Eric Madsen, a native Texan, was raised on the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle.
His graphic design career began in 1966 in Houston at Culberson, Glass & DuBose. Seven years later, wanting to explore a new geographic location but remain in the Midwest, he moved to Minneapolis. As it turned out, in 1973 the Twin Cities creative community was right on the cusp of incredible growth and recognition. Following two early partnerships, he founded The Office of Eric Madsen. A small sampling of his design work is represented under Collections on this site.
That work has been recognized nationally and internationally by organizations and publications such as the AIGA (the professional association for design), the Society of Typographic Arts, the Society of Publication Designers, the Type Director's Club of New York, and the UCDA (University & College Designers Association). By magazines such as Communication Arts, Critique, Idea (Japan), Graphis, Print; and, by the Art Director's Clubs of Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York.
Following a 5-decade long career working with a variety of clients, he closed his office to become his only client, devoting his time exclusively to the pursuit of his personal art, photography, book, and design projects.
He is an AIGA Fellow, and a past member of the national Board of Directors of the AIGA. Additionally, he has chaired the nominating committee for that Board, and for three years, also chaired the AIGA 50 Book 50 Covers annual competition. He is a founding member of the AIGA Minnesota chapter, one of its first three elected officers at the organization's inception as the Minnesota Graphic Designers Association in 1977, and served on its board on three separate occasions.
Mr. Madsen served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the College of Visual Arts, and on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. Appointed by the Postmaster General, he was honored to serve on the Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee of the United States Postal Service, where he was selected for the role of Design Subcommittee chair later in his term. He is a Vietnam Era veteran of the United States Army.
He premiered his fine art series Carlyle's Tools in a one-man show at the College of Visual Arts Gallery in Saint Paul. That work has additionally been recognized by the Goldstein Museum Of Design, Minneapolis Foundation, the Miller Art Museum, the Francis Hardy Center for the Arts, the Lake Pepin Art & Design Center, and the Washington Pavilion for the Arts. At the 30th Annual Juried Exhibition held at the Miller Art Museum, he was awarded the Gerhard Miller Award of Excellence Gold Medal for his artwork.
Photo: Eric Madsen