OWNER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PFW DESIGN, CAPE NEDDICK ME
Patience is a New England native who started and built her graphic design career in New York City. She graduated from Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts with a BFA in Communication Design and a minor in painting. With over 20 years of experience, she’s taken her big city branding skills back home. Historically, she’s worked with many iconic global brands including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Bacardi, Formula 1 Racing, Kashi, Dannon, Bayer, while earning recognition and numerous awards from, among others, GDUSA. Today, her seaside Maine studio focuses primarily on packaging and design for local and new businesses (it just made the shortlist for Design Agency of the Year by Whisky Magazine for Wiggly Bridge Distillery creative). Patience says: “As my career grew in NYC, my responsibilities shifted and became more about management and meetings and less about design and creating. Now I’m back to being an artist. I’m really connecting with my clients on a different level and taking more risks visually while still being strategic, meaningful and … a wicked cool mom.”
THE FUTURE OF THE GRAPHIC DESIGN BUSINESS?
Graphic design is ever-changing and never static. My concern for the future is the dependence on the computer and the absence of concept. When I graduated my portfolio was almost entirely created by hand –– old school. I fell in love with typography after learning how to draw letter forms and gaining a true understanding how and what type communicates. Today, technology can too quickly generate slick “instant design” that often lacks authenticity, thought, and relevance. The creative process is often cut short and a true connection between an audience and idea is lost.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Connecticut / raised in New England / Cape Neddick ME
A DESIGN HERO?
Frank Lloyd Wright
FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA?
Instagram
FAVORITE TELEVISION BINGE WATCH?
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
FAVORITE PODCAST?
Snap Judgment and Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!
FAVORITE BOOK?
A Secret History and The Giving Tree
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Stranger Than Paradise
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Andrew Wyeth and Richard Serra
FAVORITE CAUSE/CHARITY?
The Center For Wildlife
FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
Time with my daughter, searching for Mid Century Modern treasures, or napping
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER?
Landscape architect. Working and connecting with plant material is creative and a magical organic experience –– design with nature!
