“You're one of the finest art directors I've ever worked with,
not just for your superior talents as a designer but equally for your
fine sensibilities as a person.” ~ Brad Holland (artist)
Hello, I am Deborah Lawrence. I believe great art direction elevates talented people, and allows an idea to evolve into something as intelligent, as it is lovely.
I put my passion behind brand identity work for clients like Sears, McDonald’s (bottled water), Christian Dior for Hartmarx, Joseph Abboud, Bang & Olufsen, Harris Bank, Alberto Culver, Stone Container, American Express, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Follett, the Smithsonian Quarterly (design Launch), and more.
Moved by a desire to do work that makes a difference, I embraced the nonprofit world at Rotary International. Serving as their magazine Creative Director, I created print and online campaigns for polio eradication, peace and conflict resolution, the impact of water and sanitation on world health, to name a few. My role in raising the publisher’s national profile was recognized by FOLIO, Communication Arts, Society of Publication Designers, ASME (American Society of Magazine Editors), MIN (Media Industry News), and EXCEL (Association Media and Publishing). It is fair to say that I hold a record for the industry’s top awards—which is especially gratifying in the context of service to a humanitarian cause.
It has been a rare privilege to work with some iconic artists and photographers—Milton Glaser, Brad Holland, Guy Billout, Harry Benson, Sebastião Salgado, Carol Guzy, David Kennerly, on and on… My new partnership with Brooke Lighton brings me full circle, back to a creative director with whom I enjoyed many successes in the for-profit world.
In my spare time, I currated a new book series under the brand Quotes for Life. I love street photography, collecting seashells, travel, and, so far, achieved my best runner’s high in a marathon race on the Great Wall of China. LinkedIn