From 1948–52 he studied in Graz at the Staatliche Schule für Angewandte Kunst. He migrated to Canada in 1953, where he became one of the pioneers of Canadian ‘International Style’ graphic design. He worked for various studios before he founded his own company Roch Design (1960–65) and later Design Collaborative with Rolf Harder (1965–77). After that he had his own firm again. Ernst Roch was involved in all fields of graphic design, trademarks, posters, packaging, books, security and architectural graphics as well as complete identity programmes, such as the National Arts Centre, Ottawa (1965). He designed many stamps, including the 1–5 cents ‘Queen Elizabeth’ series (1962–63) and ‘Early Canadian Locomotives’ (1983–86). He also organized and designed the exhibition ‘Munich Olympic Games’ (1972) and produced the official poster for the Montreal Olympic Games. The legacy of his works is in the Canadian National Archives in Ottawa and in the Library of Congress in Washington DC.