35 years of painting
the town red!
As we expand our brand with eyes wide on the horizon, it’s hard not to reflect on the past years that have built us. We’re grateful our clients have brought us such incredible projects, letting us be a part of Knoxville’s vibrancy and beyond. For the past 35 years, we’ve been making cool stuff, telling your stories through type and image, and somehow, it’s actually worked out pretty well.
In a climate dominated by fast-paced large agencies, Robin envisioned creating a group that prioritized creativity above all else.
1989
Robin Easter Design is founded to serve exceptional graphic design services and most excellent hair styles. Our first branding project and client is the Knoxville Museum of Art.
the 1990s
Equipped with the latest and greatest technology — the 1 MAC II (the first Mac to support color graphics), the team grows. A favorite consistent gig is making the monthly show lineups for ellA Gurus — Ashley Capps’ first music venue and an Old City icon. We brand Knoxville’s first coffee shop: Java. It’s a blast at the Addy’s each year and we celebrate getting our first national client, CDI Engineering Group.
the 2000s
We say Bye Bye Bye to the 90s by launching our first website, complete with some sick flash animation ;) With all the new tech this decade, design is our oyster! We brand some early start-ups who are still on the scene. The Old City has always been home, and in 2008 we settle into our current space in the front of Jackson Ateliers.
the 2010s
We craft the Tennessee Theatre history book — a legacy project that will live beyond us. McGhee Tyson Airport decides our National Parks murals are too good to let go, making them a permanent fixture, which are later awarded Best of Show at the Addys. We also have the privilege to shape some of Knoxville’s cornerstone brands: Keep Knoxville Beautiful, the Old City, Knox Heritage, Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, and Downtown Knoxville Alliance, to name just a few. Robin is honored as an AIGA Fellow, a distinction reserved for those who’ve made a lasting mark on the design community.
the 2020s
Entry into these years may require a newfound resilience, but we’re forming lasting relationships, growing, offering more services, and taking on larger projects. We’re thrilled to be involved in branding so many local favorites. It’s ridiculous how fun our jobs can be.
It’s the talent and dedication of our designers over the years that have truly shaped who we are — because, honestly, we wouldn’t be here without them. Their creativity, passion, and vision has driven our success, enabling us to craft the work that matters.