Span (design firm) explained
| Span |
| Type: | LLC |
| Foundation: | in Chicago, Illinois |
| Founders: | John Pobojewski, Bud Rodecker |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois |
| Industry: | Design |
Span is a Chicago, Illinois-based multidisciplinary studio specializing in identity design, branding, exhibition design, environmental graphics, motion graphics, interactive design, and publications.[1] [2] It was founded in 2020 by Bud Rodecker and John Pobojewski who both worked at the design studio Thirst with Rick Valicenti.[3] In 2023, Nick Adam became Associate Partner.[4]
Notable projects
In 2024 Span led the rebranding of one of Chicago's oldest institutions, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.[5] The studio used the prairie as a key design inspiration[6]
The rebrand of the invasive species of carps—which were widely referred to as Asian carp—as Copi,[7] along with the tagline “Eat Well. Do Good.”[8] The Copi renaming is a part of a Federal and state initiative to get the public to eat the invasive fish,[9] decrease its numbers in Midwestern waterways,[10] and prevent its introduction to the Great Lakes.[11]
The identity and brand identity system for Chicago's Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois).[12]
The short 3D animation/motion graphics films called Urban Sequoia -- about buildings that absorb carbon--which premiered at the UN Climate Change Conferences in 2021 and 2022.[13]
The exhibition graphics for Design and Healing: Creative Responses to Epidemics at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.[14] [15]
The rebrand of and brand identity for New York state’s Nazareth University.[16]
Awards
- Anthem Awards for Sustainability, Environment & Climate, 2023.[17]
- AIGA 365, 2022.[18]
- Society of Typographic Arts, STA 100, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.[19]
Further reading
- The Definitive Ranking of 2023s Best and Worst Branding, December, 2023, Fast Co Design
- To Hook American Diners an Invasive Species of Carp Gets a New Name, The Economist, June, 2022
- Save the Planet by Eating this Big Ugly Fish, March, 2023
- Merriam Webster Dictionary Copi Definition
- Asian carp rebranded as Copi to tackle US environmental crisis Design Week, December, 2022
- Span Designs Two Exhibitions in Celebration of Trees, Design Week, May, 2023
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources official launch with John Goss, Brian Jupiter and Span
- CooperHewitt.org Behind the Book Design
- How Good Design Promotes Good Health, Smithsonian Magazine, February, 2022
Notes and References
- https://chicagographicdesign.club/programming/span-studio-tour/ Chicago Graphic Design Club January, 2022
- https://span.studio/about Span site
- https://3st.com/ Thirst announcement, Dec. 2019
- https://gdusa.com/news/announcing-nick-adam-as-associate-partner-design-director-at-span Nick Adam Is Associate Partner/Design Director At Span Graphic Design USA May, 2023
- News: Jay . Corli . The Nature Museum gets a brand makeover — its first in 20 years . 27 May 2024 . Crain's Chicago Business . 25 April 2024.
- News: Bamford . Abbey . Span takes influence from Illinois's native prairies for Chicago's Nature Museum brand . 27 May 2024 . Creative Boom . Creative Boom . 20 May 2024 . en.
- https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/07/07/to-hook-american-diners-an-invasive-species-of-carp-gets-a-new-name To Hook American Diners an Invasive Species of Carp Gets a New Name, The Economist, June, 2022
- https://www.creativereview.co.uk/asian-carp-copi-rebrand-span/ America's Least Favourite Fish Gets a Rebrand, Creative Review, June 2022
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/can-rebranding-invasive-carp-make-it-more-appealing-to-eat-180980320/ Can rebranding invasive carp make it more appealing to eat, Smithsonian, June 2022"
- https://www.usnews.com/news/news/articles/2022-06-22/from-carp-to-copi-unpopular-fish-getting-a-makeover From Carp to Copi, Unpopular fish gets a makeover, "U.S. News & World Report, June 2022"
- https://apnews.com/article/chicago-lakes-michigan-illinois-ce92a5c9e97ab7c4c55e42b43876935d "From ‘carp’ to ‘copi’: unpopular fish getting a makeover"
- https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_identity_for_chicagos_rta_by_span.php New Logo and Identity for Chicago's RTA by Span, Brand New, December, 2022
- https://www.designindaba.com/articles/creative-work/carbon-neutral Carbon neutral, Design Indaba, November, 2022
- https://www.cooperhewitt.org/channel/design-and-healing/ CooperHewitt.org
- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/21/arts/design/cooper-hewitt-design-and-healing-review.html Epidemics - A Force for Life-Changing Innovation, New York Times, December, 2021
- https://www.printmag.com/daily-heller/the-daily-heller-branding-a-college/ The Invasive Branding of Nazareth University, The Daily Heller / Print Magazine, August, 2023
- https://www.anthemawards.com/winners/list/entry/#sustainability-environment-climate/awareness-media-categories/copi-rebranding-an-invasive-fish-as-a-healthy-seafood-option/391737 Anthem Awards site
- https://aiga-365-design-competition.secure-platform.com/a/organizations/main/gallery/rounds/236/details/52831 AIGA 365 site
- https://100.sta-chicago.org/studios/span STA 100 site
