Passion

RELM President Scott Baker believes in cities. To him, public life is paramount. That is why he recalibrated his firm, hiring energized senior leadership to join him in championing the role public realms play in cultivating community, rendering cities that are walkable, equitable, and beautiful.

My role: Consultant

Impact

Scott wanted the studio's new identity to reflect a mission dedicated to re-envisioning the urban realm. Together, we conceived an entirely new brand—name, studio profile, logo, photography, and website that celebrates metropolitan communities. In just 4 years, RELM has dramatically altered its project roster to include marquee public and public-serving commissions. These include two prestigious DGS commissions in Sacramento, 3 of Los Angeles County's largest P3 TOD projects, several LAUSD projects—bringing urban nature to park-poor neighborhoods—and recently, our first Federal project in Alabama. I now look to take them national.

The pursuit of WONDER

In writing RELM's firm profile and ethos pages, 4 tenants were identified that embody the studio's philosophy: Urban Community, Urban Nature, Urban Mobility, and importantly, Urban Wonder. RELM seeks to create landscapes that elicit moments of wonder.

I authored the brand identity in collaboration with a graphic designer and photographer Sahar Coston-Hardy.

Decidedly Urban

Inspired by the street fashion of Scott Schuman, photographer Sahar Coston-Hardy and I shot staff portraits throughout Los Angeles’ urban terrain for the brand launch. I continue to art direct RELM's photography working most closely with LA-based street photographer, Rinzi Ruiz.

Sphere of Influence

Supporting Scott's belief in cities and the role the public realm plays in cultivating a quality and spirited public life, we authored Interplay, an online journal investigating landscape architecture’s role in city making and contemporary life. Centered around four key themes of people, urban form, urban nature, and culture, the journal's mission is showcase the tectonics behind public life and the built environment, as they unfold in Los Angeles and beyond. In our inaugural issue, we discuss the quality of streets, as a brand, as a place for people.

Full Article can be accessed here:
http://relmstudio.com/interplay

The Big Idea, In Print and Pixels

From thought leadership to project narratives, I find compelling ways to exert voice and promote design excellence be it salons, speciality collateral, and design competitions. To highlight's RELM's contribution to 3 of LA County's largest P3 TOC commissions, and how these are radically altering how LA looks and moves, I sat down with with Nick Sapanaro, Deputy Executive Officer, Transit Oriented Communities of Los Angeles Metro, to gain insight how the agency wishes to exert a positive influence on the city, beyond just mobility.

Full Article can be accessed here:
https://spark.adobe.com/sp/design/page/urn:aaid:sc:US:2148a78a-7366-48ae-b3ff-0c1854da922c