Hello! I’m Johanna.

I’m a graphic, exhibition, and Squarespace web designer based in Brooklyn, New York. I spent the early part of my career working as a curatorial assistant at the Jewish Museum in NYC. Collaborating on exhibitions from 20th century photography to abstract expressionist painting, I found myself most excited about how the artworks looked in the gallery. The colors on the wall, juxtapositions of objects and the selection of fonts used in the wall graphics were each instrumental in engaging the viewer's attention, creating the atmosphere, and telling the story.

Wanting to learn more about the technique, theory, and technology behind these design decisions, I earned my Masters in Exhibition and Graphic Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. From there, I was able to find my dream freelance job, as the Exhibition and Graphic Designer at the Forbes Galleries corporate headquarters in Manhattan, and officially established my business in 2006.  Adding to the experience I brought as a visual storyteller, I was continuously perfecting my craft by learning everything from graphic and architectural design software to coding and web design.

Almost twenty years later, I have a well-established consulting practice focused on graphic and exhibition design. I also teach Communication Design as an adjunct professor at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY. I serve as interim co-chair of the Independent Museum Professionals, an organization formerly under the American Association of Museums.

Enter COVID — museums are closed and the future of exhibitions, as we know it, is now uncertain. I did not waste any time in taking advantage of the opportunity and time. I could see the unique potential of the SquareSpace website-building platform to provide the perfect tools needed to create artful, thoughtful websites. I learned it inside and out and pivoted my business to additionally support institutions and small businesses with custom web design.

The story may differ, depending on whether I am working with a museum, faith-based organization or a small business and whether it’s being told in a gallery or on the web. But my goal is always to communicate and support my clients’ mission and content via visually effective design.