Original Practice is the research we do. Instruments, questions and ideas we take up for ourselves — an ongoing practice in service to curiosity and wonder.
Applied Learning is the artifact we make — anything that is tangible and has a public-facing presence, which can be considered design.
We believe the work we do should fill us with joy. We are not interested in practices that exhaust and exploit. We hold wellness as a method of production and play as our close ally.
The collaborators we work with feel the same way: people looking to make positive change, who instill values that lead to a creative and enriching world, and who are actively responding to the issues of today.
People
Christian, principal and founder
Designer, educator, photographer, community builder, trained meditation instructor and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Producer of Faculty, an annual journal; host of the Underscore podcast; founder of the Chicago Graphic Design Club. Before founding OP/AL he spent over nine years in corporate consulting, and that decade inside large organizations is what he brings to complex problem solving. His work spans identity, culture, communication and technology. Christian teaches graphic design at DePaul University.
Rick, advisor and producer
Distinguished by risk, innovation and fabulousness. Rick brings all of that and a relentless push for excellence into OP/AL.
Saied, administration
Brings a background in business and business administration to OP/AL, overseeing the organizational and operational infrastructure that allows our practice to run with clarity and intention.
Jacqui, joy enhancer
A mindfulness and relationships expert working on communication, collaboration, wellness and emotional intelligence, she brings a discerning point of view that places wellness and care at the forefront of our work.
Barry, creative partner
Designer, artist, typeface designer, creative director, developer, yogi, dog lover, walkability enthusiast, meditator, joker and foodie. Has touched brands as gigantic as Coca-Cola and the Super Bowl and as tiny as they come. Has lectured and taught internationally. His work is in the permanent collections of MoMA and the Cooper-Hewitt.
Liam, resident
Works at the intersection of analog and digital media and technology. BFA in Graphic Design from DePaul University, and based in the northern suburbs of Chicago.
Typefaces
If you are interested, get in contact with us.