Graham Projects is excited to welcome Rachel DeTone (she/her) to the team as our Production Coordinator. Originally from Marlton, New Jersey, Rachel has called Baltimore City home for the last four years. She comes to us with a background in graphic design and event marketing as well as a blossoming interest in placemaking that drives her approach to facilitating internal processes and ensuring our projects run smoothly from start to finish.
You may recognize her work as the lead Graphic Designer with the Baltimore Office of Promotion of the Arts (BOPA) where she created marketing and event collateral for many high-visibility local events such as Artscape and the Baltimore Book Festival and various artist exhibitions throughout Baltimore City.
We asked Rachel a few questions to gain insight into her background and future creative endeavors with Graham Projects. Read on to find out more.
How did you come to work for Graham Projects?
While at a previous job, I had the opportunity to design printed signage for the first time. Frequently it was for events that I also attended/worked at, and I started noticing how those designs impacted the experiences of our attendees. Was the wayfinding confusing and created frustration? Was it clear and ensured a smoother experience? Did it add to the overall look and feel of the event? Things like that. That initial curiosity expanded as I started researching outdoor signage and wayfinding and creative displays—until I came across the term “placemaking”. Then it was like a whole new world opened up.
That newfound appreciation for placemaking and continued research into its role in Baltimore is how I came across Graham Projects’s work over a year ago and reached out to Graham. More recently, I reached back out looking to formally involve myself in the Baltimore placemaking scene and I’m super excited to be a part of the team now!
What’s your guiding principle for everything you work on?
Always consider the function of what you’re working on and who it needs to work for. Inject some whimsy and/or personal style wherever you can.
What’s one of your proudest achievements?
Recently, l’ve been really happy with how my open water swim training has been going. I did my first OW event two years ago and have been showing up to the pool pretty regularly since then.
Last summer I did my first 3-mile swim, and this June I’m gearing up for my first 4.4 mile Great Chesapeake
Bay Swim!
What are you excited to do with Graham Projects?
I’m excited to LEARN! Be exposed to all the moving parts and processes that make these projects actually happen. And do different kinds of work to make them happen from project and resource management, to design, to whatever else I’ll be able to get my hands on.
What are some of your dream projects? Is there a concept that you’d love to execute in collaboration with Graham Projects?
I’m used to working mostly digitally so I’m still finding out what‘s possible. But after continuously getting blown away by what’s been done, and what’s in the works, I’m sure I’ll develop dreams of my own.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Most of my free time at the moment has been spent swimming, spending time with my cat, sketchbooking, reading, and hiking. It’s hard not to get drawn to new creative practices though so the things I ~hope- to do are too many to count.
Is there a website or platform that we can find any potential creative ventures of your own or artwork?
You can check out my website:
racheldetone.carbonmade.com