Pittsburgh has always been a city of makers. From steel to startups, from bridges to branding, creativity has long shaped how this city works and how it’s seen by the world. Today, that creativity lives in the studios, agencies, and community spaces where design and marketing are practiced every day.
Ways of Working: Creative Practice in Pittsburgh’s Design and Marketing Communities is a new project that explores not just what gets made here, but how and why. Through essays, interviews, and case studies, the book will highlight the philosophies, processes, and voices that define Pittsburgh’s creative culture. It’s less about a timeline of history, and more about an inside look at the people and practices shaping the work right now.
The pace of change in design and marketing has never been faster — AI, social media, and shifting cultural dynamics are rewriting the rules daily. But behind every tool and trend is a human practice: the choices, values, and ways of working that give meaning to what we create. By capturing these stories in Pittsburgh, a city that blends grit with innovation, we can better understand the role of design in shaping identity, culture, and community.
This is just the beginning. Alongside the book will be a living digital companion — a blog, interviews, and social media features — designed to keep the conversation evolving. Ways of Working isn’t just a project about Pittsburgh; it’s an invitation to reflect on how we all practice creativity in our own communities.