At the Rochester Institute of Technology, the art and science of printing is taken very seriously. Not only does the university house one of the country’s most comprehensive archives of 20th Century graphic design, graphic communication and printing technology history, it also bestows a prestigious honor to individuals who have made an indelible mark on the industry.
RIT’s biannual Cary Award—named for distinguished graphic arts pioneer and collector Melbert B. Cary, Jr.—was presented to Stephen Nigro, president of HP’s 3D printing business, in a ceremony on the school’s campus this week.
Past recipients encompass a who’s who of the modern printing world, including the inventors of the dot matrix printer, computer-to-plate imaging technology, and the first digital color press. Nigro was presented with the Cary Award by Dr. Shu Chang, the Melbert B. Cary, Jr. Distinguished Professor in the School of Media Sciences at RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
“Stephen has made a tremendous difference in terms of advancing the printing industry, its technology and graphic communications,” says Chang. “He’s demonstrated incredible leadership.”
As the head of HP’s 3D printing business, Nigro leads a global team that is driving a digital transformation of the $12 trillion global manufacturing industry that will change the way we design, produce and distribute everything. He was also an architect of HP’s collaborative 3D Open Materials Platform and partner ecosystem, an innovative model that unites global market leaders in transforming one of the world’s largest industries.
