Design in Common, founded by two freelance designers, is a collective of design advocates who have experience in multiple disciplines. We have an extensive range of accomplished professionals with whom we regularly collaborate including designers, writers, programmers, architects, photographers, fabricators, printers, etc. This diverse team provides our clients access to new technology, materials and resources. Design in Common provides our clients a seamless collaborative process, with on-time, on-budget delivery across all project mediums.
Each project is customized to meet our clients’ objectives as we maneuver between web, print and environmental design. We understand each of these mediums and how to make them work together.
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Design in Common has extremely low overhead costs thanks to the living/working environment of our principals, and to our collaborations with other established professionals. We are able to pass this savings along to you. You receive the same high-quality service, expertise and results you would expect from major agencies — but you pay less.
Leadership: Each principal draws upon more than a decade’s worth of leadership and design experience. Each has worked on projects ranging from start-ups to small businesses to some of the best-known brands in the world. The leaders of Design in Common have been involved with diverse clients and design firms, which has given them an understanding of multiple industries, approaches and strategies. Their work has been showcased in various industry books and publications.
Jamie Brizzolara, Principal & Creative
Jamie has extensive experience in brand, print, environment and web design, with an emphasis on creating brands for commercial environments. Prior to co-founding Design in Common, Jamie worked as a consultant for a mix of clients in Chicago and New York as well as across the country. She has also held senior design positions at Town Sports International and Gensler (New York City) where she teamed with other designers, architects, web programmers, writers and business strategists to produce nationally recognized retail environments, brand/identity projects and internal marketing and web initiatives.
Jamie’s design and management experience includes an interior signage rollout for 136 Town Sports International health clubs, as well as a national rollout for HUD (Housing and Urban Development) retail spaces. Her design approach creates focused, modern and aspirational concepts and visuals. She has extensive skills with environmental design specifications, architectural coordination and fabrication processes.
Jamie holds a Bachelor of Science in graphic design from the College of Design, Art Architecture and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati.
Billie Knipfer, Principal & Creative
Billie has an extensive background in brand, print, environment and web design, with an emphasis on online interactive experiences. She has worked at award-winning agencies in St. Louis and Chicago, as well as lived and worked in Tokyo, Japan. She was a full-time freelancer in Chicago for seven years prior to co-founding Design in Common.
Billie’s interactive experience includes a large National Bank project, which consisted of a vast system of information architecture and wireframes, combining all student loan information onto one website.
Billie also designed and built an online brand and voice for Common Threads, a Chicago nonprofit started by chef Art Smith, to help the group highlight its cause. The site includes e-commerce for events purchases, and gives the client ability to update classes, news and sponsors.
Billie’s design approach is considered thoughtful, comprehensive and detail-focused with highly creative, clean and simple end results. She is highly skilled in translating client’s ideas and strengths from verbal into visual.
Billie, raised in southwest Missouri, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from Central Missouri State University and Imperial College in London.
Team: Both partners have been fortunate to work with some very talented people during their careers. Following are a couple of our trusted consultants, with whom we contract on a regular basis.
Anthony Charles, Web programmer
Anthony (BFA SFU, MASc ABD SFU) is a multimedia developer and interactive designer in Vancouver, B.C. His work includes projects for Sesame Street, Motorola, Opinion Lab, Stephen Covey, PDI Ninth House and Citigroup. He also finds time to teach new media and web design in Vancouver.
Michelle Rose, Copywriter
Michelle has more than 10 years of experience working with media and publications. She has been a reporter and an editor for newspapers, magazines and online publications. She currently works in publications and marketing for a major university, and freelances with Design in Common on a variety of projects.