David Lanford has lived and worked in the Washington DC area since 1991. His design projects have included everything from exhibition graphics for museums to a comprehensive identity program for the US Botanic Garden; a 30-foot timeline on American presidents to publications for the National Park Service; an environmental graphics program for the US Olympic Training center to a 400-page monograph on the American Indian. Most recently, he has designed an interpretive sign system for the rotunda of the US Capitol. (Oddly enough, you can see these in many images of the January 6th attack.) David thrives on a broad range of projects. 

David was formerly an associate at Gallagher & Associates, where he collaborated with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and the United States Olympic Committee.

David has been recognized with numerous honors, including awards from the American Institute of Graphic Arts, Graphis, Communication Arts, the Presidential Design Awards, and the American Association of Museums. 

He lives with his family in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he can usually be found walking his golden retriever.

I am a Helicopter

A great british designer once said that basically there are two kinds of designer: helicopters and vending machines.

Helicopters fly around the landscape zooming in to investigate or backing off to get a better panoramic view. Vending machines tend to be inert until someone shoves money in the slot. They then produce a lot of buzzing, and clanking, until out pops a product. It is invariably the same as the previous one, and will be the same as the next. The only significant difference is that the next is usually staler than the one before, and so on.

I am a helicopter.

Understanding the big picture, focus on important details, rigorous design investigations, and close client collaboration are hallmarks of my approach.