M.AD SCHOOL OF IDEAS/FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Rachel Broyles is a designer and lover of all things creative. A small-town Tennessee girl originally, she earned her BA at Furman University in Business Administration and Studio Art with a concentration in design and sculpture. Recently, she received her MA in Strategic Design from MA.D School of Ideas and Furman University and upon graduation, was awarded the Tom Wright Neenah Paper Scholarship. She is passionate about hand-lettering, illustration, branding, and beautiful typography. Her inspiration is often found on long hikes or strolling through antique shops.
IF THERE WERE NO BARRIERS AND CONSTRAINTS, WHAT PROJECT WOULD YOU WANT TO WORK ON?
One of my favorite projects from my Master’s program was designing, branding, and handlettering a whiskey bottle inspired by my great-grandpa. If I had the opportunity, I’d really like to continue bringing history and stories to life through branding and creative lettering. A dream project for me would be to rebrand and create a travel campaign for the town of Hexham, Northern England, where my mom’s side of the family is from. The town was founded in 647 AD, making it one of the oldest and most historic towns in England (Hadrian’s Wall actually borders it and Robin Hood was filmed there!)
WHAT ARE YOU READING/LISTENING TO/WATCHING?
I re-read Jane Eyre every holiday season so that’s on the docket, but I also just picked up a copy of The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker. I’ve been watching the German crime show Dark, and I’m always listening to Maggie Rodgers and the My Favorite Murder podcast.
WHO IS SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO IN YOUR FIELD?
I really admire Jessica Walsh — she’s an icon, and what I love about her is how she really blurs the lines between photography, design, art installation, and illustration. You can see her hand in everything she makes, and her bold style is just as bold as all the ventures she’s taken on after leaving Sagmeister & Walsh.
