Creative Brief

DesignGroup 50 is a 370-page retrospective created to celebrate the firm’s 50th anniversary. The book includes a 3,000-word history of the firm, a detailed timeline of company milestones, predictions for the firm’s next 50 years, and summaries of 50 of its most iconic projects and buildings, told through essays and technical details. Interspersed throughout the book are a wealth of detailed sidebars, highlighting the mission, values, culture, and people that made DesignGroup the leader it is today in healthcare, education and civic design. 

In preparing the book, which totals more than 35,000 words, we interviewed past and current leadership, including three of the four original founders. We pored over archival photos and project files to reveal key facts, figures, and commentaries about not just final deliverables, but the processes used to move projects forward. The result is a deep-dive into the spirit, intention, and pride shared by DesignGroup staff and clients alike.

The book explores challenges and breakthrough moments alike. Many quotes were pulled from a series of video interviews with nearly a dozen DesignGroup leaders, which were compiled on a special 50th anniversary website and shared through social media throughout the year. The writing, design, and digital teams worked in close partnership to present a rich, integrated story of the company, its clients, and the communities it serves. The book itself is a beautiful keepsake, and will be archived in the Columbus Metropolitan Library and the Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture.