FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, FAY, BROOKLYN, NY
Aron studied graphic design and book arts at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) before joining Pentagram, where he worked for six years, ultimately as an Associate Partner for Michael Bierut. At Pentagram, Fay worked with a range of clients and projects, including rebrands for the MIT Media Lab, Verizon, and MIT Technology Review.
In 2018, he started his own graphic design & creative technology studio, FAY, where he and his team specialize in developing dynamic brand identity systems and custom-built generative design tools.
The studio also works regularly on campaigns, brand strategy, print, book and web design. Clients have included Yale, MIT, Paradigm, OXMAN, Lobe Spatial Sound, Fast Company, Harmonic AI and more. The studio also works on self-initiated projects as part of its LAB initiative, where they prototype new methodologies for visual communications in the future. These R&D projects combine design and emerging technologies in unexpected ways, with the goal of creating new, more meaningful and layered ways of communicating.
Fay previously taught graphic design & typography at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and has run workshops, lectured, and been a guest critic at institutions such as Parsons, MICA, and SVA. His work has been published in books, publications (including GDUSA) and also recognized by various awards.
Aron is an avid electro (music) fan—in his spare time he can be found tinkering with his synth/drum machine collection, producing electro, and occasionally Djing.
As we pivot into a post-pandemic era marked by societal challenge and change, are you optimistic about the future of Graphic Design in supporting and shaping commerce, culture and causes? Why do you feel the way you do? Are you optimistic about the future of your own design career or business?
Hanging prominently above our office desks is a black & white flag. On it, drawn in the vernacular of a black metal logo, the word Futurism™ (a riff and ode to Experimental Jetset’s Modernism™ flag). It’s a reminder to us every morning why we do what we do. My team and I believe strongly in what the future can hold. We believe that through a thoughtful and intentional approach, our work can have a positive impact on culture, albeit, often at a microscale when evaluating this impact in a global context. That said, we do believe that whether it be design, creative technology, or any other discipline, if there are enough people making small positive contributions, they will add up. The hope of course is that these changes at scale, begin to manifest in more visible and tangible ways. For us, we see the work we do rooted deeply in changemaking and trying to shape better futures for the partners we work with. Clients come to us because they want to improve or rethink some aspect of their business or how they show up in the world. We feel it’s our duty to provide creative solutions that not only help address their near-term needs, but also set our partners up for success many years in the future. So yes, despite all of the truly awful things going on in the world right now, we do our best to stay optimistic and to encourage our partners and collaborators to take positive steps towards bettering their futures and the larger world around us.
