Josh works at the intersection of creative computing, experimental publishing and social practice. His research focuses on open, collaborative and generative modes of cultural production such as commoning, critical making, queer hacking and FLOSS (free/libre/open-source software).
For MA Visual Communication, Josh runs New Genres, a research unit exploring emerging forms, processes and technologies, as well as Common Market, a publishing fair celebrating the free movement of ideas through the production of ‘theory objects’ — ideas, information and experiences designed to be remixed and redistributed. He is also a founding member of the Commons Research Group, supporting collective practices and critical/radical/decolonial pedagogies.
Josh is a recent recipient of Google’s Artists + Machine Intelligence Research Awards and Typographer-in-Residence at ArtCenter’s Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography.
His work has been published and exhibited widely, most notably the guest-design of Emigre #59, part of the permanent collections of the Denver Art Museum, Design Museum, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, MoMA and SFMOMA.
During 1999–2009, Josh practiced under the name Fake I.D. in collaboration with Yvan Martinez. Commissions include: Arkitip, Edwin, Emigre, The Face, Giorgio Camuffo, GLBT Historical Society, MTV, Nike, Urban Outfitters and Wieden+Kennedy. During 1995–1997 Josh was a founding member of the performance art collective CCSIS (Creative Community Seriously I Swear) based in San Francisco, Mexico City and Caracas.
Josh holds an MFA in New Genres from the San Francisco Art Institute. His thesis project was supervised by Paul Kos, George Kuchar and Tony Labat.
More information
Research interests
creative computing, disruptive technologies, experimental publishing, free culture, networked cultures, peer production, social practice, software art, speculative design, web3
Current and recent projects
School of Feral Technology (2022–ongoing)
Collaboration with Yvan Martinez.
A proposal for a decentralised art school working towards a commons-based creative economy and society.
Public Foundry (2019–ongoing)
Collaboration with Yvan Martinez and Krister Olsson.
An AI-powered typography tool aiming to democratize and diversify type design. Supported by Google’s AMI Research Awards, ArtCenter’s Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography and the Royal College of Art.
Books From The Future (2012–ongoing)
Collaboration with Yvan Martinez, guest practitioners and contributors.
A platform for collective inquiry and expanded reading experiences. Partnering institutions include: London Centre for Book Arts, Library Stack, University of the Arts London, Sheffield Institute of Arts, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Rotherhithe Research Library, Evening Class
Publications, exhibitions, other outcomes
Selected Publications
Trees, J. and Martinez, Y. (2022). Imaging the School of Feral Technology. London: Books From The Future.
Trees, J., Martinez, Y. and Olsson, K. (2020). Public Foundry. Pasadena, California: HMCT/ArtCenter.
Trees, J. (2020). How (not) to do things with words. In: Martinez, Y., ed., Active Agency. London: Books From The Future. pp.16–49.
Trees, J. and Martinez, Y., eds. (2017). Performance Society. London: Books From The Future.
Trees, J. and Martinez, Y., eds. (2016). Model and Countermodel. London: Books From The Future.
Paim, N., ed. (2016). Taking a Line for a Walk: Assignments in Design Education. Leipzig: Spector Books, pp.173,176.
Trees, J., Martinez, Y. and Raven, D. (2015). Authentic assessment using think-tanks in assessing Design. In: Brown, S., ed., Learning, teaching and assessment in higher education: global perspectives. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. pp123–125.
Trees, J. and Martinez, Y., eds. (2015). The Multiple Lives of a Blank Book. London: Books From The Future.
Trees, J. and Martinez, Y., eds. (2014). Flatland, see Flatland. London: Books From The Future.
Trees, J. and Martinez, Y., eds. (2013). Thought Experiments in Graphic Design Education. London: Books From The Future.
Trees, J. and Martinez, Y., eds. (2012). Jaime Gili: Repetition. London: Books From The Future.
VanderLans, R., ed. (2009). Emigre No. 70: The Look Back Issue. Berkeley: Gingko Press. pp.396–399.
Selected Exhibitions
(2021) Free Beer. Weitenfeld Landaluce. Berlin.
(2019) New Genres: Model and Countermodel. HQI The Rotunda. London.
(2017) The Typographic Singularity. Hockney Gallery, Royal College of Art. London.
(2016) Practices of Enquiry. Cookhouse Gallery, Chelsea College of Arts. London.
(2016) Design Research: London Design Festival at LCC. Lower Gallery, London College of Communication.
(2015) Bookness: 14 Observations, Books and the Human: AHRC 10th Anniversary Debate. Window Gallery, Central Saint Martins. London.
(2014) Taking a Line for a Walk: 26th International Biennial of Graphic Design. Morovian Gallery. Brno, Czech Republic.
(2012) T/here. Youkobo Art Space. Tokyo.