Donovan Gregory (*1975), English designer and founding member of the Designers' Club (2008). Born in Guildford (GB) and raised in England, Southern France, and Switzerland. In 1999, he founded Raffinerie, soon becoming one of Switzerland's leading graphic agencies.
During this time, he crafted brands, typefaces, image campaigns, packaging, books, exhibitions, event identities, clothing, snowboards, and skateboards. He initiated lifestyle magazines, collaborated with theaters and artists, earning international acclaim. He served as a designer and managing director for Word magazine and the Wordless exhibition series. Additionally, he contributed articles to graphic design journals, always infused with utmost dedication and passion.
Reto Gehrig (29 June 1968 in Zurich) is a Swiss graphic designer and founding member of the Designers' Club (2008). After completing his graphic design training, he initially worked as a freelance artist before becoming the initiator and art director of style-defining Zurich music clubs (Atelier Milvus & LUV-Club, later also Alte Metzg, St.Pauli, Plaza Club and Kinski). His conceptual and graphic work characterised Zurich's club culture for many years. He was soon commissioned by national and international clients. As a partner and creative director, he founded CODE. Werkstatt für Grafik (1994 to 2007). His work focusses on brand development, concept development and logo design. Reto Gehrig is a passionate sailor and lives with his wife and daughters Bonnie & Emma in Zurich - far too far away from the sea.
"Rio" Ryosuke Kawaguchi Zopfi (12 July 1971, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese graphic designer and member of the Designers' Club since 2008. He is a graduate of Tokyo Zokei University of Art and was one of the art directors who developed the look of the Japanese music industry for Sony Music and Warner Brothers in the 1990s. For Cracker Design Inc. and Bahaty Design Studio, he managed projects for major clients, photo shoots and market launches. A return from the tasks of an art director to a purely graphic craft - in a city with more manageable dimensions than Tokyo. In return, he gradually discovered the mountains.
Regina Gregory (5 July 1980) works as a consultant and has been responsible for strategy at the Designers' Club since the end of 2011. In the same year, she launched the Trace Gallery art space next door together with the three partners of the Designers' Club and, with the same team, launched Fabrikat with studio-related products a few years later in October 2015. This was followed by the neighbourhood association Tribeka in 2016 and the Criterion Festival in 2018, where she launched a new format as curator, festival director and driving force for Messe Zürich. Her work centres on identifying trends, building brands and business processes as well as orchestrating and coordinating projects. Warning: A meeting with her usually leads to new ideas.
Write with heart. Cut the unnecessary. Keep it short, sharp, and brilliant. Create images that stick – because the word came before the image. Write out of love, learn from critique, and never stop writing: about the known, the unknown, the unforgettable, and the trivial. Be unique. Be unpredictable. Easier said than done – but that’s the challenge.
After completing business school and earning a multilingual high school diploma in German, Spanish, Italian, and English, Maria-Dolores studied Journalism and Psychology at the School of Applied Linguistics (SAL).
She worked as editor-in-chief for national and international lifestyle magazines, later diving into the world of Acting & Film studies at NYFA. She honed her craft further with John Truby’s "Anatomy of Story." 14 years in New York and 15 short films later, with two screened at prestigious festivals such as the Manhattan Film Festival, in Paris, Cancún, Seattle, Las Vegas, Cannes, and more, she is now writing her first feature film. The wild Texteress – always hunting for the next brilliant line. The wild texteress – always hunting for the next brilliant line.
Charlotte Burckhardt (*1995) was born in Zurich and is a graphic designer in the Designers Club. After completing the fashion and design preliminary course, she completed an apprenticeship as a seamstress (EFZ).
She then began studying graphic typography and photography at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg. The Hanseatic city inspired her with its cultural diversity and innovative approaches to design. She completed her bachelor's degree in graphic design at the Bern University of the Arts, which provided an ideal balance between the basics of classic graphic design and creative freedom.
In addition to her creative work, Charlotte is inspired by the diverse world of music and enjoys attending live concerts.
Colin Schälli (*1980) from Chur founded his own studio in 2006, right after completing his apprenticeship with Pritzker Prize-winning architect and master of design, Peter Zumthor. A two-time winner of the Design Prize Switzerland and honored by the Foundation for Graubünden Art and Craft, he specializes in corporate design and product development.
Colin gained significant recognition through his work for FREITAG (2003–2014), where he played a pivotal role in shaping the graphic and packaging design of their iconic truck tarp bags. His works have been exhibited internationally, including at the Museum für Gestaltung Zurich, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, and A+D Museum Los Angeles. Celebrated in magazines such as Esquire Japan, Hochparterre, and Casa Brutus, Colin continues to set benchmarks in design with his artistic approach, exceptional creations, and a style that leaves a lasting impression.
Lisa Hirt (*1994) from Zurich found her way to graphic design through an unconventional path. Her creative journey began as a hairdresser, but her mother's inspiration led her to take a bold new direction. She studied Visual Design at the F+F School of Art and Design and fell in love with the clarity of the «Swiss Style».
Lisa thrives on combining precision and creativity, with analog photography adding depth to her work. When she's not crafting new designs, she enjoys traveling the world with her trusted camera or treating friends and family to her homemade delights.
Solaia Zollinger (*2005) from Zurich lives by the motto: "Progress, not perfection." She thrives on challenges, boldly experiments, and constantly hones her style.
Her love for creative art began in childhood, but it was the Firstfloor foundation course in 2021 that solidified her passion for graphic design. Since then, her enthusiasm for creative projects has burned brightly. Whether exploring new techniques, pushing boundaries, or crafting her own visual signature, Solaia stands for progress with passion. Every day, she moves one step closer to her vision.
Solaia is currently completing her EFZ graphic design apprenticeship at the Designer’s Club.
Lameya Hossain (*1999), born in Bangladesh and raised in Zurich, found her passion for graphic design through an unconventional path: she laid the groundwork as a precise and patient architectural draftsman before embracing the creative freedom of graphic design.
Internships in Zurich and Bangladesh and a foundation course at the Winterthur School of Arts strengthened her skills. Her designs start on paper and unfold digitally – a process that fully realizes her creative potential. Her openness to cultures and formative experiences, such as a project at Radio 24, enrich her work. Her motto: Success starts with self-belief. Her goal: to keep growing and creating anew.
Lameya is currently completing her graphic design apprenticeship at the Designer’s Club.
Kevin Fries (*1977) began as a decoration designer at Grieder Les Boutiques before co-founding the studio Fries & Zumbühl with Jakob Zumbühl in 2003 as a federally certified designer specializing in industrial design. Their creations, ranging from furniture to artist carpets, combine originality, functionality, and sustainability. Their debut was recognized by Jasper Morrison and exhibited at the Museum für Gestaltung.
Further roles at Freitag, Pfeffermint, and Aroma, along with projects like the Wald-Haus lamp and work for Eternit, have shaped his diverse career. Beyond design, Fries is also a father and a talented bar pianist, performing in Zurich venues such as Blaue Ente.
Pierre Bolay (*1987) is a graphic designer from Montreux with a deep passion for art and music. After his apprenticeship at B+G Partners and earning his EFZ in graphic design from Eracom, école romande d'arts et communication, he spent ten years working as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator.
As the artistic director of La Sauce, Pierre is dedicated to promoting hip-hop culture. Inspired by the world around him, his work blends creativity, expression, and rhythm –as long as there’s color and music, his designs remain alive.
Cécile Schneider (*1990) from canton Schwyz grew up overlooking Lake Zurich, but her heart beats for extremes. Her motto, "Relax, nothing is under control," perfectly embodies her spirit. A year in Finland, near the Arctic Circle, ignited her love for snow, northern lights, endless summer days, and Finnish design.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Illustration Nonfiction and a Master’s in Art Teaching at the University of Lucerne, she gained experience as a ski instructor, teacher, and in the gastronomy industry. Now, she expresses her creativity at the Designer’s Club. Whether sketching with a pen, pencil, or digitally, Cécile captures the world as she sees it, blending nature, motion, and culture into her work.
