SENIOR VP, DESIGN DIRECTOR
FAI DESIGN GROUP, IRVINGTON NY
Robert began his career after graduating from Parsons School of Design by working in many areas from animation to web and software design. He focused his talent into his work in brand development working primarily with private brands. He thrives on helping brands tell their story. Robert has been the Senior VP, Design Director at FAI Design Group for over 15 years. In that time, he has helped build and expand the agency’s creative vision and culture. He has created packaging design and retail design solutions for a variety of brands and retailers including Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, Kenneth Cole, Marvel, PepsiCo, Samsung, BuyBuyBABY, Bed Bath & Beyond, HomeGoods and Walmart, to name a few. He is a collaborative hands-on designer who believes that working in a team environment helps drive stronger designs and better results. Robert has received many awards for his designs and also has been published in several design books. In his spare time he is an accomplished children’s book illustrator and author.
THE FUTURE OF THE GRAPHIC DESIGN BUSINESS?
I am excited about the future of retail packaging and store environmental design. With the retail landscape changing every minute and the impact of e-commerce, new trends have started to effect how brands are positioned. We are given a new set of challenges but also a great opportunity to create brands not bound by retail shelves. They must stay consistent to be recognizable across different media yet be flexible enough to adapt quickly to ever changing consumer needs.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Yonkers NY / Cortlandt Manor NY
A DESIGN HERO?
Paul Rand, Milton Glaser, Raymond Loewy
FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA?
Instagram (Twitter is a close second)
FAVORITE TELEVISION BINGE WATCH?
At the moment, Mindhunter and The Toys That Made Us
FAVORITE PODCAST?
Don’t have one
FAVORITE BOOK?
Non-Fiction: Outliers – The Story of Success
Fiction: Time Traveler’s Wife
Children’s Book: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Live Action: Fight Club
Animation: The Nightmare Before Christmas
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Basquiat and René Magritte
FAVORITE CAUSE/CHARITY?
Preventing child abuse
FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
Hanging with my wife and children, and making children’s books
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER?
Author or Civil Engineer/Highway Designer
