About Us
Peopledesign is a leading strategy and design firm in the built environments industry. Since 1997, we have guided furniture, lighting, textiles, building materials, flooring, and related companies that support the built environment.
We offer levers for strategic growth.
Brand Identity
Define who you are to your customers.
Brand Architecture
Brand Expression
Brand Standards
Brand Asset Libraries
Marketing Programs
Activate your frontline interactions.
Customer Decision Journeys
Digital Opportunities
Go-to-Market Strategy
Campaigns
We live in an era of significant change. The new market landscape is evolving beyond optimization, and companies must proactively evolve to keep up with the people they serve. Lasting brands put people in the center – customers, influencers, sellers, and employees. Leaders will adopt new priorities, taking time to understand what is truly meaningful to their stakeholders.
We shape our environments, and then they shape us. This is why our clients’ work is so important. People-centered approaches win in the game of increasing customer relevance.
Experience
AmFab
Applied Textiles
Asahi Kasei
Baker Manufacturing
Biofit
Brandrud
Carnegie Fabrics
Cumberland Furniture
ERG International
ESI Ergonomic Solutions
Fellowes Contract
Forbo
GMB AE
Guilford of Maine
Gunlocke
Haworth
Hazen and Sawyer
Heller
Herman Miller
Highmark Seating
HON
IDa Design
Indiana Furniture
Inscape
Interface
Izzydesign
Landscape Forms
Leland International
Lorin Industries
Nucraft
Peter Pepper Products
Progressive AE
Rockford Construction
Sarah Kuchar Studio
SitOnIt Seating
Spec Furniture
Steelcase
True Textiles
USAI
Vaxcel International
Wilsonart
We have plenty of experience outside the built environment industry and often cross-pollinate between industries.
Consumer
Amway
BloomIQ.com
Danish Design Store
Fiat Cars/Impatto
Founders Brewing Co.
Herman Miller
Jaguar Cars/Ogilvy
Macatawa Bank
Mercantile Bank
MC Sports
Meijer
Middlesex MD
Nestlé/Mr.&Mrs.
Tyndale House Publishers
Whirlpool
Wolverine Worldwide
Zabitat
Education
Albion College
Davenport University
Grand Valley State University
Ferris State University
IIT Institute of Design
Kendall College of Art & Design
Michigan State University
NovoEd
Stepping Stones Montessori
University of Michigan
Zeeland Community Hospital
Service Brands
Amway Care
Designer Pages
Foresight Management
Hastings Mutual
INDEAL
Kelley | Uustal
McGarry Bair
Neurocore
Prinz Law Office
Rader Fishman
Van Andel Institute
Warner Norcross & Judd
Xby2
Manufacturing
Allen Extruders
Central Michigan Paper
Down Automotive
Dow Chemical
East Jordan Plastics
Ferno-Washington
Georgia-Pacific
Grand Die Engravers
JSJ Corporation
Kyowa Manufacturing
Lacks Enterprises
Melron Corporation
Multi-Packaging Solutions
Profile Films
Windquest
Technology
Adobe/Universal Mind
Bulb Digital
Capgemini
Hoymiles
Neurocore
Saganworks
Spout
Xby2
X-Rite Pantone
Health
Alameda Health
American Heart Association
Autocam Medical
Care Convene
Corewell Health
Neurocore
Priority Health
Non-Profit
ArtPrize
BIFMA
Dyer-Ives Foundation
Grand Rapids Art Museum
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
First Foundation
St.Cecilia Music Center
Telluride Science Center
Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts
Government
Grand Rapids Public Library
Michigan Fitness Foundation
Michigan SBDC
We are a team of thinkers, creators, and collaborators.
Principal and Strategy Director
Jake is our lead researcher and strategist. He applies human-centered design methods to help companies develop growth strategies.
MBA Innovation Strategy, FSU
BA Communications, WMU
Board of Directors, Rockford Public Schools
Creative Director
Chas leads our creative solutions. With a background in design and business, he empowers teams to create innovative answers to strategic questions.
BFA Design & Illustration, Columbia College
Account Manager
Ted guides our client relationships for mutual success. His teaching and customer service background helps us stay aligned with our clients and their strategy.
BA Psychology, GVSU
Photographer
Former Special Education Teacher
Executive Creative Director and Co-Founder
Yang's peers have recognized her work for its clarity, distinctiveness, humanity, and charm. Her no-nonsense style, wit, and devotion to her work have earned her long-standing client relationships.
“One of the most influential designers working today.”
- Graphic Design USA
BFA Design, Carnegie Mellon University
Co-Author, Brand Identity Essentials
AAF Silver Medalist
AIGA Fellow
President and Co-Founder
Kevin oversees the firm's strategic direction and helps manage client relationships as a designer, strategist, and change catalyst. He advises, teaches, writes, and discusses strategic design in various organizations.
“You would be lucky if Kevin and his remarkable team put their creativity, passion, and dangerous intelligence to work for you.”
- Brian Collins
MDM Innovation, IIT Institute of Design
BFA Design, Carnegie Mellon University
Co-author, Brand Identity Essentials
Professor, Northwestern, MSU
Board Member, IxDA Global, APDF, AIGA
AIGA
American Corporate Identity
Communication Arts
Communicator Awards
Critique magazine
Grand Design: USA
Graphis
How magazine
Print magazine
ReBrand 100
Step: Inside Design magazine
The American Center for Design
The Creativity Annual
The New York Art Directors Club
W3 Awards
Webby Awards
Many regional competitions...
Brand Identity Essentials
Available in six languages. Now in its second edition.
