Page Text: Contact
WHO WE ARE
Robin Easter Design is a team of eight. As a custom design studio we think we’re just the right size. We are small enough to make it personal. You communicate directly with the designer creating your work, not through layers of executives or project coordinators. And, we’re large enough to be nimble. We can add extra talent to your team when you have unanticipated needs, and we can bring extra eyes to projects as needed, giving your work the benefit of multiple perspectives.
Our clients tell us that we’re comfortable to work with. We take that as the greatest compliment. Creating great work shouldn’t be intimidating or frustrating to you. It’s our job to translate your words, goals and aspirations into the right communications tools. Nothing about the process should be mysterious but, when done well, the results should be magical.
Robin Easter Design has been in business for more than 30 years, which we think speaks volumes to the quality of our work and the great relationships we’ve formed with our clients.
Robin Easter
PRINCIPAL / CREATIVE DIRECTOR
As principal and creative director, Robin has conducted business in Knoxville Tennessee for over 30 years. Key to her professional longevity is sharp intuition for discovering talented designers and providing them with an environment in which they can do their best work. Robin and her designers are committed to the philosophy that excellent service and communication are as important as good design. This commitment has forged strong relationships with her clients and suppliers, many of whom have been with her for over 25 years.
Robin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Tennessee and is a member of AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts). She was the first designer in the state of Tennessee to be inducted as an AIGA Fellow, an award given to those who have made a significant contribution to raising the standards of excellence in practice and conduct within their local or regional design community.
Robin also has served as adjunct professor of graphic design at the University of Tennessee and on the Advisory Board for the Pellissippi State Graphic Design Department. She has participated on UT’s graphic design faculty selection committee and is often asked to judge design competitions and critique design classes.
Core to her success has always been Robin’s commitment to give back to the community in which she lives and works. She volunteers her time to organizations that work to improve the community, such as Legacy Parks Foundation, Knox Heritage, Historic Old City Neighborhood Association, and Henry’s Fund.
Robin works directly with all clients – defining their needs, developing the solutions and coordinating the creative work of her team.
Benjamin Finch
LEAD WEB DEVELOPER / DESIGNER
Benjamin is a talented and skilled designer, in command of a broad range of creative and technical abilities in print as well as web design. His roles as Lead Web Developer and Graphic Designer are crucial to crafting thoughtful designs that are both creative and technically innovative. This uniquely blended skill set enables him to solve problems in a way that not only looks great but functions efficiently. His technical skills include HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and PHP with an understanding of responsive web design and best practices for search engine optimization. He also has expertise in photography, painting, drawing, and printmaking techniques.
Benjamin graduated top of his class with a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Tennessee. He is a recipient of the Buck Ewing Scholarship Endowment. His work is published in Logo Lounge Book 6 and AIGA Tenn Show Awards.
Benjamin is innovative, organized, productive—and just an all-around great guy!
Whitney Sanders
ART DIRECTOR / DESIGNER
With experience in both visual and performing arts, Whitney came into graphic design with love for all aspects of art. This dimensionality is why she enjoys working in every medium, whether it be print, web, or more hands-on mediums like drawing and painting. Her approach to design is both artistic and methodical, merging system with design to create unique projects with precision and elegance. She is particularly strong in brand development and execution. As the art director, Whitney oversees the design direction of each project. While she allows designers to explore their ideas, her expertise ensures consistency and quality throughout the studio.
Whitney graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Tennessee and the Chancellor’s Honors Program. She received scholarships covering 100% of her tuition including the reception of the highest honor in her field: the Dille Award for Best Undergraduate Work in Graphic Design in the UT Student Art Competition. She was named Most Outstanding Graduate in Graphic Design in her graduating class.
Whitney’s work is recognized in Print Magazine’s Regional Design Competition and the AIGA Tenn Show. She received a National Addy for her work on the Tennessee Theatre book.
Caroline Herron
OFFICE MANAGER / PROJECT MANAGER
Caroline brings the team a solid background in customer service and project coordination. She evolved from a history in studio art. A perfect fit for Robin Easter Design, Caroline can blend her organizational aptitude with her creative abilities. She helps coordinate projects and supports the client, designer, and vendor while managing schedules and budgets. Caroline is also a designer and jumps in on projects when needed. She takes good care of our clients and keeps the studio running smoothly.
Caroline graduated from The University of Tennessee with a BA in Studio Art and received her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Communication Graphics Technologies from Pellissippi State.
Erik Vass
DESIGNER
It is in Erik’s DNA to be both creatively inclined and logically-driven with a forensic anthropologist as a father and renowned artistic grandparents. His design method is founded on problem-solving, targeted communication, and exploration. His mantra is: A day of design work hardly qualifies as work at all!
Erik graduated from University of Tennessee Magna cum Laude in 2017. He participated in many collaborative efforts across many mediums and platforms including multi-semester application design, user-interface, and front-end development. This project would go on to win the EURēCA (Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement) gold award.
Erik’s love of experimental typography has been featured in Communication Arts magazine. He received the Golden Key Scholastic Art Award. He has also received the Kimberly D. Iles scholarship for outstanding work in design. Whether it’s books, brands, applications, websites, or illustrations: Erik enjoys dipping his hands into all modes of design.
Kate Turnbull
DESIGNER
A Knoxville native with a background in visual arts, Kate Turnbull graduated with a BFA in 2-D Design with a concentration in painting from the University of Tennessee. Her experience in traditional media (oil, graphite, watercolor) brings a wealth of knowledge to her design work and has led to a love of illustration. She enjoys any chance to merge art techniques into design projects. A natural peacemaker (Enneagram 9), Kate runs projects smoothly and efficiently, tying client requests into a beautiful bow. Recently, she received a Bronze Addy award for promotion of 10 large chalk art murals scattered around the sidewalks of Knoxville. On any given weekend, you’ll find her at 17th Street Studios where she manages a group of Knoxville artists, at an art show, exploring Knoxville food, or in her kitchen trying to perfect red curry.
Chris Brown
PROJECT MANAGER
Christopher (Chris) Brown studied marketing and logistics at the University of Tennessee. After working two-years with Toyota Logistics, he decided to move to Austin, TX to work at JRT Studio, a tech startup as a product manager. After five years in Austin, he and his wife, Kirstie decided to pursue her career as a buyer and move back to Knoxville, TN.
From UX to marketing, Chris looks to understand the underlying need a product was designed to solve, compare it to what what the customer wanted to adjust accordingly. Chris brings a strong analytical and business background along expertise in SEO, ASO and Google Analytics.
After meeting Robin at Knoxville Downtown Rotary, Chris was brought on as a project manager to help with client coordination and utilize his business acumen. You’ll see him in the office, or in the old city, typically with a smile on, except when the Vols lose!
Meghan Palmer
CONTENT AND MARKETING SPECIALIST
Meghan Palmer joined the RED team with over fifteen years of experience in writing and editing for magazines, newspapers, websites, social media, ads and more. She brings the heart of a storyteller and the focus of a communicator to every project. Meghan believes effective marketing isn’t about standalone statements; it’s about opening a conversation with customers. It’s about nurturing relationships. The right words are important!
The best advice she’s found about good writing comes from Neil Gaiman, who said, “This is how you do it: You sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy, and that hard.”
Meghan graduated from East Tennessee State University with an Honors-in-Discipline degree in English.
Meghan’s debut novel, Haints, was released in October 2021.