Public Art & Mural Design

Bringing Places to Life With Art, Murals & Sculpture

Public art and mural design work to create moments of delight that transform spaces into memorable destinations. Through creative collaboration and curation, art programs are developed to complement architectural elements and bring environments to life.

Through Principle-Centered Design, we envision public art and murals as extensions of our shared humanity. By engaging with peoples’ emotional intelligence—through their senses of wonder, awe, and curiosity—public art and design decisions can allow viewers to connect with spaces on multiple levels. A brightly colored wall or community-created mural can have significant impact at relatively low cost, often becoming social media destinations and landmarks that draw visitors in and back again through public art and placemaking.  

We are tasked with creating graphic murals as well as establishing guidelines for curated commissioned art from local artists or international professionals. These guidelines establish the look and feel of potential public art projects, including murals and sculptures. Many of our projects feature delightful and surprisingly fun interactive artworks that add a sense of action to otherwise static environments. 

The realms of public art and wall mural design present powerful opportunities for brand activation and identity reinforcement within physical spaces. When thoughtfully integrated, artistic elements can communicate brand values, tell organizational stories, and create immersive branded interiors that transform visitors, employees, and patrons into brand ambassadors. From corporate offices where murals express company imagery to mixed-use developments where public art establishes district identity, these installations serve as three-dimensional brand expressions. Strategic placement of branded art creates exhilarating moments that extend brand reach beyond the physical space; these artful moments are propelled into the communal sphere where they generate organic marketing value. In this way, public art becomes a living extension of a brand—wherein identity, storytelling, and placemaking converge to create environments that people do not merely see, but experience and remember.

RSM Design has collaborated on a number of exceptional public art and design projects, including the RaDD Artwalk on San Diego’s waterfront boardwalk. Designed as a mixed-use development, RaDD (or the Research and Development District) is a 6-block celebration of life science, workplace, culture, retail, and public space. Art is used not only as a moment of delight and surprise but also as a functional part of the district's wayfinding system; large-scale public murals and sculptures by local and national artists, such as those featured on the district's pathways and open spaces, serve as landmarks that guide visitors through the site. 

These murals not only beautify the area but also reflect the innovative, scientific ethos of the district through its design elements, incorporating chemistry, molecular imagery, and elemental grids into the installations woven throughout. The color palette of RaDD, when viewed in its entirety, draws inspiration from the coastal landscape that surrounds it; visitors are surrounded by hues that reference the bay, kelp beds, and local flora, creating a strong sense of place tied to San Diego’s natural environment. Furthermore, the integration of public art in RaDD activates the district’s in-between spaces, such as pathways and transitions, turning them into engaging, dynamic areas. By weaving art into the fabric of the district, RSM Design helped to ensure that RaDD is more than just a place to pass through—it is a destination that fosters creativity, innovation, and community to this day.

Public art and mural design represent far more than decoration—they are transformative tools that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. The power of art lies in its ability to spark conversation, create memorable moments, and forge emotional bonds between people and the places they inhabit. 

The disciplines of public art and design asks us to uncover what stories are waiting to be told in our environments. They inspire us to consider how color, form, and creativity can elevate a forgotten wall into a celebrated community landmark. The intersection of art, architecture, and human experience creates endless possibilities for innovation and connection, building places that people can return to again and again. Through Principle-Centered Design, public art and placemaking can elevate individual voices and visions into collective material realities. It is through creative expression that our humanity is able to truly shine on the places and spaces that matter the most.