Kevin Kern

Background

About Kevin Kern

I’m a creative professional with a passion for creating dynamic and memorable branded environments. A leader with over 30 years’ experience in the development of both national and international environmental graphic design programs for various property types, I’m a skillful leader capable of managing all phases of a design project from initial visualization through implementation and construction administration. My expertise includes branding, visioning, naming, identity development, environmental graphic design, wayfinding programming, specialty amenity and architectural signage design, along with marketing & business development. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Architecture from The Maryland Institute College of Art in 1992 and started my design career as an in-house illustrator, developing presentations for a holiday display company providing seasonal decor for large commercial properties world-wide. This experience quickly led to the field of environmental graphic design. While employed by international architectural design firms, I’ve had the privilege to work collaboratively on numerous ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) and ULI (Urban Land Institute) award-winning national and international projects. These include Easton in Columbus, Ohio, which is credited as the nation's first neo-traditional retail town center development, Kingsley Town Center in Fort Mill, South Carolina, The Mall of San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Nexton in Summerville, South Carolina, named Best Mixed-Use Community and Best Master-Planned Community in the U.S. Additionally, my design work has appeared in numerous graphic and sign design publications to great accolades. I’m a member of SEGD (Society of Experiential Graphic Design), having served as the Charlotte Chapter Chair for several years, ULI (Urban Land Institute) and AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts. I currently serve as a Principal and the Director of 505Design’s Branding and Environmental Graphic Design Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. I live in Fort Mill, South Carolina and the proud father of three (almost fully adult) daughters. In my spare time, I can be found outdoors, gardening, running or scheming the next family adventure.