Influential as a designer and educator, Frédéric Metz is best known for his dedication to the development of Graphic Design in Montreal and the Université du Québec, where he worked for over 30 years. Whilst at UQAM he instituted the Graphic Design programme and was a founding member of both the Design Centre and Fashion School.

Born in Switzerland in 1944, Metz studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Biel/Bienne and one year after his graduation, he traveled to Montreal for the occasion of Expo ‘67, taking a job as Art Director of GSM Design. Throughout his career he was known for designing recognisable logos, signage and posters for Browns Shoes, Montreal-Mirabel International Airport, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and even UQAM itself.

He was a prominent member of the Montreal design community appearing regularly on Television and Radio, and publishing the acclaimed book Design? Beauté et fonction passées au crible. In 2013 he was nominated to become a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, and was awarded the Icograda Achievement Award, in recognition of outstanding and consistent achievement in the practice, education or promotion of communication design.