In 2022, John Maeda was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering from the City University of Hong Kong. It was just one of many honors he has received in a multifaceted career encompassing art, science, business, and education in prestigious locales including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rhode Island School of Design, and Silicon Valley. Dr Maeda has published several books on topics like simplicity and artificial intelligence, and he frequently shares his observations about design, technology, leadership, and more as a guest speaker and key opinion leader.

As part of the CityU Legacy Series, this book is the first to tell Dr Maeda’s unique life story as a comprehensive narrative, from his parents’ tofu factory in Seattle to his time as a student, professor, university president, venture capitalist, and beyond. Readers will discover Dr Maeda’s greatest successes and favorite failures on his journey from humble beginnings as a first-generation American to an influencer on the international stage. His story will be an inspiration for students and leaders at CityUHK, as well as fellow artists, designers, educators, and business people around the world.