by Laura Rote | Dec 9, 2020 | Insights
The drape of fabric, sheen, texture—fashion elements like these show up in designs that go beyond clothing. Some of the best designers working today say researching across mediums keeps design interesting, and fashion is a top influence in works that span from... 
by Sophia Conforti | Jun 30, 2020 | Insights
Mary Jo Miller is hands-on in all of her creative projects. “Corporately, they want me to be more paper-driven, like a design brief,” the Vice President of Design and Creative Direction at HBF Textiles says. But that’s just not Mary Jo, who would rather test new color... 
by Laura Rote | Jun 8, 2020 | Insights
Danielle Barnes became the CEO of Women Talk Design in 2017, years after befriending and sitting in on UX design classes led by its founder, Christina Wodtke. The two bonded over the need to see more women and non-binary speakers onstage, especially as Christina was... 
by Sophia Conforti | Jun 4, 2020 | Insights
“I love branding because it’s kind of like the gateway drug to design,” says Ben Crick, creative director at COLLINS. Working with companies like Spotify, vitaminwater, smartwater, and Mailchimp, Ben is constantly talking with clients about the design decisions that... 
by Lucy Miller | Jun 2, 2020 | Insights
Five creative duos share a bit of insight around what they wish they knew earlier about long-term collaboration. *** Photo courtesy of Material Lust Christian Swafford, Material Lust The person you’re dating and the person you’re working with are two different people.... 
by Laura Rote | May 28, 2020 | Insights
In the Kings Cross studio in London, Mat Cash and his colleagues spend months unpacking project briefs to get to the heart of a building or product’s real potential. Since joining Heatherwick Studio in 2006, Mat has been responsible for some of the studio’s largest... 
by Lucy Miller | May 12, 2020 | Insights
Tal Midyan has created websites and branding for some of the biggest icons on the planet, from Travis Scott to Pharrell. He’s a designer and creative director who knows how to enhance a brand’s presence, even if he’s working with a client who already has a major... 
by Sophia Conforti | May 6, 2020 | Insights
Seven years ago, when award-winning designers Kim Colin and Sam Hecht of Industrial Facility were designing Locale, a collaborative office furniture system for Herman Miller, they had another idea: tables. “We weren’t asked for tables, but out of that work we were... 
by Sophia Conforti | Apr 28, 2020 | Insights
When we think about pattern, our minds often go straight to the bold: animal print, brocade, floral, something loud and geometric, made in a flurry of colors that floods the senses. It’s one reason why some designers stray from busy motifs, opting instead for a... 
by Laura Rote | Dec 11, 2019 | Insights
1. I’d wish I’d known succinctly that hard work would pay off. I was frustrated by the perceived ghosts you’d hear about. I thought you needed glowing accreditations and prestigious college degrees and a host of frivolities like “good looks” and “family money” and... 
by Laura Rote | Dec 10, 2019 | Insights
Self-described “vector art monster” Robert Generette III, aka Rob Zilla, taught for 20 years, most recently photography, before quitting to freelance full-time in the DC area, having worked repeatedly with mega clients like the NBA, ESPN, Xbox, and Adobe. “I was... 
by Laura Rote | Nov 26, 2019 | Insights
Melanie Perkins was studying at the University of Western Australia when she dropped out to build her first company. She’s since cofounded Canva, which more than 18 million people in 190 countries use every month to design. Canva has repeatedly been named the best... 
