In the world of industrial design, Josh Owen stands as a rare amalgamation of educator, practitioner, and philosopher. Born in Philadelphia in 1970, Owen's path to becoming one of America's most celebrated designers began with a foundation in fine arts. He graduated from Cornell University with degrees in sculpture and visual studies before earning his MFA in furniture design from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design in 1997 that provided him with both artistic vision and technical expertise.

Owen's projects are produced by major manufacturers and have won many awards. His work is included in the permanent design collections of the Brussels Design Museum, Centre Georges Pompidou, the Chicago Athenaeum, the Corning Museum of Glass, the Denver Art Museum, the Musee des beaux-arts de Montreal, the National Museum of American Jewish History, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Red Dot Design Museum, and the Taiwan Design Museum. He is the author of the book Lenses for Design.

Beyond his studio practice, Owen has dedicated himself to education, serving as the Vignelli Distinguished Professor of Design and Director of the Vignelli Center for Design Studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology. His teaching philosophy mirrors the Vignelli's "Design is One" ethos, which Owen describes as "a universal message that design is a lens through which we can envision a more inclusive tomorrow." This commitment to design as a force for positive change influences both his academic work and his professional practice.