RSM Design
RSM Design is a private architectural graphic design firm, founded in 1997 and operating from four U.S. studios, delivering wayfinding, environmental graphic design, branding, placemaking, and public art services to enterprise, civic, and institutional clients across 12+ market verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersSan Clemente, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RSM Design does
RSM Design is a private architectural graphic design firm founded in 1997 and headquartered in San Clemente, California. The company operates four studios across the United States — San Clemente (headquarters), Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York — and serves clients across 12+ market verticals including hospitality, mixed-use, cultural, life science, parks, education, healthcare, sports and entertainment, retail, food and beverage, civic, residential, transit, parking, and waterfront. Its work spans both domestic and international projects, with past engagements referenced in Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Colombia.
The firm's core offering centers on environmental graphic design, wayfinding systems, branding and logo design, placemaking, master sign programs, public art and murals, and digital signage integration. RSM Design positions its work at the intersection of graphic design and architecture, embedding visual identity into the built environment from schematic design onward rather than as a post-construction overlay. Projects range from city-wide wayfinding programs (City of Dana Point, Omaha RiverFront) and multi-block life sciences campuses (IQHQ's RaDD in San Diego) to arena signage (Cotton Bowl Stadium), luxury resorts, hospitals, and historic preservation sites (Fort Worth Stockyards). Technical execution relies on Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, and 3D rendering applications; the firm is recognized for its 'Principle-Centered Design' methodology and public art curation capability.
Commercially, RSM Design operates as a B2B professional services firm with project-based revenue. Pricing is custom and non-public, determined by scope and complexity, and client acquisition runs through direct project inquiries via the website, dedicated studio contacts, and an established referral network with named architecture practices (Gensler, HKS, OJB, 5G Studio Collaborative, Silling Architects, Bickel Group). The firm has no external institutional investment, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed M&A activity; leadership is anchored by Founding Principal Suzanne Redmond Schwartz and Principal/Executive Director Harry Mark, FAIA.
RSM Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RSM Design
- Legal name
- RSM Design
- Website
- https://rsmdesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- RSM Design is a private architectural graphic design firm, founded in 1997 and operating from four U.S. studios, delivering wayfinding, environmental graphic design, branding, placemaking, and public art services to enterprise, civic, and institutional clients across 12+ market verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RSM Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Graphic Design Services
- NAICS
- Other Specialized Design Services (54149), Graphic Design Services (541430)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wayfinding, Signage & Environmental Graphic Design (BPAHAKAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)
Keywords
Where RSM Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Clemente
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
RSM Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Design Consulting and Project Services: RSM Design generates revenue through project-based professional services engagements. They work on a per-project basis delivering environmental graphic design, wayfinding, branding, and placemaking services for clients across real estate development, hospitality, healthcare, education, civic, and entertainment sectors. Projects range from complex urban programs to small unique branding opportunities on high-profile domestic and international projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
RSM Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RSM Design is an architectural graphic design firm that delivers environmental graphic design, wayfinding, branding, placemaking, public art, and master sign program services for built environments. The firm collaborates with architects, developers, and property owners to integrate visual identity and navigational systems into physical spaces across hospitality, healthcare, education, civic, retail, mixed-use, and entertainment sectors. The studio operates through four U.S. locations (San Clemente, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York) and works on projects ranging from complex urban programs to boutique branding engagements.
Product overview
RSM Design is an architectural graphic design firm offering a unified portfolio of services centered on Environmental Graphic Design (EGD). The core offering comprises environmental graphic design, branding and logo design, wayfinding design, placemaking, experiential graphics, master sign programs, public art and murals, digital integration, architectural graphic design, donor recognition, and urban repurposing and revitalization. These services are organized across multiple market verticals including hospitality, mixed-use, cultural, life science, parks, education, healthcare, sports and entertainment, retail, food and beverage, civic, residential, transit, parking garage, waterfront, and resort sectors. The company also publishes a book titled 'Graphic Connections in Architecture.' RSM Design operates studios in San Clemente, Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York, collaborating with clients, architects, and consultants to choreograph guest experiences across complex urban programs and high-profile domestic and international projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Environmental Graphic Design
- Branding & Logo Design
- Wayfinding Design
- Placemaking
- Experiential Graphics
- Master Sign Programs
- Public Art & Murals
- Digital Integration for Signage
- Donor Recognition Design
- Graphic Connections in Architecture (Book)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2,500 sq ft of mural installations used as primary wayfinding landmarks at Rodeo 39 in Stanton, CA
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RSM Design
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
RSM Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
RSM Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RSM Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Poulin + Morris: Specialized environmental graphic design and wayfinding firm serving airports, transit, healthcare, and civic clients. Directly comparable to RSM Design in service mix, project scale, and B2B professional services delivery model.
- AldrichPears Associates: Canadian wayfinding and signage design consultancy with strong municipal, healthcare, and transit portfolios. Comparable boutique-scale EGD firm competing for similar enterprise and civic engagements.
- Entro: Wayfinding and signage design firm specializing in transit, healthcare, and institutional projects globally. Closest functional peer to RSM Design in methodology and multi-vertical service delivery.
- Mijksenaar: Amsterdam-based wayfinding design firm with strong international transit and airport portfolio. Comparable in principle-centered, research-driven approach to wayfinding systems design.
- Selbert Perkins Design: Placemaking and environmental graphic design firm serving mixed-use developments, retail, and civic clients. Comparable in boutique scale, multi-vertical service delivery, and placemaking methodology.
- Studio Pacifica: UK-based wayfinding and signage design consultancy serving transit, retail, and cultural clients. Comparable in boutique specialization and cross-sector wayfinding methodology.
- dotdash design: Environmental graphic design and branding studio serving cultural, educational, and commercial clients. Comparable boutique-scale EGD firm with similar project-based professional services model.
- Calori & Vanden-Eynden: Wayfinding and signage design consultancy serving transit, healthcare, and institutional clients in North America. Directly comparable in service mix and project scale to RSM Design.
Broad incumbents
- Two Twelve (Stantec): Originally an independent wayfinding and signage consultancy, Two Twelve was acquired by Stantec. Represents the larger-incumbent model in the same EGD/wayfinding space, with broader multidisciplinary parent.
- Pentagram: Largest independent design consultancy with an active environmental graphic design and wayfinding practice. Competes for high-profile wayfinding commissions but offers broader branding and graphic design capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RSM Design social profiles
Digital presenceRSM Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RSM Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
RSM Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RSM Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RSM Design
What does RSM Design do?
RSM Design is an architectural graphic design firm that delivers environmental graphic design, wayfinding, branding, placemaking, public art, and master sign program services for built environments. The firm collaborates with architects, developers, and property owners to integrate visual identity and navigational systems into physical spaces across hospitality, healthcare, education, civic, retail, mixed-use, and entertainment sectors. The studio operates through four U.S. locations (San Clemente, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York) and works on projects ranging from complex urban programs to boutique branding engagements.
Is RSM Design a public or private company?
RSM Design is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was RSM Design founded?
RSM Design was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is RSM Design based?
RSM Design is headquartered in San Clemente, United States, in the North America region.
How does RSM Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: design Consulting and Project Services.
Who are RSM Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Poulin + Morris, AldrichPears Associates, Entro, Mijksenaar, Selbert Perkins Design, Studio Pacifica, dotdash design and Calori & Vanden-Eynden. Broad incumbents are Two Twelve (Stantec) and Pentagram.
Does RSM Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for RSM Design.
What industry is RSM Design in?
RSM Design's product category is Architectural Graphic Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAN, Wayfinding, Signage & Environmental Graphic Design, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAL, Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design. Its NAICS code is 54149 and its SIC code is 7330.