Over 2,000 completed projects reflect our commitment to people-first design and a principle centered approach.
The studio brings together a team of 40+ designers, architects, and storytellers to design places people love.
Our Approach
We create with purpose.
Every project begins with intention.
From wayfinding to branding and placemaking, our work is rooted in clarity and meaning, connecting people to place in ways that feel both natural and memorable.
We listen closely — to people, to place, and to the heart of a brand — uncovering the stories and essence that shape every project.
To create with purpose is to craft environments that tell stories, celebrate culture, and leave an imprint that extends far beyond the physical space.
We design with vision.
Vision is the lens through which we imagine what a place can become.
At RSM Design, we look beyond trends to uncover stories that last, balancing the big picture with the smallest detail.
We believe the most impactful design emerges from a shared vision, where diverse voices unite as one inspired team. Our team approaches each project with curiosity and creativity, shaping design decisions that reflect the spirit of the community and the character of the space.
Designing with vision transforms buildings and landscapes into experiences that inspire and endure.
We shape spaces into stories.
We see the built environment as a living canvas, layered with history, culture, and vision.
At RSM Design, we shape these layers into narratives that guide, welcome, and inspire.
Through environmental graphics, branding, and wayfinding, we give architecture a voice — turning ordinary moments into meaningful experiences, and spaces into stories that resonate with people long after they leave.
Decades of Design
Mid-1980s
UT Longhorns
Martin Schwartz and Harry Mark met in their second year of architecture school at the University of Texas in Austin. Impressed by Harry's thoughtful process and artistic ability, Martin invited him out for a beer — and a bond, a band, and a comical model-building business quickly followed.
Mid-1980s
Setting Sail
Suzanne Redmond, a business major at UC Santa Barbara, set sail for a Semester at Sea after tragically losing a close friend. Her art teacher was so blown away by the sketches she poured her emotions into that she convinced Suzanne to change her major and apply to ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena.
Late 1980s
Two Years, Tops
Suzanne, Martin, and Harry all landed at RTKL in Dallas — an exciting time of cross-disciplinary collaboration and camaraderie. Suzanne planned to stay "two years tops." That was before Martin pulled up to a party on a motorcycle in ripped jeans, black boots, and a guitar on his back.
Summer of '92
The Intern
Cody Clark — a Texas native studying Fine Art & Sculpture at Pratt Institute — joined RTKL that summer for an internship under Suzanne's mentorship of "kindness, tough love, and quirky yet lovable processes of design." Five years of global retail and hospitality projects followed.
Early 1990s
Not His Cup of Oolong
Restless after a decade at RTKL, Harry traveled through Europe and Africa before earning a cross-disciplinary master's in Graphics and Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. He landed at HOK in Dallas, but ultimately decided the corporate world was not his cup of oolong.
1993
The Call
Driving to San Clemente with two kids in tow, Suzanne and Martin were interrupted by a call from Walt Disney Imagineering — seeking help with Disney's first five-star resort hotel in Tokyo. Thoughts of gluten-free cookies flew out the window, and RSM Design was born.
1993–1994
Working from the Floor
Harry crashed on the sofa at Suzanne's parents' home — the team's new headquarters — where they worked from the floor because the borrowed card table couldn't hold the big beige Macs. Suzanne's father donated a red Ferrari phone as their office line.
1994
Shoes Optional
Stephanie Wills was the first person hired to answer that Ferrari phone. She was drawn to the creativity of the company, but it was the line in the Help Wanted ad that read "shoes optional" that truly sealed the deal.
Late 1990s
A Hidden Gem
Outgrowing the garage, Suzanne and Martin discovered a midcentury modern building near the beach designed by Henry Lim, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright. They put the down payment on credit cards and secured a loan from a friend who secretly hoped they'd default. They didn't.
Early 2000s
Room to Grow
They eventually purchased a nearby building and the two vacant lots in between, transforming the property into an outdoor oasis — an inviting campus that attracts talent from near and far.
Mid-2000s
Chasing Waves
Kyle Richter came to San Clemente to photograph professional surfers, then enrolled at the Art Institute of California to earn a degree in Graphic Design. He found RSM's blend of architecture and design — not to mention the scent of surf wax outside the door — irresistible.
2018?
Full Circle
Cody Clark went on to serve as VP, Global Service Leader for EGD at RTKL, but missed the deep meaning and friendships of his RSM years. He came 360 degrees back — now leading the Los Angeles office, with Kyle at the helm in San Clemente and Harry in Dallas.
2025
New York, New Studio
Harry Mark set his sights on Manhattan — opening RSM's newest studio in the Flatiron District, steps from Madison Square Park, and deepening the firm's commitment to the East Coast. Back in Dallas, Paige Terrell stepped up to lead the studio Harry had called home for decades.
Our story
What We Value
We create meaningful, human-centered environments by blending creative vision with technical expertise to deliver thoughtful, high-quality experiences for everyone to enjoy and connect.
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People First
Every decision begins with empathy, inclusivity, and the goal of creating meaningful human connections through the power of design.
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Creative Synergy
We believe the best ideas emerge through shared creativity, grounded in respect and collaboration, where diverse perspectives come together to spark innovation.
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Excellence with Care
We are dedicated to exceeding expectations through thoughtful detail, precision, and care in execution.
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Built on Trust
We build lasting relationships grounded in integrity, respect, and reliability, both within our team and with our clients & partners.
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Design with Wonder
We are always learning and always growing, approaching each project with curiosity and imagination. Every design is an opportunity to bring fresh ideas, spark discovery, and reveal a unique story through the power of design.
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S.P.A.R.K.
Our S.P.A.R.K. values guide how we work and design—putting people first, owning our work, pushing creativity, going above and beyond, and growing every day to create meaningful impact.
Clients & Collaborators
Our design process involves a high level of participatory planning with key stakeholders. We have partnered with RSM in transforming Balboa Park’s signage and wayfinding from pretty poor toward best-in-class. The firm has provided us a steady guide and inspiration as we inventoried and mapped all of the signage in and leading to the park. Sharing our findings with our key stakeholders with RSM remains one of the most effective community meetings we have held. Their plan provides us with a contextually sensitive design that is extremely attractive to our donors and to the city’s parks and recreation department. It sets the standard now for the entire park and is influencing system-wide donor recognition, advancing design from pedestrian to best-in-class.
Thank you so much for the beautiful and thoughtful presentation. You tied so much thought and meaning into a clean, digestible package. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the client group so excited, so know how meaningful your work was! Excited to see it come to fruition in the not so distant future.
We were very happy with the outcomes in the various efforts where we leveraged RSM, but when I think about the success, and why we continue to work with this team, it's in their process design. Each effort is unique, and the guiding principles are many, varied, and usually conflicting. Despite these challenges, RSM takes in the criteria and distills an inclusive process that leads to a defensible and beautiful outcome. I’m not sure I could conjure an issue that they couldn’t help me resolve in a way that I would subsequently carry forward as a best practice.