Architects and designers of IA reflect on more than 50 years of the famed architect’s contributions to design.
“The life and career of Michael Graves is an accomplishment worth celebrating. Throughout his practice of design architecture, he brought new perspective to the masses, from Disney to his product collaborations with Target and JC Penney. And with his healthcare practice and and contributions to the Wounded Warrior project, he helped change the lives of those in need. He was a true believer in the power of design to change lives.“
Tom Powers, AIA
Executive Director
“I have seen Graves’s work by way of the Denver Public library and other spaces. It’s unique and certainly impactful. However, I see his greater influence on a wider audience with the collections he designed for Target. His relationship with a mainstream, affordable retailer really created awareness of the impact of good design in everyday items.“
Kim Parsley, IIDA
Managing Director
“When considering the study of architecture as a high school student, I was mesmerized by his sketches on yellow trace paper. I’ve always loved his sketches, more than some of his built designs.”
Julio Braga, IIDA
Design Director
“As an architecture student in the mid ‘80s, Michael Graves was God. Of all his work, I love how grandly the Humana Building (located in Louisville, Kentucky) is positioned along the Ohio River. The composition of iconic forms results in a building that is both familiar and unique, a talent he continued to share throughout his career. May he rest in peace.”
John Hopkins
Design Director
“Who else embodied and represented a movement more than Michael Graves and postmodernism? Architect, designer, planner, product designer, painter, sculptor, entrepreneur, educator—he did it all. Michael Graves inspired me to want to design everything and not be afraid to do so with wink.“
Billy Hallisky
Project Manager
“I met him once at NeoCon and discussed the Portland Building with him for a feasibility study I was working on. He was a sweet man who took time to speak to me about the Portland Building, even among a sea of people that wanted to meet him. He will be missed.”
Amalia Mohr
Designer