Role: Creative Director (2025), Design Partner (2026) Curatorial Direction & Production Lead
Focus: Curatorial Direction · Visual Identity · Editorial & Information Design · Design Systems · Campaign Infrastructure · Environmental Design
Impact
• Led the evolution of a multi-channel creative system across two annual seasons
• Redesigned the Tour Guide, organizing 264 artists, regional navigation and maps into a more portable 52-page format
• Extended a cohesive visual identity across print, digital, exhibitions, events and partner communications
• Built repeatable information and production systems that improved consistency, accuracy and seasonal scalability
Overview
Marin Open Studios is a nonprofit arts organization connecting hundreds of Bay Area artists with the public through its annual Open Studios program, exhibitions, events, and community programming.
Beginning in 2025, I led the evolution of MOS's visual identity and campaign infrastructure, creating a flexible system spanning editorial design, advertising, signage, digital communications, environmental design, and production. In 2026, I returned as Design Partner to refine and extend that foundation across a new season, including a redesigned Tour Guide, integrated maps and wayfinding, and formalized brand guidelines.
Challenge
Marin Open Studios' existing materials had evolved over time without a shared design framework, making it difficult to maintain consistency, navigate dense information, and adapt from one season to the next.
The challenge: Introduce scalable production systems to streamline design, improve accuracy, and increase speed, while creating a visual framework with enough structure to bring clarity and cohesion and enough flexibility for the artwork, artists, and character of each season to shine.
Solution
I built a flexible visual system that could bring hundreds of artists under one recognizable identity without competing with the work itself.
The system combined a refreshed visual language, modular editorial design, structured information, and repeatable production tools. In 2026, I extended that foundation across a new season, allowing the artwork to change while the underlying MOS identity remained consistent.
Visual Identity + Brand System
Building on MOS’s recognizable handprint and legacy colors, I created a flexible visual system across typography, color, image treatment, layout, and voice.
Formalized brand guidelines gave staff and collaborators a shared framework while allowing individual artists and seasonal artwork to remain distinct.
Tour Guide + Information Design
For 2026, I redesigned the annual Tour Guide from 8.5 × 11 to a more portable 7 × 10 format, rethinking how visitors navigate 264 artist listings across Marin.
The new 52-page guide integrates regional color coding, redesigned and simplified maps, artist information, and wayfinding into a clearer, more intuitive editorial system.
Benefit for Art: Immersive Gala Design
For the 2025 Benefit for Art, I translated the broad theme “Local Treasures” into a cohesive visual identity and immersive environment at the Sausalito Center for the Arts.
I developed the visual concept and language connecting the event’s existing activities across environmental graphics, interactive fundraising stations, invitations, menus, projection visuals, sponsor recognition, and wayfinding. Across 30+ applications, the system turned a varied collection of experiences into a unified event while helping guests navigate multiple spaces.
In 2026, the core identity and many environmental assets were reused, with new materials developed within the established system.
Results
A System Designed to Evolve
• 264 artists organized within the 2026 Tour Guide
• 52 pages redesigned into a more portable 7 × 10 visitor format
• 2 seasons one creative system adapted across changing artwork, campaigns and programming
Let’s build what’s next
I partner with organizations and creative teams to turn complex ideas into clear, compelling experiences through creative direction, visual systems, and thoughtful design.
