Meet Mark Murphy of Murphy Design in Arts District

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Murphy.

Mark, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Hello. Cleveland, Ohio, is where it all started. With a great music scene and great art museums, I was exposed to a world bursting with radiant creativity no matter how challenging the weather.

At some point, while skateboarding across campus during college, I took special notice in all of the school fliers hanging all over school promoting music events, social parties, and random punk rock inspired points of view.

With no experience or class instruction, I opened my first graphic design business with my roommate during my sophomore year. Really, we needed money to throw outrageous events and this was an enterprising way to get started.

That was a great foundation for launching Murphy Design in Cleveland. And after ten years, was a great confidence builder to move the entire operation to California and pursue the fine arts 100%.

Keep evolving, right? 20 Years later, experience has granted me the honor to work closely with my heroes, celebrate their artistry — fine arts (Trenton Doyle Hancock), music (Brandon Boyd), filmmaking (Clint Eastwood) — and help them articulate their unique voice.

Has it been a smooth road?
One of the greatest challenges is to stay positive and invite people to stay positive around you. Work life is never easy. And when work and life are intertwined into one lifestyle, it’s easy to get knocked around in a race against time.

The art world is unforgiving. I believe when you put yourself out there 1000%, you open yourself up for all to see. It’s never perfect. It’s all about giving your best, inviting others to participate, and approaching creative opportunities with sincerity. I find it super important to keep my foot on the gas pedal, stay hungry, (I heard that once), and contribute straight from the heart.

Oh yeah, the struggle is real. Ha, ha…

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Murphy Design was founded to promote and brand creative minded individuals — gallery owners, museums, fine artists, illustrators, and musicians. And of course, corporations too.

Design projects have included creating museum books and catalogs, limited edition books and packaging, art exhibitions, live performances, promotional materials, books, and catalogs.

Work specialization has included books for Clint Eastwood, Jack Kirby, Cartoon Network, Hanna-Barbera, and Brandon Boyd of Incubus. Murphy Design has been known to design stand out logos, high-quality books, and innovative product packaging for some of today’s best cultural icons.

What sets me apart. Consistently working hard and making the impossible possible.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Los Angeles is a wonderful city and offers an amazing variety of world-class cultural institutions. Some of the greatest artists reside and practice here, actively defining what this city is all about.

We need what every city needs more of—compassion, inspiration, and community participation.

Contact Info:

• Email: murphy@murphydesign,com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmurphydesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markmurphydesign/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mmurphydesign
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmurphydesign/

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.