RSM Design

In addition to the new international offices, RSM Design is also introducing its already established Arizona office. As the director of the Arizona Office, as well as, a senior designer at RSM Design Christy Montgomery brings eight years of experience to the table with a focus on branding and concept development. In addition to her design work with architectural graphics and signage, she puts her social science background to work connecting the dots from our clients to their end users. Her design methodology uses both data-driven analysis and creative thinking to build brands, brand narratives, and more meaningful connections.

Her work streamlines the process from vision to schematics, through sketching, drafting, analytics, design and research skills. She has worked on a broad range of commercial and non-profit projects for domestic and international clients with a focus on applications for the built environment. 

Her dedication to placemaking spans from the whimsical to the practical. She is quick to adapt to new challenges and is working closely with RSM on the development of new tools for clients that blends “clicks and bricks.” She deeply believes that experience has the power to create memories, alter behaviors and enrich the daily lives of our communities. She is driven by a passion for “experience design” that continues to push the boundaries and definition of environmental graphics design.

Christy has worked with property development teams at Shea Properties and Shea Homes on two large mixed-use base realignment projects that imagine entire communities from naming and logo design to the details of a historically-inspired park. She has designed standard manuals for California college campuses, technology parks and library systems. Her solutions are as varied as the project she works on and her inner librarian is committed to finding the perfect match between client goals and the target audience.

RSM Design is excited to introduce the studio’s two newest members to the team, Johnny Hu and Stefanie Ashton. In collaboration with Johnny’s firm, JAS International in Shanghai, and along with Architect and Graphic Designer, Stefanie in Geneva, RSM is continuing to reach out internationally. Welcome Johnny and Stefanie, we’re thrilled to have your talents and expertise as part of our RSM Design team.

As the director of RSM Design’s Shanghai coordination and management office, Johnny works closely on our projects in China to assist the client and our design team with up to the minute communication and coordination efforts. Johnny has more then 20 years of experience in the field of architecture in both the US and Mainland China. He graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology and is a licensed architect in the state of Illinois, and with the team of designers, managers, and production specialists based in Shanghai, plays an important role in the successful implementation and coordination of the graphics with the local development and consultant team.

Johnny has worked with numerous worldwide renowned architecture firms and property developers on a variety of prominent commercial and residential projects in the US and Mainland China. These projects include, the Shanghai Times Square (100,000 sm) and the Shanghai Central Plaza (70,00 sm) with Wong & Ouyang, the Guangzhou Taiku Hui (400,000 sm) with Arquitectonica, the Shanghai K Wah Center (85,000 sm) with K Wah Group, the Shenyang Hang Lung Plaza (191,000 sm) with Hang Lung Properties.

Johnny continues to pursue the goal of design excellence and has the ablility to have a much broader and flexible control of design approaches within his office in Shanghai. These new efforts have helped him and his team win recognition from many clients as well as authorities.

Stefanie S. Ashton is a New York State registered architect and LEED Accredited Professional. While working for several of the top architectural firms in New York City, Stefanie combined her love of graphics with her commitment to innovative architectural, interior and environmental design.  

Stefanie has had a varied career ranging from designing homes and furnishings for celebrities, restaurants for renowned restaurateurs, retail meccas such as Barney’s New York and renovating New York’s Apollo Theater.  She has restored the liturgical elements of a Californian cathedral, updated an elite private school and her graphic design skills helped bring the “City Secrets” travel book series to life.

Most recently at Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners in New York City, Stefanie was the lead interiors architect for the Natick Collection in Natick, Massachusetts.  Stefanie oversaw and collaborated with RSM on the comprehensive architectural graphics package, created entirely new tenant criteria packages as well as the award winning interiors. Stefanie has a Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture from Tulane University in New Orleans.  Having recently relocated to Geneva, Switzerland with her family, she is constantly inspired by the gorgeous views just outside her door.  

Stefanie’s passions include, letterpress stationery, making things with found objects, watching her son’s creative beginnings, and all things exceptionally designed.

Having the scale and scope to give back globally as well as actively participate in our community, RSM Outreach focuses primarily on childhood malnutrition and basic education and shelter for people with few resources.

RSM Outreach recently worked with a local orphanage in Honduras, established by Pan American Health Services and Mend a Child to provide educational and much needed clothing items.

The 100 pound duffel bags arrived in Honduras full of school supplies and shoes and were received with lots of enthusiasm by the children. Smiles were contagious.

To read more about RSM Outreach check out Giving Back…

RSM Design continues to go global. Having worked in 30 states and 34 countries on over 350 projects, RSM stretches out internationally and introduces our new affiliate offices in New York, Shanghai, and Geneva. Our new locations are  in addition to our previously established offices in San Clemente, Dallas, and Tucson. So whether you’re on the east coast of the US or the east coast of Asia, you can knock on our door. Needing design services  or you just want to say hello, send us an email, give us a call… we would love to meet you. 

Opening in April 2010, Marina City is a large mixed-use project located in the coastal city of Qingdao, China, and also served as the backdrop to the sailing venue for the 2008 Olympic Games. It includes such diverse components as a waterfront boardwalk, two large retail districts, offices, residential, an ice skating rink, and the city’s Olympic Boulevard.

RSM Design created a multi-lingual wayfinding and graphics program for the entire project. The building graphics utilize nautical imagery in keeping with the project location. 

The team here at RSM looks forward to the project opening in April and wanted to share a sneak peak of the graphics development.

Having the scale and scope to give back globally as well as actively participate in our community, RSM Outreach focuses primarily on childhood malnutrition and basic education and shelter for people with few resources.

RSM Outreach works closely with the Pan American Health Services and Mend a Child in Honduras. The PAHS educational program serves the region’s underprivileged who hope to receive a basic, secondary or vocational education.

RSM Outreach recently worked with a local orphanage in Honduras to provide over 100 pounds of school  and educational supplies.

During Harry’s most recent trip to China he visited one of RSM’s graphics project’s, Marina City, in Qingdao opening in April 2010 (check back for more on that…) while also meeting in our Shanghai office. On his travels throughout China, he got the chance to take in some of the sights and sounds of Shanghai, Nanjing, Qingdao, and Hong Kong.

From looking out the windows of one of the tallest buildings in the world, located in Shanghai, to spending hours walking through the local markets in Hong Kong, Harry found inspiration in the rich colors, textures, and repetitious patterns of  the Chinese culture, markets, materials, and cityscapes.

Having a new office located in Shanghai, Harry and the rest of the team at RSM are excited to learn more about this rich culture and look forward to continued collaborations.

The Vans “Off the Wall” winners have been announced! The Vans judging panel selected the winners for the following four categories including Marketability, Creativity, Originality, and “Off the Wall” Attitude. Each winner received a chance to design their own custom Vans.

“Off the Wall” Attitude Winner: Party in the Back, by William Schwartz

Creativity Winner: This is It, by Ashley Zwar

Originality Winner: Bobble Heads, by Martin Schwartz

Marketability Winner: Chalk it Up, by Kelly Ehrheart

Congratulations to the Winners! Who knows, maybe we’ll see these on the shelves at Vans sometime soon!

While munching on colorful macaroons, (thanks Caleb) the RSM team presented their individual research on color.  

Color Theory applies to all aspects of our everyday life- from selecting a paint color for a room, the way contrast on a sign makes it legible, how you select your socks, to the exposure of a photograph. Color also appeals to the appetite. Red and orange in the McDonalds brand makes people eat faster, while the muted color palette of Starbucks invites the visitor to linger. 

Color theory has been applied to personality traits, such as, red means hot and passionate and blue means cold and mellow. While there are always exceptions to every rule, color has meaning. 

Different cultures around the world use color to represent important events in a variety of ways. In Ireland, orange is a religious color, and here in the US we think of Halloween and autumn. 

Color applies to all cultures in multiple ways- understanding the differences is the key to color.

Below are some sites we explored during our color theory discussion:

http://www.colormunki.com

http://www.colorstrology.com

http://www.colormatters.com

http://www.avivadirectory.com/color

http://www.colourlovers.com

http://webdesign.about.com/od/color/a/bl_colorculture.htm

RSM teams up with Vans marketing for a competition in shoe design. Each designer was given one pair of white canvas shoes and a set of design parameters, including marketability, creativity, originality, and “off the wall” attitude. However, the only real parameter was that the designer had fun. And with all the different solutions, it’s pretty clear that everyone did. The winner will be announced after Vans sorts through all of our submissions. You never know, you might see a pair on the shelf at a Vans store soon!!! Check back after the holidays to find out the winners!