MEMO
About
Studio Size
Small (1-5)
Year founded
1993
Borough
Manhattan
The Team
MEMO has 3 people. Of those, 1 is a studio head and 0 are managerial.
60% of studios are small-sized (1-5 people).
Gender Breakdown
67% male
33% female
Average height
5’10”-6’
Shortest: 5’7”
Tallest: 6’5”
Number of freelancers/year
1-5
1-5 are long-term freelancers
Number of interns/year
1-2
Average: 1-2
Studio Disciplines
Breakdown of Work
Primary Specialties
- Art Direction (58)
- Books (52)
- Brand Strategy (42)
- Branding & Identity (77)
- Editorial/Publication Design (51)
- Packaging (45)
- Print (75)
- Web Design (59)
Outside the scope of the studio
- Broadcast Graphics (27)
- Experience Design (12)
- Industrial Design (35)
- Sound Design (49)
- Typeface Design (20)
- Web Development (43)
Clients’ Industries
- Local & community organizations (41)
- Restaurants & Food (29)
- Retail (43)
- The Arts/Cultural Institutions (71)
MEMO’s Clients
- Batali and Bastianich Hospitality Group
- Definitions Spa Services
- Paul’s Daughter, Coney Island
- Pizza Vinoteca
- Schnipper’s Restaurant
- Sugar and Plumm
Douglas Riccardi, Principal
Demographics
Male, from Spring Valley, NY, USA, now lives in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NY. Formal education is undergraduate degree, primary design education is school (RISD).
What’s been the biggest influence on your design career?
Douglas Riccardi: I had the great fortune of working at two studios where there were no boundaries, no labels, and no set job descriptions. These were M&Co. and Sottsass Associati in Milan. Not only has this has made me really enjoy working in groups, but it taught me to see my contributions as part of a bigger whole. It also taught me to appreciate the way other design professionals approach the same project, but through the lens of their discipline. I think this has made me a more well-rounded designer, has opened my eyes beyeond simply “graphic design” and has led me to seek clients with larger project scopes.
Years in Design Industry
29 years
Average: 17 years
Previous Design Employment
- Anspach, Grossman, and Portugal
- M&Company
- Egg Magazine, NY
- United Colors of Benetton, Treviso, Italy
- Sottsass Associati, Milan, Italy
Teaching Design
- School of Visual Arts — 7 years
- NYU SCPS — 3 years
- Hunter College — 1 years
- Parsons The New School for Design — 3 years
- Cooper Union — 1 years
Board Member on Professional Design Organizations
- AIGA NY Chapter, Vice President — 2 years
Time spent designing
50% actual
50% desired
Location
The Space
The studio is about 1000 square feet. It’s rented and they’ve been there for 4 years, 2 months.
Number of times moved
4
Total people in space
3
Amenities
- Bike storage (26)
- Cleaning service (44)
- Coffee maker (53)
- Doorman (23)
- Elevator (54)
- Espresso machine (23)
- Free booze (28)
- Free snacks (27)
- Library/book collection (67)
- Photo/video equipment (45)
- Pin-up board (43)
- Whiteboard (23)
Number of conference rooms
1
Client meetings held in studio: Approximately half
Type of chair
something cheap
Decorations
Books and bookshelves, Our friends' artwork, Our work, Photos, Process materials for ongoing projects
Desk Policy
To each their own: some keep their desks tidy, while others like it messier.
Space Satisfaction
We like it, but plan to make some changes to the space
Working Days
Working week
The work week is 40-49 hours/week, core hours are 9:30-6:00, with the first in at 9:30am and the last out at 6:30pm.
50% of studios work 40-49 hours/week.
The average is 40-49 hours/week.
Paid Vacation
11-15 days
41% of studios in this range
Paid Holidays
5 days
Average: 7
Work Weekends?
Never
Take Summer Fridays?
Most weeks
Busiest Time of day?
It’s high intensity all day
Culture
Music
Plays music for 70% of the day at an average volume. Currently obsessed with Mexican, and most played over the last year is The Smiths.
Biking to work
0
127 bikers across all studios
Pick your poison
Fancy Cocktails
Overall Noise Level
Average
59% of studios are average
Extra-curricular activities
boat trips, cocktail hours
Working groups
Work from home?
Once a month
Encourage freelance work?
Yes
Internal studio meetings
A couple times/week
Lunch Habits
Everyone eats together
Favorite delivery/take-out: Go-Go Curry. It is like crack.
Eat out for lunch?
A couple times/month
Favorite sit-down lunch: Tehuitzingo Deli
Critiquing Process
Studio Outings
Day trips to museums, Drinks after work
Favorite Place(s): Coney Island, Keene's Chophouse for drinks, the Rockaways in summer, Salvation Taco