FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
SECOND LANGUAGE DESIGN
NEW YORK/WESTCHESTER NY
After gaining nine years of experience in graphic design and marketing, Darcy launched Second Language Design in 2013 bringing together a talented group of freelance creatives to serve clients interested in top level work with less red tape. With over 18 years of design experience, Darcy oversees all creative projects. Previously, as Creative Director at Rubenstein PR, one of the nation’s foremost PR firms, she launched and led the creative department, managing in-house and client design projects from corporate identity systems to websites. Darcy has developed corporate identities and national campaigns for some of the most distinguished brands, including Target, MTV, Live Nation, Costco, Unilever, Everyday Health, and AT&T. She is the recipient of two American Graphic Design Awards, an American Inhouse Design Award, and a Package Design Award from GDUSA Magazine.
Second Language Design is a full service creative firm offering design and marketing services to independent and global companies. Over the past two decades our team has worked on national print and web projects, as well as corporate identities and creative for brands like Vinco, Crain Communications, Balboa Bay Resorts, Breathe 4ALS, Hinge Bio, Connection Therapy, and CocaCola. We love coming up with inspired ideas that strategically promote and advance companies. We also realize the importance of sticking to a timeline. We are comprised of a team of experts who have a combined total of over 200 years of agency experience. Our founder has brought together New York’s top creatives to collaborate with businesses on an as-needed basis.
Looking forward to 2023, are you optimistic about the role and impact of Graphic Design and Visual Communication in Business? Culture? Causes? Have the events and disruptions of the past few years changed the role or trajectory of Graphic Design?
There are more applications for disseminating your designs now than ever before. There are so many useful social media platforms for brands, and what better way to share how your services can benefit people than by showing them? I also think more people have taken design into their own hands over the past few years. Many have started new businesses born from the pandemic, and I think it’s a lucky time for them to have so many design resources at their fingertips (Canva, Pinterest, Figma, etc.) even if it’s just helping them create the first phase of their brand launch. Designers and creative directors will be here to help iron things out when they’re ready for a more polished phase two.
Most influential graphic design firm(s), ad agencies, or inhouse departments of the past 60 years? Of today?
Pentagram now and always.
Favorite or most influential logo or branding project of the past 60 years?
I really enjoyed the Russ & Daughters rebrand as a whole. And I especially liked instances where they referenced the original kerning and layouts from 60+ years ago, closer to when they were founded. All aspects of the rebrand tied together so nicely. It was very impressive to me. This may be a very New York answer.
Most influential product, service or technology of the past 60 years?
How about Adobe Creative Cloud? Although Figma is giving them a run for their money now.