Libby Cole

Libby values people’s expertise in their own lives; therefore, co-creation is the heart of every project she takes on.

Libby is a graphic designer and principal of The Work Department, a design studio in Detroit. The studio partners with value-aligned organizations across sectors—those who prioritize access, equity, and shared respect. Libby leads the design and direction of the visual components of their work and also facilitates workshops and conversations that ground the work in lived experience. Having worked in the design field for almost 20 years from corporate to nonprofit, Libby is an expert at translating complex information into smart and accessible designs. In 2017, she was part of the curatorial team that showcased works from Detroit, a newly designated UNESCO City of Design, at the 10th Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Étienne, France. She has also taught for several years at Detroit-based College for Creative Studies.