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.
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selected Lectures
Cranbrook Academy of Art, 2024, Lecture: On Play
College For Creative Studies Detroit, 2024, Lecture: Making a Meaningful Mark
East Carolina University, 2024, Lecture: On Play
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, 2023, Keynote Presentation: Behind the Book Design
Chicagoland: A Laboratory for 20th Century Design Innovation, 2020, with Aamena Ansari, Bud Rodecker, Michelangelo Sabatino, Martin Thaler, Marcia Weese; IIT Institute of Design, IIT CoA, Design Museum of Chicago
Spark Conference, 2014, Schaumburg IL, Conference Lecture: Be the Ball
Ignite Conference, 2014, Chicago IL, Presenter: Design(er)
Seek Conference, 2013, DeKalb IL, Co-lecturer: Living a Creative Life
The Apple Store, Lincoln Park, 2013, Chicago IL, Lecturer: Systems in Graphic Design
Presenting at Ignite Chicago 2014
selected Exhibitions
Letters Beyond Form: Chicago Types, 2024, The Chicago Design Museum
AIGA Toledo 2018 Poster Show: Call To Action, The Design of Protest, 2018, The Design of Protest
The 7th China International Poster Biennial, 2015, West Lake of Hangzhou
CHGO DSGN: Recent Object and Graphic Design, 2014, The Chicago Cultural Center
As You Are: A Decade of You Are Beautiful, 2013, The Green Exchange
Typeforce3, 2012, The Coprosperity Sphere, Curated
Write Now, 2011, The Chicago Cultural Center, Curated, Ode to Carl
Typeforce2, 2011, The Coprosperity Sphere, Curated, Ode to Carl
Printervention Show, 2010, The Chicago Cultural Center, Curated, Give a shit, do some good
Curiosities: Rick Valicenti and 21st Century Thirst, 2009, Florida Atlantic University Galleries, Office
CHGO DSGN Photo by Dave Burk
selected Awards
Silver Anvil Award, 2023, Silver Anvil Award & Silver Anvil Award for Excellence
Anthem Awards for Sustainability, Environment & Climate, 2023, Bronze
STA 100, 2022, 2021, 2019 Judges Pick, 2019, 2018, 2016 Selected SoNu Digs Identity, 2016 Selected Temporis Graphic Identity
Newcity Design 50, 2022
AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers, 2021
Docomomo Modernism in America Award of Excellence ,2021
Tokyo TDC Annual Awards, 2019, “Excellent Work,” Book
Society of Prometheans Honoree, 2018
Graphis, Poster Annual, 2017 Poster Annual 2018, 2016 STA 100 Poster; 2017 Poster Annual 2018, Silver Award, 2016 STA 100 Poster; 2010 Poster Annual 2011, Platinum Award, IIT Fall 2009 Lecture Poster
Communication Arts, Typography Annual, 2016 Selected Temporis Graphic Identity
Design Observer, 50 Books / 50 Covers, 2015 Selected MAS Context Legacy; 2014 Selected MAS Context Ordinary
Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, 7th China International Poster Biennial, 2015 Selected Award, Holoscenes Poster
Temporis Identity
selected Publications
Thinking Through Graphic Design History, Piece: Copi, 2024
Communication Arts, “Span Feature,” Nov/Dec 2024
GDUSA, “Nick Adam, John Pobojewski + Bud Rodecker” (Profile), Nov 1, 2024
Fast Company, “Where Should You Travel This Summer? Let These City Logos Decide for You” (Professional Quote), July 2024
Newcity, “Design 50 2024: Graphic Design” (Profile), June 2024
Creative Boom, “Discrouse or ‘Diss-Course’? Cancelling Criticism Culture” (Professional Quote), December 2024
Wired Magazine, “Save the Planet by Eating This Big Ugly Fish,” 2023
Print Magazine, “The Daily Heller: The Invasive Branding of Nazareth University,” 2023
The Economist, “Copicat,” 2022
Design Week, “Asian Carp Rebranded as Copi to Tackle US Environmental Crisis,” 2022
Creative Review, “America’s Least Favourite Fish Gets a Rebrand,” 2022
AdAge, “Invasive Fish Species Gets Rebranded in Illinois—Behind Asian Carp’s Tastier New Name,” 2022
Smithsonian Magazine, “Can Rebranding Asian Carp Make It More Appealing to Eat?” 2022
Print Magazine, “The Daily Heller: A Misunderstood Fish Gets a Rebrand,” 2022
Reuters, “What’s in a Name? Illinois Hopes to Make Invasive Carp Fish More Palatable,” 2022
Creative Boom, “Chicago Studio Span Rebrands Asian Carp as ‘Copi’ to Help US Biodiversity,” 2022
AIGA Eye on Design, “A Design Studio ‘Rebranded’ Carp. But Can a Fish Be a Brand?” 2022
Newcity, “Design 50 2022: Graphic Design” (Profile), 2022
Free Hand: New Typography, Pieces: RicharDaily Type, YAB Panel, Lady Lumps, 2018
Introduction to Graphic Design Methodologies and Processes, Third Coast Audio Festival Identity, 2011