Martha Crawford is a graphic designer + artist based in northern California. She works primarily with small businesses and non-profits on projects with a wide range of complexity, scale and budget. She is a one woman team who seamlessly oversees each project from start to finish-never straying from the budget or deadline and delivering visuals that exceed the client's expectations.
Prior to pivoting to freelance status, she spent two decades working as a staff designer for several leading museums including: the Los Angeles Natural History Museum, UCLA Fowler & Hammer Museum and the de Young Museum in San Francisco. Her last staff position, which she held for 5 years, was as the Creative Lead for the Los Angeles non-profit agency, MRCA. She oversaw the design and production of all the Communication Arts. She also coordinated collaborative projects between local agencies.
These staff positions were invaluable where she honed her skill sets, mastered the organization of overlapping projects and developed the tools needed to deliver striking and effective products within the set parameters of target audience, budget and timeframe. As a consummate professional, Martha keeps up with new technology and trends but remains focused and true to her design strengths.
She splits her creative time between the digital world of Communication Arts and her studio where she works on both personal + commissioned pieces. Her flat files are filled with vintage wallpaper, collected food labels and random flea market treasures-all of which informs, inspires and sources her work. She continues her works on paper + collage illustrations which have been featured in national publications including LA Times, The Nation, Utne Reader, Mix Magazine, Buzz Magazine and LA / SF Weekly.
Beyond her professional work, she spends time recharging in nature, staying curious and harvesting her garden. She shares her life with her partner, Stephen and their rescue pup at their new home in Anderson Valley, California.
education
Rhode Island School of Design BFA Illustration
American Film Institute MFA Production Design