Roni Lagin

RONI LAGIN & CO.
PHILADELPHIA PA

Formed 15 years ago, Roni Lagin & Co sees itself as the “friendly neighborhood design studio.” Since running my own studio, I’ve aimed to work with organizations and people who are making the world better. I’m grateful when I get to create concise and impactful designs that elevate my clients’ message. It becomes both an opportunity and a responsibility because the stakes feel higher.

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

I’m driven to design for good because it allows me to partner with the brilliant minds and innovative missions that are changing the world. This is an opportunity to collaborate one-on-one with leaders who value forward-thinking design. Through design I help my clients tell their powerful stories.

Along with this opportunity comes responsibility. A client puts a lot of trust and investment in me to create something both meaningful and effective. Being able to thoughtfully backup your design decisions helps clients understand design as an asset to their overall message.

Design is such a crucial component to promoting social good because it engages you instantly. When you’re talking to an audience who values the public good, design is often the first statement in a conversation that you hope will continue — whether that person donates, volunteers, follows on social media, or even just tells a friend. And the right design creates continuity and promotes trust throughout the relationship that an organization has with its network of supporters.

I’ve had opportunities to work with so many incredible organizations over the years, it would be unfair to single any out. But the commonality is that they value design’s ability to help them connect with people. I live and work in Philadelphia, the city that many of my clients serve, so I often get to see firsthand how people engage with my design. It creates an enormous sense of pride when I see the impact we’ve had together.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, URGENCIES, OBSTACLES IN 2019?

In the last few years the world has reached a crucial turning point in relation to social good. People are more motivated than ever — and they are listening in larger numbers. In the coming year, we have an opportunity to use design to take a stance on social, climate and humanitarian issues that will span far into the future. I believe that design can give a voice and a platform to amplify a cause or put a magnifier on injustice. It’s not just pixels or dots on a page. It’s a story. It’s a message. And when it’s done well, it makes a difference.