Faye Pite Beresner, Matt Curylo and Steve Habersang all made the list of 2025 GDUSA Designers For Good. All describe how they became involved in socially responsible design, and what unique challenges face them in today's society. “Creatives are uniquely positioned to translate complex issues into experiences that inform and mobilize action.”
For over a decade, Box 8 Creative has built brand identities for restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups. This year, the studio turned the lens inward, taking on its most personal project yet: rebranding itself.
At the AD CLUB CT 70th Annual Awards Show, Best of Show went to Miranda Creative, for their rebranding of Lyman Allyn Museum — now simply Lyman Allyn, to include a new public park. “Their evolving story was unveiled with a brand reveal video at their annual fundraising gala, and continues to be gradually rolled out on social media alongside construction updates, in anticipation of the 2026 grand opening of Lyman Allyn Park.”
Firebrick Design's La Vie Bohème invitation for The Bushnell was selected as winner in the 365: AIGA Year in Design 2024 competition, cited for its ability to blend theatricality and historical reference into a memorable design object. “Through Art Nouveau details, typographic authenticity, and the inventive tunnel book format, it creates an immersive experience that captures the spirit of La Vie Bohème while driving record fundraising success,” said the AIGA jurors.
Group C were honored to receive the Spirit of Creativity Award and a Gold Award at the 49th CADC Awards for The Snuggery — “a simply decorated wooden box that, like the cabin our client created at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, contains magical surprises.” The project “brought two books to life: a pop-up book evoking our client’s art-filled cabin, and a companion volume celebrating the people who created the cabin and its art.”
Julia Balfour recently relaunched a new website for Williams School. “With just three shades of blue and a logo, we expanded Williams School’s brand into a full digital experience. We looked to the textures already present on campus—stone walls, ocean waves, linen classrooms—and translated them into visual elements that grounded the site in a sense of place. Paired with strong student photography and a clear type hierarchy, the result is a site that’s both rooted and refreshed. For us, it’s not about reinventing — it’s about bringing what’s real into view, then pushing it forward just enough to feel new.”
Alexander Isley, Inc. was honored to receive this year's Editors' Choice award (as well as first place in the Editorial Design category) for the design of a special edition of HUE, the magazine of FIT, The Fashion Institute of technology. “The creative team has designed the magazine for the past three years, working with the editorial team in commissioning FIT alumni to create the photography and illustrations. This richly layered publication showcases talent and poses a thoughtful meditation on the origins of creativity.”
Karl Heine's DesignerJournals has partnered with Bridgeport's beloved community radio station WPKN to produce a hand-crafted 7.25 x 4.75 notebook, for sale at their online shop. “Just as WPKN is a storied, Bridgeport-made institution, this collaboration came to life just miles down the road at AmFab studios, where we happened upon Karl Heine’s design work. Karl is a Bridgeport-based designer, educator, talent consultant, and supporter of WPKN.” Learn more about DesignerJournals here.
Rebellion Group announces a C-level realignment of its top people. “This is more than a realignment; it's a statement about where we're headed.” Congratulations to the team of Connecticut creatives on their new roles: BJ Kito (President), James Dowd (Chief Creative Officer & Chief Operating Officer), Bryan Czajkowski (Chief Technology Officer), and Grant Flannery (Head of Strategy, Executive Leadership Team).
Joe Treacy, the award-winning Owner/Creative Director of TreacyDesign/TFX and Director of Typography at Treacyfaces.com, recently joined the ranks of GDUSA's People to Watch for 2025, fielding questions about social impact and the future of design. “I’m forever approaching every new project with an inspired point of view, and I love to share that with our clients. Some clients have been with us over 20 years, and I’m grateful for the reciprocity we have with them. Fostering a positive attitude about what great things high quality design can do, a proper brief and comprehensive research, always leads to great results for our clients and their customers.”
HBX Branding's work for Schuman Cheese/Delve was a GDUSA 2025 Winner in both the Packaging and Digital Design competitions. “From positioning, packaging to GTM activation, HBX brought this innovation to life with a brand that’s as vibrant as its taste.”