Deb Fiorella + Craig Franke

FRANK+FIORELLA
MINNEAPOLIS MN

Franke+Fiorella, in business since 1993, specializes in creating, revitalizing and transforming leading brands. Whether for-profit or non-profit, we have always chosen to work with clients who treat their employees and our team well, offer great products and services, conduct themselves ethically, do good in their communities and try to make the world a better place.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU COME TO USE DESIGN TO ADVANCE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND/OR SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS, CLIENTS AND CAUSES?

When we opened our doors, we knew the power of what design + strategy could do. We saw that our work had helped many of our clients increase their sales by double-digit percentages. For these reasons, we agreed to only work for clients who tried to make the world a better place. We could not sleep at night if we made a living by working for organizations that knowingly sold products or services that harmed people, treated their employees unfairly or animals inhumanely. This doesn’t mean all of our clients are or have been perfect. What it means is that we’ve chosen to work with clients who always try to do the right thing.

Our work strengthens organizations and uplifts their brands. A few recent examples include our work for Children’s Minnesota, Hope Haven, Lundstrum Performing Arts and the Children’s Shelter of Cebu. All are making a positive impact on the lives of families and children and our work is helping each of them tell their unique stories in a much more impactful way.

Great design has the power to move people to act. We believe that as designers, we have the unique ability to wake people up to the problems of today and impress upon them the importance of taking action.

DOES 2019 PRESENT ANY SPECIAL CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, URGENCIES, OBSTACLES IN DEVELOPING GOOD AND/OR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN?

We need to use our talents to educate, inspire and motivate people to take action now on issues that need immediate resolution. The opportunities that top our list include:

Gun control. We all now live with the fear of a random shooting in schools and public places. This presents a massive opportunity to clarify what legislation really means.

Politics. We believe the leader of our country should be a model of great integrity, honesty, respect and compassion. The upcoming presidential election offers a huge opportunity for design to impact the outcome.

Climate change. The results are devasting and many feel powerless. But we as designers can help spread the word about what we can do — individually and collectively — to make a positive impact.