Joost Grootens

Joost Grootens is a University Lecturer and Researcher at Leiden University's Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, Professor of Artistic Research in Visual Design at the Royal Danish Academy, and head of the Master's programme in Information Design at Design Academy Eindhoven. He holds a doctorate from Leiden University and studied architectural design at Gerrit Rietveld Academy Amsterdam.

His research focuses on the transformation of graphic design and mapmaking through digital technologies, examining how tools for creating and disseminating visual information blur boundaries between producers and users. Key interests include the evolution of cartographic practices, data visualization ethics, and the intersection of design with technology and user agency.

Grootens' publications critically analyze contemporary design paradigms, with recurring themes of technological impact on visual communication, participatory mapping, and reimagined cartographic methodologies in digital contexts.

Awards and Honors:

• Best Dutch Book Designs 2021 (dissertation)
• Two-time Dutch Design Award for Graphic Design
• Golden Letter and dual gold medals in Best Book Design competitions

He leads Studio Joost Grootens (SJG), collaborating globally with institutions like ETH Zürich, Van Abbemuseum, and Phaidon Press. The studio specializes in books, maps, and digital information environments, employing collaborative design methodologies across offices in Amsterdam and Biel/Bienne.