PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

E Roon Kang

Also known as Ireun Kang, 강이룬

E Roon Kang is a graphic designer and design educator who studies how code, algorithms and generative AI shape visual culture. He holds an MFA in graphic design from Yale, directed the BFA Communication Design program at Parsons School of Design from 2017 to 2020, and became Chair of Undergraduate Graphic Design at California College of the Arts in 2023. His earlier work includes the 2010 algorithmic identity for MIT Media Lab, which generates over 40,000 logo permutations, and the 2018 Google Fonts + Korean specimen site made at the design studio Math Practice. Now an associate professor of industrial design at KAIST, he directs the Visual Instruments Lab, whose graphic with AI-generated poetry accompanied the 2026 Gwangju Biennale theme announcement.

Now at
KAIST
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Timeline

  1. 2010

    An algorithmic Media Lab identity

    In 2010, in collaboration with TheGreenEyl, he creates the algorithmic identity for MIT Media Lab's 25th anniversary. The visual system generates over 40,000 permutations of a logo, so that each member of the community can claim a unique one.

  2. 2017–2020

    Directing Communication Design at Parsons

    From 2017 to 2020, he directs the BFA Communication Design program at Parsons School of Design. He holds an MFA in graphic design from Yale.

  3. 2018

    A Korean type specimen for Google

    In 2018, Google commissions a digital specimen website for its new Korean fonts from Math Practice, a New York design studio, and he designs the mini-site. The site displays open-source Korean typefaces through interactions that manipulate their path data.

  4. 2021

    Future School Online in Venice

    In 2021, working as 908A, the research initiative he co-founded, he and Andrew LeClair design and develop Future School Online. The platform catalogues over 40 courses and is the online counterpart of the Korean Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

  5. August 2023

    Graphic design chair at CCA

    In August 2023, California College of the Arts welcomes him among 10 new chairs, as Chair of Undergraduate Graphic Design. He is a designer who studies everyday systems and their efficiency, and his studio Math Practice works with academic, cultural and technology organizations.

  6. November 2025

    Launching Visual Instruments Lab

    In November 2025, he speaks at IDCC 2025, the 23rd International Design Culture Conference, as an associate professor at KAIST who is launching the Visual Instruments Lab.

  7. March 2026

    A graphic for Gwangju Biennale

    In March 2026, the 16th Gwangju Biennale announces its theme, You must change your life, with a graphic he makes with the KAIST Visual Instruments Lab. The graphic features poetry generated by AI from an image of a Jeju volcanic rock.

  8. As of October 2026

    Directing the Visual Instruments Lab

    He is an associate professor in the Department of Industrial Design at KAIST and director of the Visual Instruments Lab, which studies where design meets code, algorithms and generative AI. KAIST's AI College lists him as Ireun Kang, adjunct professor, with research in computational aesthetics, generative AI and design systems.

Career

  1. NowKAISTAssociate Professor
  2. From 2023California College of the ArtsChair of Undergraduate Graphic Design
  3. 2017–2020Parsons School of DesignDirector of the BFA Communication Design program
  4. 908ACo-founder

Education

  1. Yale UniversityMFA

From the biography.

  1. The United States employs an estimated 48% of people shaping AIIncludes KAIST. We estimate where the people shaping AI work today, how universities, companies and research institutes split across countries, and how country shares have changed since the 1960s.
  2. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes KAIST. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  3. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes KAIST. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.
  4. 44% of AI career moves go from one university to anotherIncludes KAIST. We estimate how 26,439 AI career moves link universities, companies, labs, nonprofits and government research centers, with decade counts, net flows and the top paths.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of E Roon Kang yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. MIT Media Lab Identity — E Roon Kang eroonkang.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  2. About — E Roon Kang eroonkang.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  3. Google Fonts launches Korean support developers.googleblog.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  4. Google Fonts Korean becomes interactive by manipulating path data itsnicethat.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  5. Future School Online — E Roon Kang eroonkang.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  6. California College of the Arts welcomes 10 new chairs across the college cca.edu. Checked 21 October 2026.
  7. IDCC 2025 - The 23rd International Design Culture Conference idcc.snu.ac.kr. Checked 21 October 2026.
  8. 16th Gwangju Biennale presents theme: You Must Change Your Life - Biennial Foundation biennialfoundation.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  9. KAIST 시각도구연구실 Visual Instruments Lab visual-instruments.kaist.ac.kr. Checked 21 October 2026.
  10. Faculty | AX aicollege.kaist.ac.kr. Checked 21 October 2026.