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Watch: Chuck Cerankosky Chats About Design, Dining, and Discovery

10.31.24 | By
Watch: Chuck Cerankosky Chats About Design, Dining, and Discovery

We’re thrilled to present the latest lecture in the Vignelli Center for Design Studies’ 2024/2025 Design Conversation Series at Rochester Institute of Technology. Chuck Cerankosky brings a blend of creativity and entrepreneurial flair to the Rochester scene as the co-owner of beloved spots like Good Luck, Cure, and Radio Social, along with the founder of the Rochester Cocktail Revival, a premier festival now in its 11th year. His expertise in design has not only shaped his own venues but has also contributed to renowned projects in New York City and popular local favorites, like The Meatball Shop, Seamore’s, Boxcar Doughnuts, Frog Pond, Boomtown Table, and Java’s. With a commitment to innovation, Cerankosky leads a team of 130, influencing both the culinary and design landscapes through his visionary work.

In this lecture, Cerankosky talks about his journey in design and hospitality, emphasizing the importance of crafting experiences that resonate with guests. He reflects on his unconventional career path, highlighting how an early start as a young father influenced his approach to entrepreneurship and design. Additionally, Cerankosky shares insights into the collaborative process behind creating unique dining spaces, from sketching and conceptualizing to working closely with contractors and local artisans to bring his vision to life.

To learn more about Chuck Cerankosky, check out the lecture below:

Two open notebooks sit on a table, one showcasing Chuck Cerankosky's detailed architectural sketches and the other featuring technical drawings on yellow paper

A sketch on paper showcases various geometric objects alongside a circular structure with lines extending outward, reminiscent of a technical or conceptual drawing, perhaps inspired by Chuck Cerankosky's dynamic style

Sketches of chandeliers on an open notebook, accompanied by handwritten notes, rest on a wooden surface—a scene reminiscent of Chuck Cerankosky's creative process

Handwritten notes on planning a customer's experience, featuring sections for reservations, phone, online, and arrival. Insightful ideas, perhaps inspired by Chuck Cerankosky's expertise in aesthetics and the chef's table ambiance, are thoughtfully listed

Illustration of three fixtures labeled A, B, and C

Three people meander through a dimly lit restaurant filled with tables and chairs, making their way toward the entrance

a dimly lit bar, shelves filled with bottles glimmer softly under the glow of circular overhead light fixtures.

The bustling, rustic restaurant, designed by Chuck Cerankosky, features diners enjoying meals at wooden tables beneath exposed beams and industrial lighting. Large windows flood the space with natural light

To learn more about The Vignelli Center for Design Studies at RIT, they have launched digital access to the archives through Google Arts & Culture, joining over 2000 cultural institutions from around the world. The initial launch includes nearly 900 high resolution images of artifacts from the archives so that now anyone with access to the Internet and Google Arts & Culture can search the Vignelli archives or browse it by color or chronological order.

This lecture is presented with the support of RIT’s MAGIC Center.


This lecture series is made possible in part by the generosity of RIT Alumnus, Chris Bailey, and Bailey Brand Consulting.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She's probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.