Hasta La Ideas

In a sign that the world may finally be emerging from the economic doldrums, design powerhouse Pentagram has welcomed new partners to its New York and London offices. Joining the fold stateside is Eddie Opara (at near right), whose arrival last month at Pentagram HQ was heralded with a Luke Hayman-designed banner and a gala gathering. Born in London and educated at the London College of Printing and Yale, Opara honed his diverse design skills at ATG, Imaginary Forces, and 2×4 before founding his own studio, The Map Office, in 2005. He has merged strategy, design, and technology for clients including the Menil Foundation, the Mori Art Museum, Vitra, and Prada (a sampling that speaks for itself), along the way racking up honors from AIGA, the Art Directors Club, and dearly departed I.D. magazine.

Meanwhile, across the pond in the London office, Pentagram announced on Friday that it has named Naresh Ramchandani (at far right) the first advertising and communications partner in the firm’s 38-year history. The celebratory bunting is still in the works, but Pentagram’s John Rushworth lauded Ramchandani‘s “writing ability and moving image knowledge” as a great fit for the firm’s focus on craft. “At Pentagram, we’ve always believed that design isn’t about any particular style or any particular medium, but about something more universal: the power of ideas,” said Michael Bierut in a statement announcing the appointment. “Naresh has built his career on his ability to come up with ideas. He delivers them with wit and humanity. Naresh is a great addition to the partnership and sets a clear direction for where design and communication is going today.” After rocketing up the ladder at HHCL and Chiat/Day, Ramchandani co-founded Karmarama in 2000. He has also served as advertising columnist for The Guardian and in 2007 founded Green Thing, a non-profit public service that inspires people to lead a greener life.

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