About Michael Rotolo

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 an education 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 Reformed Baptist Church of Merrick, New York)  (read about it here) 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 unfit to continue in his position as Senior Pastor.  (read about it here)

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 as the parent company to the book imprints and for the accomplishment of 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. 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 the language of effective visual communication. As such, its goal should be to organize and aesthetically form the content so that the information is communicated with the least exertion on the viewers part, without hindering its meaning, and with the goal of making 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 should be aesthetically pleasing, it must not undermine its purpose to effectively and effortlessly (from the viewers point), 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 isle of Manhattan.