Kutztown University Communication Design

Alumni Spotlight

September 2008: 20nine Design

Greg and Holly Ricciardi happen to be two of those lucky people who would probably keep their jobs even if they won the lottery. And in some ways it feels like they already have won. Both 1995 graduates, Greg and Holly have turned their passion for design into a thriving business.

As managing partners of 20nine Design Studios, Greg and Holly work together to create inspiring branding campaigns, creative design concepts and innovative advertising. 20nine, a name inspired by their age when the company was created, boasts an extensive client list from colleges and universities to nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies, banks and retail establishments.

Under their direction 20nine has received numerous awards and recognitions including being named one of the fastest growing privately held companies in Philadelphia. A lot of their success has to do with their philosophy that relationships are the most important aspect of the client/agency interaction. “We want our clients to have more than just a typical agency experience,” says Holly. “A lot of times companies don’t ever meet the designers who create their work and we strive to create an atmosphere where the designers talk to the client directly without interference from an account executive.”

It’s not a rare occasion to find Greg delivering design comps to a client himself or to see Holly sitting down after a meeting to just catch up and chat. “We always want our clients to know that we are readily available to them,” says Greg. With clients like Citi, Lincoln Financial and Shire Pharmaceuticals, this kind of personalized treatment isn’t always typical in such a fast paced corporate setting.

This philosophy has spilled over to their relationship with employees as well. “Being past employees ourselves, we know what it’s like,” says Greg. “We want our employees to feel appreciated, respected and to have fun. The internal atmosphere is very important.”

As a result, Greg and Holly often find creative ways to reward their employees, like taking them on a summer “outing” every year. This past summer the Viking School found a class full of designers trying their best soufflé and braising skills.

Feel Good Friday (which takes place on Good Friday) is a time to relax and get out of the office. Whether it’s bowling or playing whiffleball, the important thing is that everyone is outside and just having fun.

This involved and interactive management style has certainly worked out well for the company too. In the five years since Greg and Holly first envisioned 20nine, the firm has been ranked #7 by the Philadelphia Business Journal for graphic design firms, awarded with three Philly Gold Awards and recognized with a C.A.S.E. Award of Excellence, two National Communicator Awards, two Pyramid Awards and a Mame Award, all for their design, web and branding work.

“We both got a great, high quality graphic design education that we’ve been able to translate into a successful business,” says Greg. “We were encouraged to think outside the box and to always think creatively and we’ve been able to keep that mindset. We feel very lucky,” adds Holly.

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