DESIGN WITH EXPERIENCE

Where Art Meets Precision in Branding and Publication Design

Dive into the distinctive realm of Susan Bowman, a seasoned designer and visionary, whose work bridges the gap between artistic creativity and strategic branding. With a profound background in sculpture and design management, coupled with years of teaching and leading design projects, Susan brings a unique blend of expertise to the forefront of museum, academy, gallery, and institutional branding.

At the heart of Susan's practice lies a passion for storytelling through design—whether it's curating the visual identity of a cutting-edge contemporary art gallery, sculpting the brand essence of historic institutions, or crafting the pages of artist catalogues and scholarly publications. Her work is not just about aesthetics; it's about creating a dialogue between the brand and its audience, ensuring each design not only stands out visually but resonates deeply with its intended community.

Susan's design studio in New York City has become a hub for innovation and collaboration, where ideas transform into tangible experiences. Here, every project is an opportunity to blend artistry with precision, bringing to life the visions of museums, academies, galleries, and cultural institutions. From the tactile feel of a freshly printed catalogue to the digital interface of an e-publication, Susan's designs are meticulously curated to enhance the narrative and impact of each client's mission.

Join us on a journey through the portfolio of Susan Bowman, where each project is a testament to the power of thoughtful design in shaping the identity and legacy of cultural spaces and academic institutions. Discover the craftsmanship behind the brands and publications that define the art and design landscape.

VISUAL IDENTITY & DESIGN INNOVATION SERVICES

Books and Magazine Design, Both Print and Digital Formats

Cover Design: Crafting impactful cover designs that capture the essence of the book or magazine, enticing potential readers at first glance.
Interior Layout: Developing layouts that enhance readability and aesthetic appeal, including careful selection of typography, spacing, and alignment.
Digital Publications: Designing eBooks and digital magazines that are optimized for various devices, incorporating interactive features such as clickable contents, internal navigation links, and embedded multimedia.
Print Management: Coordinating with printers to select the best paper stock, binding options, and print techniques to ensure the final product matches the design intent in terms of quality and appearance.

Branding and Visual Identity

Brand Story and Voice: Documentation that articulates the brand's story, mission, values, and tone of voice, providing a narrative foundation for all communications.
Visual Style Guide: Detailed instructions on the use of the logo, color palette, typography, imagery, and other visual elements that make up the brand identity, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints.
Usage Do's and Don'ts: Clear guidelines on how to properly use the brand elements, including common mistakes to avoid, to maintain brand integrity.
Digital and Print Specifications: Specifications for how brand elements should be applied in digital and print formats, including file formats, color codes (RGB, CMYK, Pantone), and scaling rules

Website Design and Development for Institutions and Personal Portfolios

User Experience (UX) Design: Creating intuitive, user-friendly website layouts that enhance the visitor's journey, emphasizing ease of navigation, content hierarchy, and interactive elements to engage users
.
Responsive Design: Ensuring websites are optimized for viewing across all devices and screen sizes, from desktops to smartphones, providing a seamless experience regardless of how the site is accessed.
Content Management Systems (CMS): Implementing customizable CMS platforms that allow clients to easily update content, making the website a dynamic and evolving digital presence.
Accessibility Compliance: Designing websites to be accessible to users with disabilities, adhering to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to ensure inclusivity and wider reach.
SEO Best Practices: Incorporating search engine optimization (SEO) strategies from the ground up, ensuring websites are designed to rank well on search engines, making them more discoverable to the target audience.

Artist Catalogues and Monograph

Conceptualization and Layout Design: Creating visually compelling layouts that complement the artwork, including selecting fonts, colors, and materials that reflect the artist's work and ethos.
Collaboration with Artists: Working closely with artists to ensure their vision is accurately translated into the catalogue or monograph. This involves discussions about the selection of works, thematic organization, and accompanying texts.
Editorial Services: Offering copywriting, editing, and proofreading services to ensure that all textual content supports the visual narrative and adheres to the highest standards of quality.
Print Production Management: Overseeing the printing process to ensure high-quality reproductions of artworks, selecting the right paper, binding, and finishing techniques that enhance the tactile experience of the publication.

Academic and Educational Publications

Content Structuring: Organizing complex academic content in a logical, accessible manner, including chapters, sections, and indexes, to enhance readability and learning outcomes.
Design for Engagement: Employing design elements that facilitate learning and retention, such as infographics, charts, and illustrations, making complex information easier to understand.
Digital Enhancements: Creating interactive digital versions with embedded multimedia elements like videos, animations, and hyperlinks, providing a richer learning experience.
Accessibility Standards: Ensuring designs meet accessibility standards, making content usable for people with a wide range of abilities and in various educational settings.

AI Design Consultation and Implementation

AI-Powered Design Solutions: Leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance creative projects, from automated layout designs to AI-assisted color scheme generation.
Consulting on AI Integration: Advising clients on how to integrate AI tools into their design workflows, enhancing efficiency and creativity.
Creative Direction with AI: Utilizing AI insights for trend forecasting and design innovation, ensuring that projects remain at the forefront of design excellence.
AI-Enhanced Brand Strategy: Developing brand strategies that incorporate AI analysis for market trends, consumer behavior, and brand positioning.
Custom AI Tool Development: Collaborating with tech specialists to develop bespoke AI tools tailored to specific project or client needs, optimizing design processes and outcomes

Logo Design and Brand Mark Creation

Concept Development: Collaborative brainstorming sessions to understand the brand's core values, mission, and target audience. This involves research and ideation to ensure the logo embodies the brand's essence.
Design Execution: Crafting unique, memorable logos and brand marks that are versatile enough to be effective across various mediums and scales, from digital platforms to physical merchandise.
Revisions and Finalization: Iterative process involving feedback and revisions to refine the logo design, ensuring it aligns perfectly with the brand's identity and objectives.

E-Publications and Interactive PDFs

Interactive Features: Developing e-publications with embedded multimedia elements like video, audio, animations, and hyperlinks, creating an engaging reading experience beyond static text and images.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Designing e-publications to be easily accessible across various e-reader devices and software, ensuring a consistent experience for all users.
Analytics Integration: Incorporating analytics tools to track reader engagement and behaviors, providing valuable insights for future content and design adjustments.
Distribution Strategies: Advising on effective distribution channels for e-publications, including direct downloads, email marketing, and distribution through e-book platforms and libraries.

Environmental Graphic Design, Wayfinding, and Signage

Environmental Graphic Design: Design of integrated environmental graphics that enhance the architectural and interior design of spaces.

Creation of thematic and immersive experiences through murals, wall graphics, and digital installations.

Development of branded environments that reinforce the identity and values of the institution or company.
Wayfinding Systems: Strategic planning and design of wayfinding systems to improve navigation through complex environments like campuses, hospitals, museums, and corporate buildings.

Creation of intuitive signage hierarchies and mapping to guide visitors efficiently, enhancing user experience.

Integration of accessibility considerations into wayfinding systems, ensuring inclusivity for all users.
Signage Design: Custom design of interior and exterior signage that aligns with the brand and environmental aesthetics.

Development of sign families and standards for consistent application across various types of signage, from informational to directional.
Digital Signage and Interactive Displays: Design and implementation of digital signage solutions, including interactive kiosks and digital directories, offering dynamic content and engagement opportunities.

Integration of technology solutions for content management, allowing for real-time updates and personalized information delivery.