At Schwadesign, 16 independent designers in multiple locations come together with the flexibility to work on a variety of projects large and small. Each designer brings their own regional network and clients as well as specific creative talents.

Founder and principal Josh Silverman conceived the model while working for both large and small design firms in Boston after graduating with a media studies degree from Ithaca College in 1995...

...“We have about 80 concurrent projects,” he said, adding that it is twice as many as in previous years. “This past year there has been extraordinary growth.”

And the firm’s bottom line has increased 300 percent to 800 percent over last year, depending on the week, he said.

Silverman attributes the growth to a “buzz” about the firm, which has been growing locally through the creation of a local chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design, which Silverman founded and heads.

He also attributes the firm’s growth to contacts at the R.I. Economic Development Corporation, through which Schwadesign became the agency of record for the Business Innovation Factory and BIF annual summits. The experience has given the firm a high level of exposure in Rhode Island.