Design 21: Social Design Network

Dawn's always believed the most effective communication comes from culturally-relevant design. So she started Firebelly to prove honesty and authenticity could answer mainstream businesses needs. With a passion for straight lines, social justice and old copy machines, she's been producing powerful, thought provoking work ever since.

Reflecting her natural obsession for arranging unique pieces to create a more beautiful whole, Dawn's studio is an assemblage of amazingly talented people who understand the importance of collaboration. Humanity finds its way into all the work; everyone at Firebelly talks with their hands, thinks with their heart and goes with their gut.

Naturally, Dawn's leadership and creative direction distills all of Firebelly's diverse styles into a potent shot of design goodness. Serving an ever-broadening list of industries, the studio has grown in both size and reputation and its portfolio and client list prove feel-good, do-good work can yield beautiful, bountiful results.

Furthering her commitment to socially conscious causes, in 2003 Dawn decided to create the annual Firebelly Design & Marketing Grant which provides an entire year of strategy, design and development to one nonprofit—completely free of charge.

Outside of Firebelly, Dawn is a savior of stray pups, mentor to young designers and vegetarian chef to her lucky dinner guests (none of whom will ever see her secret recipes).