Carbone Smolan Agency
About
Studio Size
Large (21+)
Year founded
1977
Borough
Manhattan
Studio Bio/Philosophy
Brands need advocates who can provide guidance and expertise on the intersection of design, content, and technology. For over 35 years, CSA has crafted identity and design systems, helping brands such as Morgan Stanley, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, and the Musée du Louvre communicate more effectively while embracing new technology along the way.
The Team
Carbone Smolan Agency has 23 people. Of those, 3 are studio heads.
15% of studios are large-sized (21+ people).
Gender Breakdown
48% male
52% female
Average height
5’7”-5’9”
Shortest: 5’2”
Tallest: 6’1”
Average age
36-40
Youngest: 25
Oldest: 62
Studio Disciplines
Breakdown of Work
Strategy/Execution
40% Strategy
60% Execution
Primary Specialties
- Books (52)
- Brand Strategy (42)
- Branding & Identity (77)
- Editorial/Publication Design (51)
- Environmental Design (38)
- Exhibition Design (33)
- Illustration (45)
- Interaction Design (36)
- Mobile Design (30)
- Packaging (45)
- Print (75)
- Web Design (59)
Clients’ Industries
- Finance & Investment (26)
- Local & community organizations (41)
- Real Estate (24)
- Retail (43)
- Technology (37)
- The Arts/Cultural Institutions (71)
Carbone Smolan Agency’s Clients
- Aether Apparel
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Canon
- Carnegie Fabrics
- Christie's
- GrowNYC
- Herman Miller (4)
- Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
- Morgan Stanley
- Musee du Louvre
- Museum of Modern Art (6)
- SPE Certified
- Starwood Hotels
- The Morgan Library & Museum
- W New York Downtown
Ken Carbone, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Director
Demographics
From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, lives in Palisades, New York. Formal education is undergraduate degree, primary design education is school (University of the Arts).
Teaching Design
- School of Visual Arts — 3 years
Board Member on Professional Design Organizations
- AIGA — 1 years
Leslie Smolan, Co-Founder and Director of Creative Strategy
Demographics
From Cedargrove, New Jersey, now lives in Palisades, New York. Formal education is undergraduate degree, primary design education is school (University of the Arts).
Teaching Design
- University of the Arts — 1 years
Paul Pierson, Partner and Design Director
Demographics
From Maplewood, New Jersey, now lives in New York, New York. Primary design education is school (Brown University).
Location
The Space
The studio is about 10000 square feet. They’ve been there for 22 years. They share a space with 1 other company/individual.
Approximately 385 square feet/person. The average is 210 square feet/person.
37% of studios share a space.
Number of times moved
3
Total people in space
26
Carbone Smolan Agency: 23, Other: 3
Other businesses in the space
- Other graphic design studios
- Web development
Number of conference rooms
3
Client meetings held in studio: Approximately half
Decorations
Books and bookshelves, Massive murals, Photos
Desk Policy
To each their own: some keep their desks tidy, while others like it messier.
Culture
Side Projects
"CSA Does Good"
42% of studios have side projects.