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Roger Willems (Tilburg, 1969) studied graphic design at the Academie of Fine Arts St Joost, Breda, the Netherlands and was assistent of Karel Martens from 1993 till 1995. Post graduated in 1999 at the Design Department of the Sandberg Institute, Amsterdam.

Lives and works as self-employed designer in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, mainly working in the field of book design for publishing houses and cultural institutions. Started his own publishing and editorial project in 1998: Roma Publications. Since then, Roma Publications has been expanding in an informal and dynamic way as a platform for production and distribution of publications, made in close collaboration with a growing number of artists, designers, curators, writers and poets.


clients (selection)

Uitgeverij SUN, Uitgeverij Boom, NAi, TU Delft, ArtEz Press / ArtEz Modelectoraat, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Uitgeverij d'Jonge Hond, Uitgeverij Terra Lannoo, A&S Books, Artimo, Veenman Publishers, Roma Publications, Idea Books, SKOR, Culturgest Lisbon/Porto, Marlene Dumas, De Kunsthal, Nationaal Onderwijsmuseum, Kunsten '92, TPG Post, Christoph Coppens, Mark Manders, Dirk Braeckman, Kees Goudzwaard, De Appel, De Ateliers, Rijksacademie, S.M.A.K., HISK, Zeno-X Gallery, Hatje Cantz, Museum Jan Cunen, Museum Bommel van Dam, Museum Het Domein, Henk Hoeks, Castrum Peregrini, De Vleeshal, W139, Press Now


exhibitions / presentations (selection)

'Roma Publications @ Motto Berlin', Motto Berlin (2010)
'Published by - Roma Publications', Kabinetten van De Vleeshal, Middelburg (2010)
'KIOSK - Modes of multiplication', Kunst Bibliothek Berlin (2009) cat.
'Miss Read', KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin (2009) cat.
'Beyond Kiosk - Modes of Multiplication', Mudam Luxembourg, Luxemburg (2009)
'Art Books in Light', W139, Amsterdam (2009) cat.
'Pa/per View: Art Book Fair', Wiels, Brussels (2009)
'De orde der dingen', MuHKA, Antwerp (2008-2009) cat.
'Roma Publications 1998 - 2008', UTS GALLERY, Sydney, Australia (2008)
'Beyond Kiosk', ICA Phildaelphia (2008)
'Roma Publications', The Narrows, Melbourne, Australia (2007)
'A Few Artist´s Books, Roma Publications and Christoph Keller', ProjecteSD, Barcelona (2007)
'Roma Publications', Culturgest, Lissabon (2006) cat.
'Juriert-Premiert', Museum für Gestaltung, Zürich (2006-2007)
'From Mars', International Biennale of Graphic Design, Brno (2006) cat.
'Paperback', CGAC, Santiago de Compostella (2006) cat.
'Roma Publications', Artis Den Bosch, NL (2006)
'Dutch Resource', International Poster Festival Chaumont, France (2005) cat.
'ROMA Publications 1898-2005', S.M.A.K., Ghent, Belgium (2005) cat.
'Kiosk, travelling archive of independent publishing projects' (from 2004 ongoing)
'Linea Recta', Hotel Mariakapel, Hoorn (2004)
'10 years of Sandberg Institute Design Department', Amsterdam (2004)
Zefir7, Theater Zeebelt, Den Haag (2003)
'Storage and Display', Programa Art Center, Mexico City (2003) cat.
'Tabula', Poëziezomer Watou, Belgium (2002) cat.
'ROMA Publications 1898-2002', Kröller Müller Museum, Otterlo (2002)


interviews / publications (selection)

IDEA No. 340 'Forms of Practice', p 157-160, International Graphic Art and Typography, March 2010, Vol. 58, Issue 3
GRAPHIC #11, 'Ideas of Design Exhibition', p 136-147, autumn 2009
'Kiosk - Modes of Multiplication, A Sourcebook on independent art publishin, JRP Ringier, 2009
'Capsule over kunstboeken', p 106-109, Valiz, 2009
'Masters of Rietveld - Dutch Design Eduction in the 21st Century by the Sandberg Institute', All Media Foundation, Amsterdam 2008
'Entre-Vista', p 384-387, Xunta de Galacia, 2008
'Unbalanced and Incomplete Guide to Dutch Design', p 164-182, Seoul, 2008
'Edit!', video interview for internet magazine ROSA B, Bordeaux, 2008
'Opdrachtgever: Geen', thesis Amanda Butterworth, p 37-46 (issuu.com/abutterworth/docs/thesis), 2008
'Travail du Livre', p 59-70, Pyramid - Etapes:142, Paris, 2007
'Os livros fazem amigos / Books Make Friends', Roma Publications, 2006
'Dutch Resource, Collaborative Exercises in Graphic Design', Valiz, 2006
'Vis a Vue', p 70-73, Onomatopee 08, Eindhoven, 2006
Radio interviews at 'De avonden', VPRO, 2005 and 2009
'Touching Graphic Design #1', 11 short films presenting Dutch graphic design, by Janna Meeus, 2005
'Roger Willems - Overdaad aan experimenten'. Portfolio with text by Ewan Lentjes. ITEMS, may/June 2001


teaching experience

Various lectures and workshops, a.o. in Lisbon and Amsterdam (2007-2009)
External examiner at the Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam (2006)
Teacher graphic design at the Rietveld Academie, writing department, Amsterdam (2004-2005)
Workshops at the Werkplaats Typografie, Arnhem (2002, 2003, 2005)
Teacher typography at the ArtEz Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Arnhem (1999-2002)
Teacher graphic design at the Academie of Fine Arts St Joost, Breda (1999-2001)
Intirim teacher typography at the Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam (1998)


work examples (selection)

Editing and book design 'Michel François: Plans d'évasion', Roma Publications, 2010
Editing and book design 'JCJ Vanderheyden: The Analogy of the Eye', Roma Publications, 2009
Editing and book design 'The Absence of Mark Manders', Hatje Cantz, 2008
Book design 'The Power of Fashion', 'Fashion and Accessoiries', and 'Fashion and Imagination', ArtEz Press, 2006-2009
Book design 'Recollecting Landscapes', A&S Books, S.M.A.K., Ghent, 2006 
Curating group exhibition 'Roma Publications 1-90', Culturgest, Lisbon, 2006
Book design 'OverHolland, Architectural Studies of the Dutch City', SUN, TU Delft 2005-2009
Design TPG Post stamps for the International Court of Justice, 2004
Organizing international art exhibition Storage and Display, Programa Art Center, Mexico City, 2003
Book design and image editing 'The World Must Changes, Graphic Design and Idealism', Sandberg Institute / De Balie, 1999


awards

Best Dutch Book Design 2008 for 'Geraldine Jeanjean: Aumont', Veenman Publishers, 2008
Best Dutch Book Design 2007 for 'Batia Suter: Parallel Encyclopedia', Roma Publications, 2007
Best Dutch Book Design 2007 for 'Ringel Goslinga: Family Tree', Veenman Publishers, 2007
Best Dutch Book Design 2006 for 'Dana Lixenberg: Jeffersonville, Indiana', Artimo, 2006
Best Dutch Book Design 2006 for 'Gabriel Kuri: Compost Index', Roma Publications, 2006
Best Dutch Book Design 2003 for 'Mark Manders: Singing Sailors', Roma Publications, 2003
Walter-Tiemann-Förderpreis 2002 (International prize for typography from the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, Leipzig)


work in collections (selection)

S.M.A.K., Ghent, Belgium
Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection, John M Flaxman Library / School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, Leipzig
JUMEX Collection, Mexico City
MuHKA, Antwerp
Krüller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven
Beyond Kiosk - Modes of Multiplication, Christoph Keller, Stahlemühle
Kiosk - Modes of Multiplication, Art Library, Berlin


list of roma publications (published and designed by RW)

2010 : 'Superquadra', Erik van der Weijde / 'Plans d'évasion', Michel François / 'Passages Through (the Unfinished Monument)', PSWAR / 2009 : 'Cast (part 2)', Raymond Taudin Chabot / 'Extended Caption (DDDG)', Stuart Bailey / 'JCJ Vanderheyden: The Analogy of the Eye' / 2008 : 'Untitled (Onkenhout)', Arnoud Holleman / '(Untitled)', Geert Goiris / 'Plateau', Nickel van Duijvenboden / 'Siedlung', Erik van der Weijde / '(Untitled)', Geert Goiris / 'Neem me mee, zei de hond', Wim Brands / 'Codex Spero: Nancy Spero - Selected Writings and Interviews 1950-2008', Roel Arkesteijn (ed.) / 'Psychoscope', Roland Schimmel / 2007 : 'Intimate Relations', Marlene Dumas / 'Multiplicity', Frank van der Salm / 'Cast (Part 4)', Raymond Taudin Chabot / 'Parallel Encyclopedia', Batia Suter / 'Full Grown Man', Wouter van Riessen / 'Suggested Taxation Scheme', Gabriel Kuri / 2006 : 'Ghent Lisbon Porto Drawings', Bart Lodewijks / 'Os livros fazem amigos' / 'Surplus', Marc Nagtzaam / 'Ornamento com pontos focais', Mark Manders / 'Sequent', Kees Goudzwaard / 'W139 - Amsterdam, Report of an Ongoing Journey' / 'Short Sad Thoughts', Mark Manders / 'Blind Spot', Roland Schimmel / Untitled (Post-production), JCJ Vanderheyden / 2005 : 'COMPOST INDEX', Gabriel Kuri / '3', Geert Goiris / 'Cristof Yvoré', Cristof Yvoré /'Reconstructiong Time', Irene Kopelman / 'Broadway Marquise', Roland Schimmel / 'Open Days', Marije Langelaar (ed.) / 'Made out of Wood', Wouter van Riessen / 'De Rode Hamerclub', Marije Langelaar / '(Untitled)', Geert Goiris / 'Face it', Joe Villablanca / 'Blind Spot', Roland Schimmel / 'Vlak', Marc Nagtzaam / 'Hallway with Sentences', Mark Manders / 'H1: Momente/Monumente' / 2004 : 'From Here to There (and back again)' / (Untitled), Batia Suter / 'Five minutes to Die', Iñaki Bonillas / 'Frontal Views', Kees Goudzwaard / Untitled, Miquel Mont / 'H0', Van Cauteren, Hackenschmidt, Willems (ed.) / '30 Feet', Oksana Pasaiko / Untitled, Geert Goiris / O, R, G, U & H, Philippe Van Cauteren (ed.) / 'Storage and Display', Dieter Roelstraete & Roger Willems (ed.) / 2003 : Untitled, Geert Goiris / 'Looking for a Beautiful Place', Bart Lodewijks / 'Photographic Views, Iñaki Bonillas, Dieter Roelstraete, Roger Willems / 'En we verdroomden de dag...', Wil Heeffer / 'Gedicteerde tekeningen', Mark Manders, Marije Langelaar and 22 children / 2002 : 'Over' Marc Nagtzaam / 'Splinters zijn stukken van bomen', Maud Vande Veire / 'Kaleidoscope Night', Dieter Roelstraete / 'Ornament met Brandpunten', Mark Manders / 'Singing Sailors', Mark Manders / 'Several Drawings on Top of Each Other', Mark Manders / 'OPEN DAYS', Marije Langelaar (ed.) / 'White Book', Inaki Bonillas, Roger Willems / 'Thin Newspaper with Drawings', Mark Manders / 'Singing Sailors', Mark Manders / 'Poëtisch Panorama', Louis Tiessen / Untitled, Catherine Claeyé / 'Laptop on the Pavement', Mark Manders, Roger Willems, Marije Langelaar / 2001 : 'Pingo doce', Mark Manders / 'New Anniversaries', Mark Manders, Marije Langelaar / 'Arnhem Promotion Poster', Mark Manders / 'Dictated Drawings', Mark Manders and 27 children / 'Portraits and Cameras', Mark Manders, Roger Willems / 'ANGUS 15 JAAR / 3-11-2001', Mark Manders, Marije Langelaar / 'Newspaper with Fives', Mark Manders / 'Newspaper with fives (82%)', Mark Manders / 'China', Mark Manders / 2000 : 'Mutanten zonder hart', Marije Langelaar / 'Work and non-work', Marc Nagtzaam, Roger Willems / 'Night drawings from self-portrait as a building', Mark Manders / 'Tokyo Newspaper' Mark Manders, Marije Langelaar / 'Niet niet betreden', Mariës Hendriks / 'Hann. Münden Promotion Posters', Mark Manders / 'Interactief gelukkig', Marije Langelaar / 'Het lezen', Marije Langelaar / 'Ornament met brandpunten', M. Manders / 1999 : 'Ll', Jaap Kroneman, Batia Suter, Roger Willems / '32544 Assoziative Wortkörper', Mark Manders, Roger Willems / 'Newspaper with Fives', Mark Manders, Roger Willems / 'Hann. Münden Promotion Poster' / 'Coloured room with black and white scene', Mark Manders / Untitled, Elka Oudenampsen / 1998 : '(SOME)', Marc Nagtzaam


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