Mariano Desmaras finds design innovation through a transdisciplinary approach. At ME, they design collaboratively with clients and stakeholders to draw on multiple perspectives and generate innovative solutions through co-creation, strategic proposals, and aesthetic inquiry. Mariano seamlessly combines diverse cultural and linguistic heritage and multidisciplinary design skills to bring together the means that make visitor experiences meaningful and accessible.

Recently, his firm completed the Molina Family Latino Gallery (MFLG) at the National Museum of American History Smithsonian. A significant milestone for the Smithsonian because it's their first gallery dedicated to Latino culture and history. The gallery's design was the coordinated creation of artists, illustrators, steel craftspersons, hand lettering designers, and media producers to make a place with the breadth and boldness of the Latinx experience nationwide. In addition to MFLG, Mariano has designed many exhibits for culturally specific institutions. Each project taught him to draw on a transdisciplinary approach to align the design process with the welfare of stakeholders.

Mariano has also designed experiences for corporations such as MasterCard Worldwide and McKinsey & Company. These projects focus on branding, corporate culture, and employee engagement.

He is a partner and creative director of Museum Environments /Branded Environments (ME/BE) with over two decades of designing exhibits for organizations across the United States and worldwide. His work has received top design awards, notably from the Smithsonian Institution, the American Institute of Graphics Arts (AIGA), the Type Directors Club, and the Society of Environmental Graphic Design.

Education
Master in Architecture, GSAPP Columbia University, 1998

Bachelors in Fine Arts Graphic Design, University of Michigan, 1989

Bachelors in Art, English, University of Michigan, 1989

Experience

Museum Environments /Branded Environments LLC New York, NY, Founder 2013 - Present

C&G Partners, New York, NY,  Senior designer of exhibits, 2007-2013

Rockwell Group, New York, NY, Senior designer of exhibits, 2005-2007

Ralph Appelbaum Associates, New York, Exhibit, and Graphic Designer, 2000-2005

Creapress, Paris, France
Art Director, 1990-1994

West Indies & Grey Advertising, San Juan PR