Dermot Mac Cormack, originally born in Ireland, is a graphic designer, educator and writer.
His research is multi-faceted and involves four interrelated, and mutually reinforcing components: design as a means of educating audiences; the use of coding/technology to create interactive design & installations; typographic design; and writing. His studio, 21xdesign, which he co-founded with his wife in 1997, prides itself on creating collaborative projects (in analog and digital mediums) that give voice to the forgotten and voiceless in contemporary culture as well mining Ireland’s historically rich past. He cares deeply about contemporary social issues, such as gun control, domestic violence and issues relating to climate change. His studio also explores the historical impact of the Famine in 19th century Ireland. He creates interactive installations that combine digital, generative technologies with audio that explore issues of time, and eastern philosophies.
Mac Cormack is also deeply involved with typography with both the creation of original typographic design and also the study of typography in historical and contemporary aspects.
His writing for design tends to be concerned with issues pertaining to the impact of mid-century European design, focusing on lesser known contributors to the design canon, and the intersection of technology and design with its repercussions on culture.
BFA, Visual Communications, The National College of Art & Design, Ireland, 1981
Selected Awards
Graphis Journal 370
Invitational design feature essay on the studio and work of 21xdesign.
Graphis Publications, Pedersen Design Group, New York, NY, Fall 2021
Graphis Poster Annual 2022
Gold Award
Graphis Publications, Pedersen Design Group, New York, NY, Summer 2021
Graphis Design Annual 2022
Silver Award
Graphis Publications, Pedersen Design Group, New York, NY, Summer 2021
Sixteenth International Poster Biennial in Mexico (16BICM)
International Poster Competition
Franz Mayer Museum, Mexico City, Winter 2020
Selected Work
Mac Cormack, D. (2021). Remember the moth: AGI and the future for designers.” In Slanted Magazine
#37 - AI. Karlsruhe, Germany: Slanted Publishers.
Mac Cormack, D. (2020). “The Gates to Coexisting.” In Slanted Magazine #36 - COEXIST.
Karlsruhe, Germany: Slanted Publishers.
Mac Cormack, D. (2019). The Silent Worlds of Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichová. Slanted, 33.
Mac Cormack, D. (2019). The Design Magazine with a Heart. Design 360°, 78.
Mac Cormack, D. (2019). #Neveragain - Parkland [Poster]. In Pedersen, B. M. (2019). Graphis Poster
Annual.