About the Studio

Background

Edward Mullen Studio was founded in 2006 and has since helped tell stories and answer challenges for people doing good work in areas of education, environmental progress, civic participation, fashion, music and culture.

Whether defining and addressing the complex content and identity needs of the higher education community (Oberlin College, Columbus State), articulating the transformative visions of change agents (Terrapin, YourPBC), or collaborating with expressive artists and designers (Free People, Josh Ritter, Brendan Benson), the Studio is dedicated to finding beautiful and beneficial solutions to the needs of people doing meaningful work in the world.

In 2001 Ed helped start New York City-based Web agency Squeaky Wheel Media where he remained Partner and Creative Director until June 2006. Prior to Squeaky he had worked at agencies in New York and Michigan. Ed was educated at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH and the Lacoste School of the Arts, Lacoste, France.

Edward Mullen has been the recipient of many design awards including the Webby Awards and One Show. His work has been included in gallery exhibitions, periodicals and publications, including 1000 Music Graphics by Rockport.

Collaboration

Edward Mullen Studio was established with a very intentional model that has more in common with the way architects work – reaching out to lighting specialists or engineering firms – than the typical format of the Web Agency.

Success is defined differently for each project. Each project is analyzed for its unique demands. When additional resources are necessary, a team of established professional collaborators is assembled to meet those needs. This flexibility allows EMS to work with a wide range of clients doing interesting and meaningful work.

Design for Together-Bringers

The role of the designer is to create an experience that tells the client’s story to an audience. The story should be lived by the client, relayed to the designer who translates the story into some medium: print, web, film, product. The telling of the story serves the client's needs by attracting an audience of like-minded people. The goal of the designer, then, is to work with clients that reflect the designer’s values - so that in telling the client's story, the designer's story can also be told.

Local Efforts

With work being as dispersed as it is today, conducted via phone, teleconference, plane and train, it is easy to get disconnected from the real-world community in which we live. Being based in Jersey City, it is has been a goal that some of the efforts of this studio should be focused at working with people who are making this city better.

This work is often of a different scale than the more commercial work, but its impact is readily felt. This follows from the belief that an individual can make the most difference when they apply their unique skills to the common good. Identify where your skills will have the most impact, and focus your attention there.