By Landesberg Design | August 7, 2026

Good design is often the result of good reading. Here’s our latest offering of insight, info, and intrigue. Indulge.

Save Me a Seat

by Piper Olsen, Senior Designer

Illustration: Piper Olsen

One thing I remember from my first day at Landesberg (nearly 3 years ago!) is Michael Artman telling me that I’ll be taking on all of the City Theatre projects. While I was in the process of applying and interviewing to work at Landesberg, I had familiarized myself with the company’s portfolio and was already secretly hoping that I’d get to work on these projects — this was the best news to hear!

I expected to enjoy the work — but I hadn’t necessarily expected just how much connection this would inspire.

Admittedly, it had been a few years since I’d been to any stage performances, but I jumped right back in! I took my partner Eric to see Somewhere Over the Border. I took a group of friends to see Fat Ham. I took my brand new co-worker to see POTUS — which was a hilarious and wild way to get to know her. I took my friend Priya to see Birthday Candles and Another Kind of Silence, because after the first show she asked me “why don’t we do this all the time?”. I tried to go to the opening night (damn — can I swear in this? — power outage!) of Eureka Day with my friend Jeremy, and went back the next week to finally see it with Eric and our friends Venuri and Joe. And most recently, I took my book club to see Hedwig and the Angry Inch. 

Because of the City Theatre work, I connected with the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Pittsburgh and was able to collaborate and work with them as well. Through this I learned that my next door neighbor is also connected to both City Theatre and Pitt Stages, and in fact, was the scenic designer for Hedwig. 

I love that Pittsburgh has these arts and performance organizations. I love that I’m lucky enough to work for the best of them. I love that I’ve laughed and cried and shrieked together with so many of my friends because of them. I’ve got plans to do it a lot more with the upcoming seasons! Maybe I’ll see you there?

Loyola Magazine

We recently partnered with Loyola University Chicago to elevate its alumni magazine, creating a publication that better reflects the university's academic excellence, Jesuit mission, and connection to Chicago. The redesign refreshed and reimagined the magazine's editorial structure while anchoring visual storytelling in thoughtful, story-specific feature design.

The inaugural issue explores subjects ranging from an NFL owner’s quest to make football safer and a couple’s burgeoning bison ranch to groundbreaking climate change research, the resurgence of Y2K culture, and the surprising legacy of The Office’s Stanley Hudson. Each story is supported by illustration, photography, and typography tailored to the ideas explored.

The result is a publication with greater variety, stronger editorial rhythm, and a more cohesive reading experience — one that invites readers to linger while giving each story a distinct visual voice.

1. Felt Fruit, Fishsticks, and Fritos

Image: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images for the Momentary

UK-based installation artist, Lucy Sparrow, recently opened her first U.S. museum exhibition, titled “The Beginning of Convenience.” The installation is a full-scale recreation of a 1980s supermarket, completely stocked with more than 20,000 hand-crafted objects — all made of felt! 

“Convenience” celebrates an everyday retail environment and the objects within. We might not give much thought to the frozen pizzas, laundry detergent, and soup cans that fill the shelves of our real-life grocery stores, but Sparrow’s stitched recreations of these items — and more — elevate the mundane for a really extraordinary experience.

Sparrow’s work is on display at the Momentary, an extension of the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, AR. The exhibition will be up through July 11, 2027, so if you have an upcoming trip to Arkansas within the next year, a trip to this supermarket should be on your itinerary.

2. For the Love of Goats

Illustration: Maddie Abuyuan

If you’ve spent any time in the green spaces around Pittsburgh, you’re likely to have encountered at least one of the three crews of goats utilized to clear unwanted and invasive plants. These teams of goats, with their donkey companions, are loved and cared for by Allegheny GoatScape, a local non-profit committed to sustainable land stewardship.

As a fundraising initiative, Allegheny GoatScape held a t-shirt design competition. And, as designers and goat-enthusiasts, some of us here at Landesberg couldn’t help but throw our hats into the ring.

Maddie Abuyuan’s incredibly cool design is currently in the running as a finalist and needs more support. Cast your vote for Maddie’s design here! And if you see Michael or Piper, give them your condolences for their non-winning designs (they’re not being sore losers at all, we promise).

3. Visions of Play

Illustration: Eastend Western

The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum in Long Island, NY is currently showing an exhibition titled “Noguchi’s New York.” 

As part of this exhibit, on display through September 13, some unrealized works by the acclaimed sculptor have been brought to life by creatives at Eastend Western in the form of five entirely hand-painted, animations. These short films center around imagined communal spaces for exploration and play. Explore the animated playgrounds here.

Janel Young

Pittsburgh, PA + Chicago, IL

Image: Studio Hayes

Janel Young stays busy. Splitting time between Pittsburgh and Chicago, she wears many hats, including painter, muralist, athlete, and community leader. This year she also opened her first solo exhibition since 2018, titled “UNDRAFTED.” The exhibit was shown at Atithi Studios in Sharpsburg, PA and was an artistic exploration of the experiences and lessons that playing sports opens one up to.

Young’s passion for sports and the community built around them is also evident from her two basketball court murals done for the city of Pittsburgh since 2019, found in the Beltzhoover and Northside communities.

Image: Hounds

Even if you’re not frequenting the city’s basketball courts, there are more opportunities to see Young’s work, including her most recent Pittsburgh-based mural found on RiverLife’s Shore Thing — a project particularly near and dear to our hearts here at Landesberg!

Since the Very Beginning

For 44 years, quite literally since Landesberg Design’s founding in 1982, Anita Driscoll (pictured above, left, and in the ’80s) has brought sharp writing, strategic thinking, and steady guidance to everything we do. Now, a well-earned retirement awaits — one we’re confident she’ll fill with ocean views, time with grandkids, and plenty of good books. Anything, really, except client calls, proposals, and Monday meetings.

We’d like to thank Anita for helping shape Landesberg Design since the very beginning. We wouldn’t be the company — or the workplace — we are today without her, and we know many of our clients have benefited from having her in their corner, too.

Here’s to joy, relaxation, and all the best in the years ahead. Thank you, Anita!