Page 69 - Advertising Annual 55

CHICAGO DESIGNERS
produces not only catalogs, but also marketing and exhibition materials and the house’s websites (wright- now.com and wright20.com).
She notes that the founder of the house, Richard Wright, has championed design as a marketing tool in the industry. “It was pretty shocking to the auction world at first, but now we’re known for it,” says Mahanay. But the most important part, she adds, is that they feel invested in the work. “It’s our joy to frame the material in a way that people haven’t seen before.”
Mahanay has a degree in graphic design and photography, a fact that is resoundingly clear in her art direction for the catalogs and online presence. Images are often full bleed and exquisitely rendered. “Celebrating the object is what we do. Yes, we always show the piece in an enticing way, but we can never overshadow the object. Every item has a story we try to tell. And when we launch a series of auctions for certain types of material—contemporary art, jewelry, design—we work to create a brand for the category that we can carry forward.” Details like a common grid and typographic style for each category help accomplish that.
Regardless of the particular event or item, the Wright style is instantly identifiable. Mahanay describes her own style as “steeped in modernism,” something she has carried with her throughout her professional career. “We want the work to be bold, tight in the grid.”
In Chicago, she says, design is grounded in the spirit. “The city is deeply affected by design history, from [art director] Art Paul at Playboy to the design-driven business model of packaging manufacturer Container Corporation of America. I’m fortunate to have learned so much from that history. No matter what field you’re working in, it’s an exciting time to be a designer in Chicago.” ca
Special thanks to Rick Valicenti for mentoring so many great Chicago designers and for his assistance with researching this article.
Left: “Stylebook to promote auction house Wright’s online shop: wright-now.com.” Jennifer Mahanay, art director; Annaka Olsen, designer; Devin Ehrenfried, photographer; Wright, client.
“Catalog for Wright’s Mass Modern auction.” Jennifer Mahanay, art director; Devin Ehrenfried, photographer; Wright, client.
This page: “The online home of Wright, at wright20.com, features design masterworks.” Jennifer Mahanay, art director; Mason Kessinger, developer; Wright, client.
Communication Arts | commarts.com 69