DESIGN DIRECTOR
THOUGHT MATTER, NEW YORK NY
Wednesday Krus is Design Director at brand design studio ThoughtMatter, a dynamic and thoughtful creative who not only lends her skills to a range of projects but also helps to mentor and guide the agency’s talent. As a female leader in design, she brings a perspective and empathy that sparks conversations and provokes bold action from their clients — innovative brands and organizations embracing change. At ThoughtMatter, Krus was a driving force behind several of the studio’s most noteworthy projects, including branding work for the New York City borough of Staten Island, designs for progressive feminine hygiene startup THINX, a radical redesign of the Constitution that was covered by Fast Company and others, as well as an ongoing series of protest posters created to address everything from women’s rights to gun control.
THE FUTURE OF THE GRAPHIC DESIGN BUSINESS?
There’s a question every designer is faced with … what is bad design? Well-crafted design is table stakes. We all value good aesthetics, but without an inclusive process and empathy for the user how can it be considered ‘good’? As a society, we’re failing at empathy. It’s on the designers’ shoulders to value diverse opinions. The future of design creates with, not for. Design that reflects our audiences’ voices. Design that values how it works, equal to how it looks and puts people over profit. The future of the business is to design responsibly to become more responsible citizens.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Proudly from Staten Island NY / Brooklyn NY
DID YOU GO TO DESIGN SCHOOL?
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA?
TikTok. Obsessed with the playfulness and ruleless creativity
FAVORITE TELEVISION BINGE WATCH?
Every franchise of Real Housewives
FAVORITE PODCAST?
Bitch Sesh. They’re female comedians, and they all watch Real Housewives
FAVORITE BOOK?
I Remember by Joe Brainard on life in New York as an outsider
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Goodfellas over and over
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Sinan Tuncay and Nancy Spero for their unique voices
FAVORITE CAUSE/CHARITY?
The stakes are especially high for Planned Parenthood
FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
Nail Art. Manicurists need to be seen as artists!
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER?
Lost
