Span has announced Nick Adam as Associate Partner and Design Director. Since joining Span in 2020 as design principal, Adam has led the design of numerous cultural, institutional, and civic focused projects for the studio.
Category: People
Connecticut Graphic Design Legend Peter Good Passes
Renowned graphic designer Peter Good, forever associated with his iconic logo design for the NHL Hartford Whalers, passed away on May 2 at the age of 80. His prolific career spanned more than 50 years.
Camp Lucky Fortunate To Have Odgers
Camp Lucky promotes Jake Odgers to Designer/VFX Artist. Odgers sees design as a blend of technical problem solving and creative storytelling. He has worked on projects for JCPenney, TGI Friday’s, Yeti, and P.F. Chang’s, among others.
Olberding Brand Family Retools Leadership Team
Consumer packaged goods brand evolution necessitates expanded capabilities for the Olberding Brand Family. The company has shuffled its leadership team, added a new CMO, and plans to add 40+ employees in US & UK locations.
Lippincott Names Brendán Murphy Executive Global Creative Director
Lippincott names a new Global Creative Director. Brendán Murphy has over 30 years experience (most spent at Lippincott) in visual and verbal design. Clients have included Aer Lingus, BD, DuPont, NYC Pride, Liberty Mutual, Morgan Stanley, MSK, and Samsung.
Rich Tu Enjoys Sunday Afternoon
Rich Tu has joined hybrid creative studio/artist rep firm Sunday Afternoon as ECD/partner. He is deeply immersed in youth culture and will help brands connect with that important group as he runs the design studio and recruits new diverse talent.
Jan Middendorp To Receive TDC Medal
The Type Directors Club’s highest honor recognizes individuals and institutions who have made outstanding contributions to typography. Jan Middendorp is the latest recipient and will receive the medal in May.
Curatorial Team Named For Smithsonian Design Triennial
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum announces that the next Smithsonian Design Triennial, set to open in fall 2024, will be organized by Alexandra Cunningham Cameron, Christina L. De Leon, and Michelle Joan Wilkinson.
2023 GDUSA Students To Watch
It’s a long tradition here at GDUSA and it’s back for 2023. With the help of several of America’s leading art and design schools and programs, we once again identify top students ready to burst on the graphic design scene.
Kristin Sugihara Joins 62ABOVE
Sugihara joins 62ABOVE after spending four years as Senior Art Director at Greenhaus in San Diego. Agency clients include Qualcomm, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Caesar’s Entertainment, and more.
Matt Allen Joins Growing Cutwater
In a period of expansion, creative and media agency Cutwater, with offices in San Francisco and New York City, has bolstered its client services department by tapping Matt Allen as Group Account Director. His clients have included McDonald’s, HP and Pella.
We Get Chills: 60th Annual GDUSA People To Watch
This is the 60th anniversary of our ‘GDUSA People To Watch’ feature, an annual selection of creative an thought-leaders who we respect and who embody the spirit of the creative community.
GDUSA Podcast #8: Paul Flaharty
How is 2023 shaping up for job seekers and hiring managers? Paul Flaharty, executive director of the marketing and creative practice at global talent solutions firm Robert Half, has insights and answers in this GDUSA podcast.
Carin Goldberg Of Book & Album Cover Fame Passes
Carin Goldberg, a graphic designer who brought a postmodern sensibility to book and album covers, and was at the heart of the vibrant NYC design community of the 1980s – 2000s, died on January 19 at 69.
Rachel Johnson Responsible For Equator Studios Worldwide
Global packaging strategy and design agency, Equator, names Rachel Johnson as new Global MD. She has responsibility for all the company’s studios, including Chicago, Cincinnati, Manchester, Nottingham, and Sydney.
Drinks Designer Denomination Toasts Three
Drinks specialist Denomination is increasing its capabilities in design innovation and sustainability with new appointees Simon Gawn, Butler Looney and Jonny Kearns. Rowena Curlewis is CEO of the global agency.
‘Branding Nerd’ Paul Collins Returns To Elmwood NY
Elmwood has appointed Paul Collins as Executive Director of Strategy & Innovation, in a role “intended to elevate the agency’s reputation for powerful and provocative brand solutions anchored in tension.”
Chandler to ECD at Vault49
Leigh Chandler has been upped to Executive Creative Director and Operations head Spencer Ryan has been made a partner at New York and London based brand and package design firm Vault49. Chandler now has oversight across the two global studios.
Kevin Hall Design Marks 30 Years
Kevin Hall Design is celebrating 30 years in business. The namesake/founder previously held art director and designer positions with General Foods Corporation and Marketing Corporation of America and will have an exhibition of his work this summer in Milford CT.
George Lois Was ‘Most Influential’
The prolific and often bombastic George Lois has died at 91. A decade ago, GDUSA celebrated its 50th anniversary with a national survey in which readers declared Lois “the most influential Art Director of the past 50 years.”
Dan Wieden, Co-Founder of Wieden+Kennedy, Dies at 77
On September 30, Dan Wieden, the co-founder of independent advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy, passed away peacefully in his home in Portland, Oregon.
Sarah A. Cohen Joins loyalkaspar
Branding agency loyalkaspar has added Associate Creative Director Sarah A. Cohen. Cohen most recently worked at Sibling Rivalry and, prior to that, she was with Trollbäck+Company and The New York Times.
Meg Asaro Is Vault49’s First Head Of Strategy
Brand experience and packaging design agency Vault49 names Meg Asaro the agency’s first Head of Strategy. Asaro will oversee the Strategy team spanning Vault49’s NYC and London studios.
Stavro ‘Key Part’ of COLLINS Future
COLLINS welcomes renowned designer Astrid Stavro as VP, Creative Director. Stavro brings experience from posts at Camper, McKinsey, AB InBev, Atlas and Pentagram, and is current president of the ISTD.
Akira Kobayashi To Receive TDC Medal
The Type Directors Club’s highest honor recognizes individuals and institutions who have made outstanding contributions to typography. This year’s recipient will be Akira Kobayashi of Monotype.
Saltzman Steps Up To Senior Designer
New Jersey designer Alex Saltzman continues to advance through creative and leadership strides while being honored for her exceptional design prowess.
Ellen Lupton Is Cooper Hewitt Curator Emerita
Ellen Lupton receives honorary designation to celebrate the conclusion of her tenure as Senior Curator of Contemporary Design at Cooper Hewitt.
WPP Merges Firm Led by Morris and Prior
WPP’s Design Bridge and Superunion will merge to create a single design company in January 2023. John Morris is CEO and Jim Prior is Chair of the merged firm.
Elmwood NY Appoints Manuli And Young To Senior Team
Elmwood has made two senior appointments to its management team in the US. WIth Jeanne Manuli and Natasha Young, women now make up 75% of the leadership team.
Former Chef Is Lead Food Stylist
Equator has appointed former chef Joe Wright to the role of Lead Food Stylist, further expanding its in-house photography and food styling capabilities. His main goal is to help elevate the content.
Chris Ertel Joins Equator’s US Team As Strategy Director
Equator has appointed Chris Ertel as Strategy Director. He brings extensive experience in developing brands in both retail and CPG sectors to the role, and is known for championing the consumer mindset.
Ranke To COLLINS as VP of People
COLLINS is bolstering its talent development strengths with the addition of VP of People Lauren Ranke. A leading voice in creative talent and culture development, Ranke will foster advancement and growth of the branding firm’s people.
Designer Anushka Suji NAIL’s It
Anushka Suji is the newest Studio Designer for Nail Communications. Suji will support the 24 year old agency’s design work and help develop creative assets for client programs and internal efforts.
Pentagram Co-Founder Colin Forbes Passes
The celebrated designer and co-founder of Pentagram has passed away at age 94. During his career Colin designed graphics and visual identities for a wide range of clients and industries.
Gericke, Beeler, Johnson, Jacobson Are SEGD ‘Classmates’
SEGD’s class of Fellows for 2022 includes Michael Gericke of Pentagram, Julie Beeler and Brad Johnson of Second Story, and Alan Jacobson of Exit Design. Past Fellows include Ed Schlossberg, Paula Scher and Massimo Vignelli.
Jessica Parker Gilbert To Head Of Product For WaPo
Jessica Parker Gilbert now leads the Product and Product Design teams working on the entire suite of Washington Post branded products.
Pearlfisher Promotes Former Intern Jess Phillips To Creative Director
Jess Phillips becomes Pearlfisher London’s new Creative Director following an internal promotion. She has been with the firm since an internship in 2012.
Jenna Capobianco For The Common Good
Common Good, formerly LRXD, has named Jenna Capobianco as the agency’s first executive creative director. She has worked at Wieden + Kennedy, Fallon, and Hal Riney San Francisco.
Colossus Makes Big Time Addition of Allison Waters Doherty
Boston-based creative agency Colossus has made an integral addition to its Executive Leadership team, hiring Allison Waters Doherty as general manager of Design.
Vault49 Hires Susan Levy To Head Client Management
Susan Levy joins the team with a wealth of experience from the likes of JKR and Pearlfisher. She will be based in the New York Studio, but will be heading up the department across Vault49’s London Studio, too.