow pencil’), London, England (2010)
Rotterdam Design Prize, NL (2009)
Gold medal ‘Schönste Bücher aus aller Welt’, Leipzig, Germany (2009)
Honorary diploma ‘Schönste Bücher aus aller Welt’, Leipzig, Germany (2008)
Gold medal ‘Schönste Bücher aus aller Welt’, Leipzig, Germany (2006)
Red Dot: Grand Prix Editorial Design, Essen, Germany (2006)
 

Bibliography (Selection)

Antoniou, Antonis, et al. (2015) Mind the Map. Berlin: Gestalten, 36–51.
Boekraad, Hugues C. et al. (2009) Rotterdam designprijs 2009. Rotterdam: Stichting Designprijs Rotterdam, 51–52, 120–125.
Boekraad, Hugues C. (2010) ‘Joost Grootens wint Rotterdam designprijs’ in: Items #1, 34–49. 
DiCarlo, Tina (2011) ‘Joost Grootens’ in: Klatt #05, 60–75.
Essen, Floor van (2016) ‘Joost Grootens’ in Dude Autumn 2016, 16–26.
Gobert, Inge and Johan van Looveren (2014) Thoughts on Designing Information. Zürich: 
Lars Müller Publishers, 68–75.
Hausermann, Thierry (2011) ‘Joost Grootens’ in IDPURE #27, 54–64.
Hervy, Étienne et al. (2013) Reference Manual: 24th Poster and Graphic Design Festival of Chaumont. Chaumont: Festival of Chaumont, 5–14.
Huygen, Frederike (2017) Modernism: In Print. Dutch Graphic Design 1917–2017. Eindhoven: Lecturis, 142, 144, 146, 147, 173, 174. 
Junte, Jeroen  (2010) ‘Interview Ontwerper Joost Grootens’ in de Volkskrant 22 October 2010, 46–47.
Klanten, Robert et al. (2013) Fully booked. Berlin: Gestalten, 142–145.
Krzysztofiak, Jasiek (2014) ‘Gdzie oczy poniosa’ in 2+3D grafika plus magazine #52, 14–21.
Mishima, Koujiro (2011) ‘Joost Grootens: Points of Entry’ in Idea #349, 89–124.
Moisy, Isabelle (2014) ‘Joost Grootens. Construire des systèmes d’information’ in Étapes #221, 96–105.
Obrist, Hans Ulrich (2014) Mapping it out. London: Thames & Hudson, 173–174.
Neidhardt, Anja (2014) ‘Grenzen ziehen / Maps are all about making choices’ in Form Design Magazine #255, 44–47.
Rawsthorn, Alice (2009) ‘Rays of light Amid the Gloom’ in International Herald Tribune 29.11.2009.
Rawsthorn, Alice (2011) ‘Refining the art of the page’ in International Herald Tribune 31.01.2011, 10.
Rawsthorn, Alice (2013) Hello World. London: Hamish Hamilton, 159–160.
Rawsthorn, Alice (2018) Design as an Attitude. Zurich: JRP, 56, 57, 160, 161.
Ryan, Zoë and Joseph Rosa (2010) Hyperlinks. Architectur and Design. Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago, 126–127.
Ribbens, Arjen (2010) ‘Ik spreek de taal van de lezer’ in NRC weekblad 16.01.2010, 32–33.
Ribbens, Arjen (2015) ‚ÄòOnherstelbaar verbeterd’ in NRC weekend 03.10.2015, 18–19 
Schouwenberg, Louise (2007) ‘De optimale visualisaties van Joost Grootens’ in Items #3‚ 102–108.
Schuster, Brigitte (2014) Book Designers from the Netherlands. Bern: Brigitte Schuster, 17–38.
Staal, Gert (2000) ‘Joost Grootens en de vormgeving van Terwijl’ in Items #5, 54–59. 
Vasin, Alexander and Natalia Velchinskaya (2014), Joost Grootens. Moscow: Typomania festival
Walters, John L. (2010) ‘Joost Grootens: Paper Planet’ in Eye #78, 68–83.
Urquhart, Robert (2009) ‘Profile’ in: Grafik #183, 36–45.
Weissmüller, Laura (2011) ‘Durch Farbe wird’s zum Manifest’ in Süddeutsche Zeitung 07.02.2011, 14.
 

Electronic Sources

Website: www.joostgrootens.nl
Instagram: Archive of Graphic Design Typologies, @studiojoostgrootens
Vimeo-channel: www.vimeo.com/studiojoostgrootens
Dutch Profiles, ‘Joost Grootens’, www.arttube.nl/videos/dutch-profiles-joost-grootens (2009)
Gestalten, ‘Joost Grootens: On Creative Mapping and Editorial Design’, 
https://vimeo.com/112073021 (2014)
Design Indaba, ‘Joost Grootens: Organising complex data through design’, https://vimeo.com/144616687 (2015)
 

Publications