HiP Awards > People > HiP for Greater Good: Product Design

Photo: Courtesy of Michael Graves Design

As Chief Design Officer at Michael Graves Design (MGD), Rob Van Varick has spent over two decades advancing the firm’s mission to improve lives through meaningful, human-centered design. Since joining MGD in 2003, he has led multidisciplinary teams across product design, research, and strategy—delivering solutions that are as functional as they are emotionally resonant. A defining example of his impact is the 2022 CVS Health x Michael Graves collaboration, a nationwide rollout of thoughtfully redesigned home healthcare products. Born from Rob’s vision to destigmatize assistive devices and empower people to live independently, the collection pairs accessibility with dignity—an unprecedented move in a category often overlooked by design. The partnership introduced brand storytelling and elevated design standards to a new space, resulting in improved sales performance for CVS and stronger emotional engagement with customers. With a philosophy rooted in empathy and practicality, Rob approaches design as a tool for inclusion and empowerment. He’s guided by the belief that great design should be delightful, purposeful, and pioneering—especially in moments of vulnerability, recovery, or aging. His process blends research and psychology with creativity and craft, uncovering root challenges in order to design lasting solutions. In addition to his leadership at MGD, Rob holds a degree in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and has taught at Princeton University. His work continues to shape conversations around accessibility, aging, and the role of design in public health. Rob’s career reflects a deep commitment to making the world not only more beautiful, but more humane—one product, one story, and one person at a time.