Ron Rezek

Ron Rezek is a design entrepreneur. Over four decades, he has designed, manufactured and marketed cutting-edge products as varied as contemporary ceiling fans, lighting, ceiling fans with lights, and lifeguard equipment. “Most designers don’t have the luxury of seeing their own projects through to the market,” says Ron. “I do.”

Ron learned directly from progressive designers. He had the good fortune of having Henry Dreyfuss, Charles Eames, Neils Different and Don Chadwick as teachers and mentors, under whom be developed his philosophy of “simplicity in form and economy in production”. This approach has led to Ron’s designs attracting a large following of precision-minded architects, interior designers, and the design-conscious public.

Ron designed the world’s first contemporary-styled ceiling fan in 1986, the Stratos, for which he was granted both design and mechanics patents.  Ron went on to found The Modern Fan Co. in Ashland, Oregon, which develops and sells only contemporary ceiling fans and is the international benchmark for high quality modern ceiling fans.

Before his success in ceiling fans, Ron earned a reputation as a successful lighting designer. He started Ron Rezek Lighting in 1978 to modernise the decorative lighting industry. In 2004, he sold the company to long-time partner, Artemide, but continues to design lighting for the collection.

As a graduate student at UCLA in 1970, he conceived of a new lifeguard rescue device using rotational moulded polypropylene. He launched Surf-Saving International, a company to manufacture and distribute his float. The orange buoy is still the U.S. standard and became best known to viewers of “Baywatch” as the necessary accessory under the actors’ arms.

Ron has created designs for Bega lighting, Artemide, Herman Miller, Design Within Reach, Monarch Mirror, Del Rey Lighting, Halsey Lighting, Lavi Industries and others.

Ron received a B.A. and an M.F.A from UCLA. In his early career, he taught at UCLA’s art and architecture departments, the Art Center College of Design and Southern California Institute of Architecture.