Bud Rodecker is a founder and design director at Span. His work explores the space between logical constraints and formal play, and balances form with meaning. He strives to cut to the core, simply and with a playful spirit.

Within Span’s first two years, Rodecker and his team designed the exhibition graphics for Design and Healing: Creative Responses to Epidemics at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; the cover and interior book design for The Architecture of Health: Hospital Design and the Construction of Dignity (The New York Times What to Read selection).

In 2022, Rodecker was named one of Newcity's Design50 for shaping the landscape of design in Chicago. His work is in the permanent collection at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Design Archive, has been displayed in the Venice Architecture Biennale and at the Chicago Cultural Center, and has earned recognition from the STA 100, Design Observer 50 Books 50 Covers, and Graphis (Platinum Award).

Before founding Span, Bud Rodecker was a partner at the legendary design firm Thirst with Rick Valicenti and John Pobojewski. He started as an intern and over a decade helped to shape the work of the studio with clients such as the DePaul University Art Museum, the IIDA (International Interior Designers Association), and UIC (University of Illinois Chicago), before helping to sunset the studio and launching Span.

Outside the studio, Rodecker explores the process of creativity through self-initiated experiments and teaching design at DePaul University. He has participated in numerous design-related lectures, workshops, and panels—sharing his unique perspective on design and the creative process.

Say Hello

speaking engagements

I'm available and eager to present! Shoot me an email.

Design commissions

I'd love to work with you, please contact me at Span.

selected Lectures

  • 2024, East Carolina University, Lectuere, On Play

  • 2023, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, Behind the Book Design, Keynote Presentation

  • 2020, Chicagoland: A Laboratory for 20th Century Design Innovation,
    with Aamena Ansari, Bud Rodecker, Michelangelo Sabatino, Martin Thaler, Marcia Weese; IIT Institute of Design, IIT CoA, Design Museum of Chicago

  • 2016, STA Design Weekend, Itasca Illinois, Conference Lecture, Self-Inflicted Creative Constraints

  • 2015, Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee Wisconsin, Lecturer, Be the Ball

  • 2015, Veritiv Paper Show, Chicago Illinois, Lecturer, Paper Persona Keynote

  • 2014, Bradley University, Peoria Illinois, Lecturer, Be the Ball

  • 2014, AIGA West Michigan, Grand Rapids Michigan, Co-lecturer, Thirst Work

  • 2014, Spark Conference, Schaumburg Illinois, Conference Lecture, Be the Ball

  • 2014, Ignite Conference, Chicago Illinois, Presenter, Design(er)

  • 2014, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Oklahoma, Keynote Presentation, Four Stages of a Creative Career

  • 2014, SAIC, Chicago Illinois, Studio Presentation, Thirst Work

  • 2013, Seek Conference, DeKalb Illinois, Co-lecturer, Living a Creative Life

  • 2013, The Apple Store, Lincoln Park, Chicago Illinois, Lecturer, Systems in Graphic Design

  • 2012, The School of the Art Institute, Chicago Illinois, Lecturer, What I didn’t learn in College

  • 2012, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth Minnesota, Lecturer, UMD Student Show

  • 2012, The American Academy of Art, Chicago Illinois, Co-lecturer, Please Sir, May I have some more?

  • 2011, AIGA, Chicago Illinois, Presenter, Fueled

  • 2008, The Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Illinois, Panel Discussion, Independent lens community screening of Helvetica panel discussion

  • 2008, Harrington College, Chicago Illinois, Lecturer, What I didn’t learn in College at Harrington College

 

A look back at midcentury on the occasion of the publication of Modern in the Middle: Chicago Houses 1929-1975 and Jay Doblin's 100th birthday. From building...

Presenting at Ignite Chicago 2014

selected Exhibitions

  • 2015, The 7th China International Poster Biennial, West lake of Hangzhou, China, Judged, Holoscenes Poster

  • 2014, CHGO DSGN: Recent Object and Graphic Design, The Chicago Cultural Center, Curated, Contract Magazine, STA Archive Posters, MAS Context, SOM CDP 2

  • 2014, CHGO DSGN: EXPO CHGO, Navy Pier, Curated, God Hates Hate

  • 2014, CHGO DSGN: Beijing, Institute of Fashion Technology, Curated, MAS Context Surveillance

  • 2013, As You Are: A Decade of You are Beautiful, The Green Exchange, Curated, Scarlet Letter

  • 2012, Typeforce3, The Coprosperity Sphere, Curated,

  • 2011, Write Now, The Chicago Cultural Center, Curated, Ode to Carl

  • 2011, Fair Warning, The Comfort Station, Curated,

  • 2011, Typeforce2, The Coprosperity Sphere, Curated, Ode to Carl

  • 2010, Printervention Show, The Chicago Cultural Center, Curated, Give a shit, do some good

  • 2009, Curiosities: Rick Valicenti and 21st century thirst, Florida Atlantic University Galleries, Office,

 

CHGO DSGN Photo by Dave Burk

CHGO DSGN Photo by Dave Burk

selected Awards

  • 2017, Graphis, Poster Annual 2018, Silver Award, 2016 STA 100 Poster

  • 2016, Communication Arts, Typography Annual, Selected, Temporis Graphic Identity

  • 2016, Society of Typographic Arts, STA 100, Selected, SoNu Digs Identity

  • 2016, Society of Typographic Arts, STA 100, Selected, Temporis Graphic Identity

  • 2015, Design Observer, 50 Books / 50 Covers, Selected, MAS Context Legacy

  • 2015, Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, 7th China International Poster Biennial, Selected Award, Holoscenes Poster

  • 2014, Design Observer, 50 Books / 50 Covers, Selected, MAS Context Ordinary

  • 2010, Graphis, Poster Annual 2011, Platinum award, IIT Fall 2009 Lecture Poster

 

Temporis Identity

Temporis Identity

selected Publications

  • 2017, Graphis, Poster Annual 2018, 2016 STA 100 Poster

  • 2016, Communication Arts, Typography Annual, Temporis Graphic Identity

  • 2014, Global Wayfinding Leading Design, Columbia College University, Black Ensemble Theater

  • 2013, Communication Arts Typography Annual, Cool Treats

  • 2012, It’s Nice That, Have a good gander at Bud Rodecker's gorgeous catalogue for Absent Nature, Arik Levy Absent Nature Catalog

  • 2012, Graphis, Poster Annual 2012, IIT Spring 2010 Lecture Poster

  • 2012, Graphis, Poster Annual 2012, Curiosities: Rick Valicenti and the 21st Century Thirst

  • 2011, Under Consideration / FPO, “Ode to Carl” Chicago Poster Series

  • 2011, The Poetry Foundation, Carl Sandburg’s typographic “Chicago”

  • 2011, IdN Magazine, Extra #04 Most Wanted

  • 2011, Slanted, Slanted #14 – Grotesque 2, AW typeface

  • 2011, Design Bureau, Design, Print, and Publish

  • 2011, Introduction to Graphic Design Methodologies and Porcesses. Understanding Theory and Application, Third Coast Audio Festival Identity

  • 2010, Concept Magazine Indonesia

  • 2010, Graphis, Poster Annual 2011, IIT Fall 2009 Lecture Poster

 

Arik Levy Absent Nature Catalog

Arik Levy Absent Nature Catalog