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.
Category: People
GDUSA Podcast #8: Paul Flaharty
Paul Flaharty is executive director of the marketing and creative practice at global talent solutions firm Robert Half. In this podcast, Paul shares insights on the how 2023 looks for hiring managers and job seekers, key trends in hiring, and why 2023 presents unique opportunities.
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.
Graeme Williams To Equator As Creative Director
Equator has appointed Graeme Williams as Creative Director. He has more than 20 years experience in brand and retail strategy, visual storytelling, art direction and packaging creation.
Equator Appoints Martin DiFrisco To Account Director
Equator appoints Martin DiFrisco to the role of Account Director. Joining the Chicago studio, DiFrisco brings 25 years experience in package design, much of this devoted to building private brands.
Scott Beffort Heads New Landor & Fitch Toronto Studio
Landor & Fitch announces a new studio at the Waterfront Innovation Centre in Toronto to serve clients and to contribute to the thriving creative community. Scott Beffort is Executive Director.
Eric Mower Helps Open Doors
Eric Mower has been honored by the One Hundred Black Men in New York for, among other things, the Mower agency’s pro bono creative and media for the non-profit.
Tenazas Is MICA Designer-in-Residence
MICA has named Lucille Tenazas — whose groundbreaking creative career opened up graphic design to diverse influences – as this year’s William O.Steinmetz ’50 Designer-in-Residence.
Chelsea Conrad Joins WaPo Design Department
Chelsea Conrad is joining the Design Department of The Washington Post as a news designer. She comes over from NPR and is a graduate of MICA and the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
Roxane Gay Keynotes SVA Commencement
SVA is going to have its first in-person commencement ceremony in two year with guest speaker Roxane Gay at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, May 22.
Equator Names New VP of Client Services
Equator Design has appointed Adam Sears as VP of Client Service (UK/IE/AUS). Sears is prepared to build strong relationships across key clients, driving growth initiatives and service innovation.
Steve Cousins Joins Sockeye Agency
Sockeye, a brand strategy and design firm based in Portland OR, has tapped Steve Cousins as creative director of design. Cousins has run his own design studio, ReallyBigCool, and held creative posts at lululemon and Cinco.
ArtCenter Names First Woman President
Educator and industrial designer Karen Hofmann named President and CEO of ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA. She is the first woman president in the College’s 90+ year history.
David Ramskov To Digital Director Role At Pearlfisher
Pearlfisher has appointed David Ramskov, former Managing Director of Pearlfisher Copenhagen, to the new role of Digital Director. He began his career by starting his own digital agency out of high school.
Maria Nicanor To Lead Cooper Hewitt
Maria Nicanor, executive director of the Rice Design Alliance (RDA) at Rice University’s School of Architecture, has been named the director of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, effective March 21.
Jeff Hale Is First Head of Design for Walrus
Independent creative agency Walrus has named Jeff Hale its first Head of Design. In his new role, Hale will oversee Walrus’s design output across both the agency’s full-service and design-only clients.