Ed Fella is an American graphic designer, illustrator, and educator known for his experimental approach to typography and visual communication. After three decades as a commercial artist in Detroit, he earned an MFA in design from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1987 and joined the faculty at the California Institute of the Arts. Calling himself an “exit level designer,” he has pursued a wide range of idiosyncratic projects that blur the boundaries between graphic design, typography, photography, illustration, and fine art. After 25 years of teaching, he retired but continues working at CalArts as Professor Emeritus. His influence on contemporary design has been widely acknowledged through the Chrysler Design Award (1997) and the AIGA Medal (2007). Fella’s work has been featured in Emigre (1991) and Idea (Japan, 2006), and in books such as Letters on America (Princeton Architectural Press, 2000) and Ed Fella: Documents (Pyramyd, 2011). His work is held in major collections including the Museum of Modern Art, the Walker Art Center, and the Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum.