Pratt Institute

Education

BID, Pratt Institute

Biography

Ms. DeRespinis’ longstanding Industrial Design career has included product design, lighting, clocks, glassware, ceramics, cookware, interiors,exhibits, trade shows and graphics.

She was Senior Designer and Design Director at George Nelson & Co. and Sandgren & Murther (where she developed the Dunkin’ Donuts logo), and she served as exclusive in-house designer for manufacturers of tableware, including Minners and Co. and Delco Tableware International.  With Abco, she designed in-flight food service for the airline industry. She is currently a design consultant.

Ms. DeRespinis’ designs and commentary were recently featured in the Metropolis article, “Nelson & Company-Iconic Workplace, 1947-86.”  Her designs and photography are profiled in Cold War Confrontations, by Jack Macy, and Pat Kirkham’s, Women Designers in the USA – 1900-2000.

In addition, her work was included in the Whitney Museum exhibition,“High Styles:  20^th Century American Design”, and is currently part of the Vitra Design Museum traveling exhibition, “George Nelson” and will be part of an upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Arts & Design.

Ms. DeRespinis is a lifetime member of IDSA and recipient of Pratt Institute’s “Rowena Reed Kostellow Award” for her theories on visual language and teaching excellence.