Our past interns include: Bryce Carson who went on to work at Ogilvy, Porto Rocha, and now Koto Studio, Liv Beruti, our summer 2024 intern who is still in school at the Parsons School of Design, and her fellow classmate Dev Makker who went on to intern at Apple.
Freelance collaborators have been key in so many of our projects. They include one of our favorite designers on planet earth, Emily Nabnian, an Associate Creative Director at Gap, Brady Rish, a strategist and designer at Rand Corporation, Kekeli Sumah, and designers James Tupling and Matija Gabrilo.
Occasionally, we work alongside other firms and independent designers to service clients together. Among these so far have been Slow Rodeo, Cobbco, and Studio Freight.
I (Diego) would not be a designer if it wasn't for the good graces of Brian Collins of the eponymous firm, COLLINS. I was hired there as an 18-year-old high school dropout with zero design pedigree, an okay portfolio, and a dream. Both Brian and his co-founder, Leland Maschmeyer, have opened their minds to me for years in ways I will never be able to repay.
Many have said I am self-taught at design. This could not be further from the truth. Leo Porto, founder of 2023 Design Agency of the Year, Porto Rocha, was a Design Director at COLLINS when I first started, and he was the first person on the team to trust me with a project, and he taught me an immense amount in the time I spent working with him. Tom Wilder, Megan Bowker, Jump Jirakaweekul, and George and Dash Lavender were all key players in making me into a designer and strategist worth anything.
Courtney Shares, Rik Ito, and the late Vicki Lewis taught me corporate finance and the business side of running a high-powered agency, taking time out of their days to tutor me on rate cards, master services agreements, and agency finance.
After leaving COLLINS, I was hired by Kinney Lala who showed me how to work in-house and developed my voice as not only a young designer, but a leader. Not only did she empower me as a Senior Designer early in my career, but she has also vouched for me among clients, investors, and is now a partner, client, and friend.
As of this writing, we have been operating for a long time without ever having a public presence. That means we've grown to our current team of four by word of mouth alone. Among those who have sang our praises are the serial entrepreneur and founder of Nadia Partners, Aidan Kehoe, our client, friend, and now-collaborator Stephen Yaseen, venture investors Shoumik Dabir, Marthe Naudts, and Frazer Anderson. For every single intro you've sent and client you've recommended us to, thank you. I will never take those emails for granted.
Above all, we thank the clients. You know who you are. Great work doesn't get done without you. And the impact of our work doesn't happen unless you go and execute it. The respect and trust each you've afforded us cannot be measured. Thank you.
