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The Narrative is an award-winning, full-service, multidisciplinary visual communication design studio.

We work with companies, organizations, non-profits, cultural institutions, and individuals in diverse fields and disciplines to create meaningful and distinct visual narratives.

Narratives, and the clear intentions behind them, are the “what” and “why” behind what we do, both as designers and as a studio. A narrative is a way of visualizing a company’s products and services that reflects the quality of their products and services in a clear, coherent, consistent, forward-thinking, and distinct way. We look to achieve this not only for the company and its clients, but also for the company’s professional peers as well as for any community (local to global) wherein they are a part.

From brand identities to book design, data visualization to website design, and everything in between, The Narrative has an all-consuming passion for design. Our research-based methodology, custom project approach, and inspired dedication to the design process lead to compelling and effective visual narratives that reflect the quality, consistency, and innovation of our client’s products and services.

Our clients are passionate about what they do and so are we. Let’s visualize your narrative.

SERVICES

brand research & strategy
business naming
brand positioning
logo design
custom website design
social media campaigns
newsletter design
marketing collateral
branded environments
data visualization
book design
annual reports
publication design
illustration
icon systems
information design
poster design
wayfinding & signage
theater set design
exhibition design
design consultation

At The Narrative we believe great design can be applied to almost anything. Have an unusual project? Interested in services not included in the list? or in a collaboration? We’d love to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected] to start a dialogue.


TEAM

Daniel McManus

Partner & Design Director

Pennsylvania > Kansas > Connecticut > Boston > Chicago > St. Louis
Daniel founded The Narrative with a vision of creating intellectually elegant design and collaboration with good people. Over his 20+ year career, he has designed for a multifarious assortment of clientele and strives to exceed expectations on every project to deliver the highest quality design work.

Sofya Karash

Partner & Design Director

Ukraine > Azerbaijan > Russia > Houston > Baltimore > Chicago > St. Louis
Sofya brings an interdisciplinary philosophy and multicultural perspective to The Narrative. Her fine arts background influences her design work—she is passionate about designing compelling narratives in print and digital form, data visualization, designing for dimensional space, and design thinking.

COLLABORATORS

Murmur Ring

Writing, Photography & PR

Irene Rincón Iriondo

Writing & Research

Nathanael Filbert

Photography

Scott Winterroth

Web Development & Hosting

Nancy Mikyska

Web Development & Hosting

B Karash

Interior Architecture/Signage, Illustration & Research

Lana Karash

Illustration

Contribution to culture — another reason why we work relentlessly to achieve excellence for our clients:

Designing well-thought-out work contributes positively to our culture as a whole. In a brand-cluttered world, our work is created with a respect for the audience as a top priority. Our process demands discipline, and it requires a purity of intention. We both have masters degrees in design, we practice design, we teach design, we live design. We do all of the creative work ourselves.

SELECT CLIENTS

900 910 N Lake Shore Drive
AIGA St. Louis
Johns Hopkins University
PMPC Architects
Feeding America
SAVO Group
DJ Bothsides
Zeegar
Kingsley Law Firm
Biohabitats
Fulton Street Collective
The Powell Law Firm
Washington University School of Medicine
DiverseWorks
Art on theMART 
YMCA
Riverside Investment & Development
Gunderson Law Firm
Spring Impact
Berger Recycling
Peabody Conservatory
Arcade Bar St. Louis
Real View Investment & Development
Sun Life Financial
Artspace Southern Illinois
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Lattice Health Partners
DOM Partners
D’Andrea & Associates
Adams Partners
Strategic Dynamics
Dairy Management Inc.
UIC Recreational Center
Commonwealth Financial Network
Good Hope Films

RECENT AWARDS

Type Directors Club
Awarded for 150 Media Stream brand identity 
Hermes Creative Awards 2017
Platinum for Bagatelle film type treatment & poster
STA & AIGA Archive 13
Travails book series & Set Off exhibition design
Society of Typographic Arts
150 Media Stream brand identity included in 2018 STA100
Edition Lidu
Best Graphic Design for Travails book series
Graphis Design Annual 2018
Silver Award for Bagatelle film typographic treatment & poster
GD USA
Health and Wellness Design Award for Lattice Health Partners
Creative Quarterly
Issue 45: Bagatelle film type treatment and poster
The Communicator Award
Award of Excellence for corporate identity for DOM Partners
Graphis Design Annual 2017
Silver Award for Arcade Bar St. Louis identity
55th Annual Illustration West
Bagatelle film type treatment & poster
Hiiibrand Awards 2015
Merit Award for Arcade Bar St. Louis identity