Art Direction
Design Consultation for MIAD | Designed slide presentation to honor a MIAD ID faculty member at the IDSA Midwest Conference 2016.
For the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children in Kabul, Afghanistan, updated "Brand Identity" and published a Graphic Standards Manual, providing multiple language, accent color options, digital and print guidelines.
Consulted and designed products, combining Chinese and western wedding traditions. Vintage kite designs were the inspiration for creating a symbol for the couple.
Russ Rymut, CEO of Nobo, asked D4D to bring from and function to his product concept B60, the first wearable device that assesses the full spectrum of hydration status in real-time. By monitoring for both dehydration and over-hydration, B60 provides insights into health, cognitive ability and physical performance that have never been available before.
As part of an interdisciplinary syllabus through design at The Ohio State University, students were asked s to develop a sensitivity to the form-relationships that exist between letters, and to explore how they can be combined to make unique compositions.
Taught first semester Sophomores, Introduction to Visual Communication Design at The Ohio State University. These are my students final icon system posters compositions put on exhibition.
Students were asked to research, sketch, prototype and construct an 8 x 8 inch Design History Exhibition Cube, that communicated a particular movement, school of thought or manufacturer of design. Students were given three weeks and were asked to incorporate typography, symbols and images into their concepts.
Using Joseph Albers IPad version of "Interactions of Color" application, I created samples for student discussions on color theory.
The Book Project; designed as a story of collaboration between interdisciplinary students at Ohio State University and TransitArts students from Columbus, Ohio.
A two year Design Research project and published thesis addresses the the question of what is "Social Design?" The document adds to the discourse through case study analysis and interviews with design experts working in this emerging field. The findings resulted in a Design Model for Sustainable Community Development and highlights key methods and approaches.
A legacy story designed specifically for a family, rooted firmly in Down East, Maine. A photographic essay by Robin Reed
Robin Lee Reed and Thornton K. Lothrop collaborated on this handmade art book made with paper produced from heirloom table linen originating from the early mills of Rhode Island. It is in homage to the artists’ New England cultural heritage and inspired by photographs.
Design & images: Robin Lee Reed
Pen illustrations: Thornton K. Lothrop
Cover paper: Handmade family heirloom linen, cotton linter & abaca with pigmented paper pulp
Quotations: Selected from the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882), a native of New England
Typography: Minion Pro designed by Robert Slimbach
Production: Films and photo-polymer plates
Printing: Vandercook letterpress
Concertina fold: hand bound and assembled at the Center for Book Arts & Logan Elm Press at The Ohio State University.
Robin Reed, a specialist in participatory design with years of experience working with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, worked for two local community based non-profit organizations, over a period of six weeks to refine the skills and products produced by local craft producers. The result was the creation of a collaborative group know as the Tsongo Women's Group, (which means Weaver Birds in Swahili). A new identity for the women's group and prototypes will be ready for display and sales at the Ngalawa Regatta to be held in Diani, December, 2014. Through D4D, Robin has also engaged students in the USA in the design process to create identities and outreach materials for a number of groups in the area. This project is ongoing...
D4D worked together with design students at The Ohio State University and the South Coast Eco-Tourism Association to develop an identity system in support of the Tsongo Women Crafts Initiative in Kwale County, Kenya. The women, who come from various villages, weave products using palm leaves indigenous to the area. We have raised the value of the work the women produce through this collaboration and increased income generating opportunities for their villages.
Visual Identity system created for the Ngalawa Regatta event, a yearly cultural event that takes place along Diani Beach and initiated and sponsored by the South Coast Eco-Tourism Association and their partners.
D4D in partnership with local community based organizations developed a visual mark and identity system to help raise an awareness about marine life conservation and the sea turtle.
Tracy Hain, a Canadian interior designer who has built an impressive design practice, established an award winning design firm based in the heart of London. She has established an enviable reputation for finding creative and practical solutions that are sensitive to her clients’ needs, large or small. Tracy Hain & Robin Reed share similar design philosophies and worked together to create a branding strategy for the creation of BeauxIdeal LPP in 2010.
Every summer, design students and staff from the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong and China are invited to form multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams to study and research, in a 6 week long series of workshops. The central topic of focus in 2011 was: “the aging population of China.”
Create and identity system for the growing number of development agencies supported by His Highness the Aga Khan through the development of logos, publications, websites, visual aids and materials that supported the mission: “to improve the welfare and prospects of people in the developing world, particularly in Asia and Africa, without regard to faith, origin or gender.” – www.akdn.org
A comprehensive brochure designed for the local community, combining guidelines and illustrations for the restoration and conservation of historic buildings in the Old Stone Town of Zanzibar. PDF files and chapter sections we made available to the public through the conservation center, an intiative of the Historic Cities Program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
Building the identity through press materials, exhibitions, brochures and the web for The Aga Khan Music Initiative. The program was launched in 2000 by His Highness the Aga Khan to support talented musicians and music educators striving to preserve, transmit, and further develop their musical heritage as part of a comprehensive approach to cultural development.
Collection of images curated from 1990 to 2013 for an exhibition entitled "Travels of and International Nomad."
World Link Magazine conceived by the World Economic Forum as a dialogue amongst the world's most influential leaders and businessmen. Produced monthly.
As creative director, Robin Reed was sent to Dushanbe, Tajikistan to teach and mentor students from the Aga Khan Humanities Project in Design. Over a two year period she taught design, design systems and entrepreneurship, which resulted in the creation of the Design Center now part of the University of Central Asia. The goal of the Humanities Project was to develop, write and produce a curriculum that would promote tolerance and the pluralism of ideas and cultures, drawing on the rich history of nations that formed the former Soviet Union. Scholars and partner institutions in Central Asia have implemented the rigorous curriculum and it continues as part of the course offerings at the three campuses of the University of Central Asia (UCA).
With my partner, we have been respectfully restoring, while upgrading houses in America. There is so much destruction of the architectural heritage in the USA and homes that have stood for over a hundred years tell a story of decline. To reverse this we believe it is time to engage community and students of design and architecture in the process of revitalization. We have begun by restoring, one house at a time. We are not in a rush, we don't have large funds and we employ the principles of Cradle to Cradle. Architectural salvage is where we spend most of our time and once we complete a project we sell the property and begin another.
D4D | designed and consulted with this non-profit, assisting and building an identity system both for their horse refuge and sanctuary and the shop linked to the ranch and educational activities.
Experienced industrial and graphic design consultants also trained in participatory and empathy-based methods of inquiry and research. We collaborate with clients and apply a human-centered approach and systems thinking to a wide range of design contexts, including: branding, product development, photography, user experience design and research. As a group we have worked internationally at the highest levels as design professionals, educators and capacity builders.
What sets us apart is our sensitivity to culture and diversity and the impact what we design can have on our world!