Sara Duell is a designer who lives in NYC.
For over a decade I have worked with social justice, civic and cultural institutions to create high-quality designs that make social messages legible, accessible, and inviting to large audiences. I also have worked directly with artists, writers, editors, filmmakers, curators, and other creative practitioners to develop portfolio & project websites, artists’ books, and marketing materials. The following is a sample of highlighted projects.
I’m currently looking for new collaborations, please reach out! info (a) saraduell.com
Vera Institute of Justice
— 60 Years of Fighting for Justice
The Vera Annual Report for the organization’s 60th-anniversary, was it’s most ambitious to date transforming the report into a magazine to showcase the impressive and groundbreaking work and initiatives Vera and it’s staff have done over the year in a dynamic and visually striking way.
I led the creative and art direction, working together with designer Gloria Mendoza on the layout, illustrators Mike Centano and Jasjyot Singh Hans. As well collaborating with New York Photographer Jeanette Spicer and Illinois photographer Anjai Pinto.
Vera Institute of Justice — ICE’s Deadly Practice of Abandoning Immigrants with Disabilities and Mental Illnesses on the Street
Art direction for a special report ICE’s deadly practices dealing with immigrants with mental health illnesses and other disabilites. Illustration by Michelle Garcia. Featured on The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles “The 60th annual Illustration West”.
Vera Institute of Justice
— [It’s] a Torture Chamber: Stories from Rikers Island
Art direction for a special report on the conditions on Riker’s Island featuring three voices from formerly incarcerated people. Photographs by Reece T. Williams.
City of New York
— OneNYC
City of New York’s strategic plan outlining initiatives and goals to improve life for New Yorkers for 2050, addressing how to adapt the City to the changing climate, the growing population, and aging infrastructure. I was the lead designer for the project, overseeing the 9 printed reports and the responsive website.
NYC Official Tourism Organization
–See Your City
Designer on the city wide campaign made by the NYC&co in-house team inspired by vintage travel posters urging New York City locals to venture outside their own borough. The program was so popular that there was a food-focused extension of the program made; a take on retro suitcase stickers used on bus shelters and printed ads through out New York City.
Aperture
— The Heights by Matthew Porter
A portfolio of Matthew Porter’s images of vintage muscle cars captured in mid-aid. Designed to focus on the landscape and poetic elements of the photographs. The design was also adapted to a poster. Custom hand-lettering for the cover and title for Rachel Kushner’s essay accompanying the Porter’s photographs.
Aperture
— Afghanistan by Larry Towell
Cover and inset design for Magnum photographer Larry Towell’s limited edition photo book facsimile of his artist maquette showing his vast collection of photographs from his years reporting in Afghanistan.
PDN Photo Annual winner Photo Book Category.
Aperture
— The Photobook Review
I designed Aperture’s biannual newsprint of all things photo book related for five years.
Topos Press
— It Was Over When You Said What
An intimate break-up anthology, printed on a risograph with broad dynamic brushstrokes to indicate the end and beginning of a text (red stroke indicated beginning and blue strokes end – referring to anatomy illustrations of blood bringing oxygen in and out of the body).