I'm Maren. I started independent practice in Brooklyn in 2018 after eight years split between indie publishing and a small studio in Greenpoint. My work is brand identity for founders and editorial systems for small publishers. Most of it ships in print.
Before independent practice I was an in-house editorial designer at Heron Press [Sample] and a junior brand designer at the Brooklyn studio Marrow & Bone [Sample]. Both jobs taught me restraint by giving me real budget constraints and strong editors who stripped my decks down. Restraint stayed when the constraints went away.
Most projects fall into one of three shapes. Brand identity systems for founders building small studios run 4 to 8 weeks and ship with a handoff document the next designer can inherit. Editorial systems for small magazines and indie publishers cover typesetting specs, master pages, and sometimes a refreshed masthead. The third shape is an advisory retainer with three slots open at any time, for founders who need taste coverage on shipped work without a full project.
I work mostly remote with clients in NYC and LA. I reply within 2 business days. Most engagements start with a written exchange before any call. I want to know what you're trying to make before I commit time on the phone.
Working method
I work in InDesign for editorial, Figma for brand, and a notebook before either. I keep one project on the table at a time and run a weekly written status note so the editor or founder always knows what shipped, what's open, and what comes next. Every brand and editorial engagement closes with a handoff document the next person can inherit. The point of the document is the point of the engagement: what I made should be possible to keep using after I'm gone.