callings of the archive

Designer Biographies

Every archived life recorded as designer, ordered by their place in the ledger.

Modern era

Gustav Klimt

July 14, 1862 – February 6, 1918

Austrian symbolist painter (1862–1918)

Modern era

Antoni Gaudi

June 25, 1852 – June 10, 1926

Catalan architect (1852–1926)

Modern era

Frank Lloyd Wright

June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959

American architect (1867-1959)

Contemporary era

Zaha Hadid

October 31, 1950 – March 31, 2016

Iraqi British architect, designer and painter (1950–2016)

Contemporary era

Steve Jobs

February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011

Co-founder of Apple who fused technology with design

Modern era

Ingvar Kamprad

March 30, 1926 – January 27, 2018

Swedish business magnate (1926-2018)

Early Modern era

Sophonisba

c. 1531 – November 16, 1625

Italian painter (c.1532-1625)

Early Modern era

Betsy Ross

January 1, 1752 – January 30, 1836

American upholsterer who was credited by her relatives with making the first American flag

Early Modern era

John Harrison

March 24, 1693 – March 24, 1776

British clockworker

Modern era

Francis Bacon (philosopher)

October 28, 1909 – April 28, 1992

Irish-born British figurative painter (1909–1992)

Modern era

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

March 27, 1886 – August 17, 1969

German architect (1886–1969)

Modern era

Walter Gropius

May 18, 1883 – July 5, 1969

German-American architect (1883–1969)

Modern era

Oscar Niemeyer

December 15, 1907 – December 5, 2012

Brazilian architect (1907–2012)

Modern era

Frank Gehry

February 28, 1929 – December 5, 2025

Canadian and American architect (1929–2025)

Contemporary era

Ai Weiwei

b. August 28, 1957

Chinese Conceptual artist (born 1957)