WE ARE +PUBLIC

create the story of your community’s future

WHAT WE BUILD (WITH YOU)

+Public creates transformative stories of the revitalization of people and places by designing scalable and sustainable communication solutions to economically-challenged communities-in-revival.

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Design Thinking Research

Full-scale research investment in your community’s economics, people, and places.

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Brand Identity Design

Memorable time-tested logo solutions built to fit the shape, size, and soul of your community.

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Graphic + Interactive

We cover the spectrum of graphic and interactive design – be it print work, animation, app design, or ADA-compliant websites.

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Multimedia Storytelling

Telling the stories of your community through widely distributed advertising, videos, podcasting, and live events!

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Creative Placemaking

Transforming spaces into places where people want to be and doing so creatively, originally, and freshly.
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Community Engagement

Meaningful and memorable creative public programming that maximizes community impact.

WE ARE A B-CORP

Founded in Pennsylvania, working with a social conscience

What is a B-Corporation?

A B-Corporation is a business entity that includes public benefit and positive impact on society, workers, the community and the environment in addition to profiting from services or products they offer.

Why does this matter to me?

Since +Public is a legal B-Corporation, we are obligated to create public benefit, like donating a percentage of annual income to charity, which gives our mission sharp focus and meaningful purpose. By working with us, you are creating positive public benefit and impact.

How does +Public create public benefit?

We believe that design is a conduit for cultural and social change and invest in organizations that create opportunities for all people to use art and design in transformative ways.

Disclaimer: “City of You” images created by RJ Thompson for the City of Youngstown through a grant partnership between the City of Youngstown and Youngstown State University. “City of You” is not an official +Public project. 

Creating a new identity, or telling a new story for a community is a challenge that requires organic solutions that come over time, not forced into immediacy. +Public creates transformative stories of the revitalization of people and places by designing scalable and sustainable marketing ecosystems, timeless brand identities, communication and design storytelling, public space activation and creative placemaking, training, and creative community and economic development solutions to economically-challenged communities-in-revival.

Our public-centered communication and design services have affordability and practicality built in, creating memorable and meaningful impact in your community doesn’t have to be challenging or expensive. Every community is different in shape, size, and soul – our adaptive services and research model structures itself differently around each community for optimal creative output. Our work is fully inclusive and relies on thriving public and private partnerships with local assets to truly showcase the strengths and opportunities of each community. Be it a new brand identity, ADA-compliant websites, print advertisements, mobile apps, podcasts, merchandise, video spots, and more – we build meaningful and memorable expressions across all channels. Whatever work product is developed, we train you how to use it effectively to sustain and grow your communication efforts on your own – and if you happen to need us, we’ll be there.

We are actively recruiting communities to be included in a publication of case studies on community branding.

We accept secure payments via PayPal

WE ARE EDUCATORS

Grounded in academic research, guided by practice

RJ Thompson

RJ Thompson

Principal + Creative

RJ is a tenured Assistant Professor of Graphic + Interactive Design at Youngstown State University. His research agenda explicitly seeks to utilize design as an agent for culture, community, and economic change. RJ has been the recipient of many grants, awards, accolades, and recognition – particularly with his work in directing the City of You rebranding initiative. 

Kent Kerr

Kent Kerr

Research + Creative

Kent is an award-winning designer, illustrator, and Master of Fine Arts in Design Thinking candidate at Radford University. His research and design utilizes design thinking philosophies to identify cultural and economic opportunities in order to combine visually striking design with insightful, human-centered narratives.

Upcoming Presentations

  • UCDA Design Education Summit, Johnson City, Tennessee, 5/20-5/22
    • Presentation: The Youngstown Social Cause Poster Project
    • Presentation: Catalytic Communications & Community Connectivity 
    • Poster: Designed to Vote Exhibition
    • Panel: Maximizing Value and Minimizing Chaos in Creative Collaborations
  • DOYO Live, Youngstown, Ohio, October 17-18
    • Presentation: Community Branding & Storytelling Strategies

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