Leadership
Nigel Smith,
Co-President
Recognized in 2003 by Taschen books as one of the “World’s 100 Best Graphic Design Studios”, Nigel’s first studio Hahn Smith Design established an international reputation as an elite communications and design studio. Hahn Smith projects were judged among the best of the most sophisticated and contemporary work in global design. As director, Nigel Smith has collaborated on highly prestigious projects with Harvard University and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and now on a wide range of work in healthcare, arts and culture, architecture, retail, finance, education, development, transportation and philanthropy. Nigel Smith’s first client was Rem Koolhaas, with whom he collaborated on the redesign of Delirious New York. Other collaborations with artists include Ann Hamilton, Mike Kelley, Paul McCarthy, Peter Doig, Arnaud Maggs, Spring Hurlbut and Robyn Collyer.
His work has been recognized internationally and published in journals, magazines and newspapers, including Metropolis, eye, Graphis, frieze, the National Post, Azure, Wallpaper, Newsweek, the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star.
His project experience includes branding, identity work, print communications, editorial design, broadcast design, large-scale publications, wayfinding, signage, architectural graphics, exhibitions, and websites. He approaches his work with an assessment of context, strategy and viability. His design process is a dialogue with clients where research, prototyping, critique, humour, editing, and writing are used with the formal elements of design to solve problems. His roles include Creative Director, Copywriter, Editor and Director of Business Development.
Nigel has taught at the University of Toronto and Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and is a guest lecturer at design and architecture schools in Canada and the United States.
© KerrSmith Design 2023