The next installment of the Design Conversations series on Sept. 9, 2010 at the W Minneapolis features Gael Towey and Stephen Doyle in a presentation entitled Branding and Communication in the Digital Age. Towey is the creative and editorial director at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, while Doyle is this year's winner of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for communication. They've collaborated many times on hugely successful projects like the roll out of the Martha Stewart Everyday brand for K-Mart. However, the most impressive result of their partnership is much more personal -- they are happily married and have 2 children.
Towey is the art director who designed the first Martha Stewart Living magazine and never left, climbing the ranks through the years. She's seen the empire grow from a selection of beautiful books into a collection of magazines, websites, television shows, radio programming, household products and more. Doyle, meanwhile, keeps it real in a small studio environment as he's done for 25 years. His work includes everything from iconic branding for Barnes & Noble to Met Life's skyscraper signage and wayfinding system, Ommegang Belgian Ale packaging, CD cases for David Byrne, and Cooper Union's identity. He even created the LEED certification logo affixed to environmentally sound buildings.
A highlight of the night is a sneak peak at the digital magazine Boundless Beauty, a new addition to the Martha Stewart family. The pair will use the unveiling to augment their reflections on the process of storytelling and the conception of ideas in their respective design roles. Both are armed with a good sense of humor and amazing visual portfolios, so the night promises to appeal to eyes and ears alike.
Don't miss the chance to see them as part of AIGA Minnesota's Design Conversations on Thursday. For a preview of their warm, easy style, watch this tour of the couple's New York town house. Then check out the Doyle Partners website to see some serious designs (my faves are the NYT wheels and the Cooper Union identity). And stay tuned - a short interview with them will appear a few days before the event on www.mnartists.org.
Design Conversations - Gael Towey + Stephen Doyle
Sept. 9, 2010 at W Minneapolis - The Foshay, 821 Marquette Ave, Mpls.
5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Cocktails, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Conversation
$25 for AIGA members, $35 for non-members, $20 for students
Hosted by W Minneapolis in association with AIGA Minnesota
Produced by Rocket Design Resources to benefit The Brand Lab
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook for details on the upcoming interview and other great stories about food, art, and cool stuff in the Twin Cities.
Comments
I think Gael Towey and her connection with Martha Stewart Living & Boundless Beauty will attract a lot of people. Personally, though I'd be more interested in Stephen Doyle's experience in a small studio environment, especially given his work with environmental buildings. Regardless, the Design Conversations seem nicely informative and varied.
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