Designing for a Shared Vision: Working With Kevin O’Keefe on His Assembly Campaign Logo
Some creative collaborations feel less like work and more like a continuation of a shared mission. Working with Kevin O’Keefe has always been that way for me.
Kevin and I first partnered years ago to bring to life the St. Vartan Park Conservancy logo, followed by the logo for the Manhattan East Community Association. Both projects were rooted in the same belief: that public spaces, strong neighborhoods, and civic engagement matter—and that good design can help tell that story in a way people feel.
In 2022, Kevin launched the all-volunteer St. Vartan Park Conservancy after leading a determined campaign to reopen the park’s garden to the public following decades of closure. What had once been Midtown East’s largest locked, city-owned green space—accessible only to a select few—was finally opened for everyone. It was a huge win for equity, access, and community.
Kevin didn’t stop there. He went on to design and manage a five-phase garden equity plan, completed in 2024, that transformed the park into a more inclusive and welcoming space. This included the addition of an ADA-accessible entrance and pathway, made possible through funds raised by the conservancy itself. It was a powerful example of what committed local leadership and grassroots organizing can accomplish in New York City.
So when Kevin asked if I would design the logo for his run for New York State Assembly, the answer was an easy yes.
I’ve seen firsthand the work Kevin has done—and continues to do—for New York City, particularly around protecting and expanding access to green space. This new logo needed to reflect not just a campaign, but a set of values and priorities shaped by real results.
The design centers on the three core issues at the heart of Kevin’s campaign:
Addressing affordable housing
Fixing the health care crisis
Protecting the environment
The goal was to create a mark that felt grounded, forward-looking, and people-focused—something that connects policy with lived experience and signals a commitment to equity, sustainability, and care for New Yorkers.
Designing this logo felt like a natural extension of the work we’ve already done together: using design as a tool to support communities, open doors, and help bring bold, inclusive ideas to life. I’m proud to continue that journey with Kevin as he takes this next step in public service.