Some of Our Favorite Atlanta Designers You Should Know
Whether we realize it or not, design is all around us — from the buildings we walk through to the apps we use. We live in a world of design, an intention behind every encounter, every technology we touch, every structure we step through. Design is an alchemy, a marriage of material and meaning, investigation and inspiration, form and function.
Designers are called to operate in a way that transcends disciplines, making it possible to understand the world in all its complexity and envision passageways to more just futures. At their best, designers center the experiences of people whose needs have been overlooked, stepping outside of themselves and into their shoes.
There are so many types of designers you can be — from interior and graphic to UX, web and gaming — and while we’ll hear from one in particular, Denise Francis, on Oct. 29 in honor of our theme of DESIGN, we know our city is full of talent. The CM/ATL team wanted to share a few folks that we admire in Atlanta. Find out more about them, connect with them, and support their work.
This clothing brand is all about ethical African fashion, showcasing contemporary outfits that use authentic, bold African prints that are purchased locally in West Africa. The brand’s sewing factory in Liberia is also sowing good in the community: Its teaching an all-woman staff of Ebola survivors, rape victims and the deaf a new trade with the goal of helping them to become self-sufficient through skill-training and education.
This interior designer specializes in restaurant design, and we love how beautiful and immersive her spaces are. From Muchacho to Marietta lofts, Ingram uses “upholstery, custom lighting and furniture design to compose bespoke, textural and visually rich spaces.”
This woman-led interior design firm has worked on a number of homes and projects in the city. One of our teammates loves going on tours of homes and sure enough, most of the time when she falls in love with a space, she finds out Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning are behind it.
You know we gotta shout out the folks that founded CreativeMornings Atlanta! This amazing team helps brands figure out what makes them stand out and the best way to communicate that with the rest of the world. They’ve helped design brand identities for entities ranging from local restaurants to departments within the city of Atlanta itself.
From pencil to print, Methane hones in on the details of screen printing, handcrafting each piece they produce. Our team is a huge fan of their work, which includes art prints, gig posters and more, and proudly display some of their posters in our own homes!
Another creative agency that specializes in identity and branding, Sasso & Co. always catches our eye with the unique brand work they produce for some of Atlanta’s coolest restaurants, including Ticonderoga Club, El Ponce and Wild Heaven Beer. Next time you see a memorable drink can, menu or matchbook, you could be looking at the work of Sasso & Co. designers.
Sarah Lawrence is a friend of CM/ATL and a beacon of community-minded design. Her sense of humor and love for Atlanta shows up in absolutely everything she makes. She has designed for a wide range of formats, from illustration — check out Queen of Cream’s packaging design — to event design and physical installations.
This women’s clothing band, spearheaded by engineer-turned-designer Charlene Dunbar, is inspired by modern African design. It imports authentic African textiles, designs, and manufactures its collection in Atlanta. Dunbar took style lessons from her mom and Liberian church ladies, blended those skills with her contemporary point of view, and Suakoko Betty was born.
