Rotolo Media was founded in 1999 by Michael Rotolo as a small design firm (formerly Rotolo Design). Michael began his journey into the aesthetic and graphic arts as early as thirteen years old as an artist and photographer. Michael spent his formative years growing up in Merrick, New York. After High School he pursued a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics and a minor in Theatrical Arts with an emphasis in Dance from Harpur College at The State University of New York at Binghamton from which he graduated with honors. While spending a couple of painful years in the world of corporate America as an insurance Underwriter Liaison to Information Systems Management for Allstate Insurance, Michael concluded that life was simply too short to neglect working at something that actually put a smile on his face; so he pursued an education in Interior Design from The Fashion Institute of Technology to bring some creative sanity into his life. Finally seeing the light, he quit the insurance industry and moved to San Francisco to work as an Interior Designer for the firm of Design Express Inc., a residential and commercial interior design company. It was during his years in San Francisco that Michael became a Christian. As a passionate Christian the desire to combine several talents and communication-based skills into the discipline of publishing literature glorifying to God was a calling too powerful to be denied. In 1990 he relocated back to New York.In 1990 Michael was hired as the Executive Director of an upstart book-publishing ministry called Calvary Press. Under Michael’s direction Calvary Press grew to be recognized internationally as a source of quality and aesthetically pleasing Christian books in a day when a “good-looking Christian book” was an oxymoron. During his tenure at Calvary Press he attended New York University for their Certificate Program in Book Publishing.
Sadly, in 1998 Michael was forced to leave Calvary Press as a result of serious corruption rife throughout the ministry and the church (Grace Gospel Church of Merrick, New York) which owned Calvary Press. Michael tried to urge repentance and reform at the ministry and church but all efforts were purposely frustrated by Michael Gaydosh, the Senior Pastor, who was found a short time after Michael Rotolo's departure from Calvary Press to be involved in an elicit relationship with a minor.
After a hiatus, Michael continued his career as a Christian Publisher by founding his own publishing imprints of Reformation Press and Great Christian Books. Rotolo Design (now Rotolo Media) was also established at that time for the accomplishment of more secular graphic design, publishing and new media projects.
For more business related info please also see my LinkedIn page. For more personal info about me see my Facebook profile.
While Michael Rotolo is the President and chief creative at Rotolo Media, he also enjoys running a successful Ebay Numismatics Auction website with his father Vincent A. Rotolo Sr. called Fine Estate Auctions see it here. Together they offer fine collectible rare coins, investment grade numismatics and bullion, and other items from fine estates.
Michael’s philosophy on graphic design is that it is a language for the purpose of communicating effectively through the eye. As such, its goal should be to visually organize and aesthetically form a message so that the content to be communicated is done so with the least exertion on the viewers part, without hindering its meaning, and in the highest form, with such inspiration as to make an indelible impression.
In a world and at a time when modern man is literally inundated with information, we have developed the necessary defense mechanism of filtering out only that which communicates clearly, quickly and attractively. While a design must be aesthetically pleasing, it must not undermine its purpose to effectively and with the least effort on the part of the user, deliver its intended sum of information. The benefit of good graphic (informational) design should be to simplify and facilitate communication, reduce unnecessary distracting elements whenever possible, enable us to be more productive, and allow us to enjoy our interaction with it.
This site is a mashup of Rotolo Media case-studies as well as varied articles and links to content which embodies the philosophies of Michael Rotolo as they pertain to design, aesthetics, advertising, new media technologies, and other relevant issues.
Michael Rotolo is available to consult with you regarding your next publishing, advertising, new media or graphic design project. He awaits your inquiries in his studio in the quaint Village of Lindenhurst, New York, a stone's throw from busy Manhattan. If you don’t find him toiling away to all hours in his studio then you can bet he’s at the family’s second home in Pennsylvania making every attempt to catch the record largemouth bass that’s eluded him since ten years of age when he was first smitten with the fishing bug.
The fun of fishing however is only second to the joy of hanging out in the backyard hammock with his son. Michael’s pride and joy and “raison d’dêtre” is his soon-to-be fifteen-year-old son Michael Aaron. Michael Aaron shows incredible signs of following in his Dad’s artistic footsteps and has already written and illustrated a children’s adventure book as well as numerous comic books. He currently maintains an A average in Middle School, earning a place on high honor-roll, has received the President’s Award for Academic Excellence and was inducted into The Who’s Who Book of American Middle School Students. Look for great things to follow.
