OUR STORY
We are Harriet Spear Studio, a design collaborative with over 40 years of experience forging a deeper sense of place.
Our work is grounded in collaboration and a strong understanding of how people move through and experience environments.
We think of experiential graphics and signage as the voice of a place, communicating space, brand, and story. We listen closely to our partners, to communities, and to the nuances that make each project unique. We look forward to giving voice to, and creating spaces with you.
HSS is certified MWBE with New York State, WBE with New York City and DBE/WBE with the PANYNJ.
TEAM
HARRIET SPEAR
PRINCIPAL
Harriet has over 40 years of experience in design. Her career has focused on information design and planning, signage, wayfinding and environmental graphic design for many facility types, parks, and public places. Prior to establishing Harriet Spear Studio, she held positions as Director of Environmental Graphic Design with Russell Design, Design Associate with Whitehouse & Company, and Meeker & Associates. Harriet’s award-winning work has been featured in many design publications, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times Magazine. Harriet served as an adjunct professor with FIT’s Communication Design Program for over six years.
ANTHONY FERRARA
DESIGN DIRECTOR
Anthony has over 35 years of design experience in signage, wayfinding, environmental graphic design, master planning, exhibition design, identity, and print communications for cities, universities, cultural institutions, and public places. Before joining the HSS Design collaborative, he held positions with several prominent New York City design firms, including Chermayeff & Geismar and 212 Associates. Anthony’s work has been featured in numerous design publications, including The Wayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Spaces, SustainAble, Signs & Spaces, and Graphic Design NY. He also contributed to SEGD’s original ADA White Paper and was part of the team of designers who developed the Infinity sign system.
DESPINA RAGGOUSIS
STUDIO MANAGER
Despina has over 25 years of experience in design and project management and has collaborated with HSS for more than 15 years. Her career has focused on environmental graphic design, signage and wayfinding, branding, and project management. Prior to collaborating with HSS, she held positions with Studio Hillier, ex;it, and G&A Strategy and Design. Her work spans signage standards and guidelines across nationally recognized public, institutional, and cultural environments. Despina is a graduate of Drexel University with a degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Corporate Communications and is a former Chair of the SEGD Washington, DC Chapter.
LOUIS HAND
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Louis holds a background in Industrial Design from his studies at the Rhode Island School of Design bringing specialized draftsmanship and 3D modeling to the team. He is passionate about the design of spatial experiences, and the problem solving that way-finding systems demand. At HSS Louis is involved at many stages of the project from site visits and circulation mapping, to the fabrication and installation. Prior to HSS, Louis has worked in experience driven scenic / prop design.
ELLIOT JOVER
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Elliot earned his BFA in Graphic Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2023 and brings an understanding of design systems and typography to the team. He finds pleasure in the creative process, is inquisitive in nature, and has a sharp eye for detail. At HSS, Elliot contributes to graphic design projects ranging from brand identity development to strategic wayfinding systems, while continuously exploring new tools and approaches to inform his practice.
INDIA ADOLFSSON
GRAPHIC DESIGNER & MARKETING SPECIALIST
India combines spatial experience design, graphic design, and marketing communications to create meaningful connections between people and place. Her experience includes technical design for corporate, medical, pharmaceutical, and academic campuses, marketing communications for non-profits and colleges, as well as a year of service with AmeriCorps. At HSS, India contributes to graphic design, branding, marketing, and experiential storytelling projects, with a particular interest in parks, trails, and public spaces.
EMILY FERRARA
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Emily Ferrara is an administrative assistant with nearly a decade of experience supporting small businesses and organizations. At HSS, Emily specializes in bookkeeping and financial maintenance, streamlining operations and building efficient systems for long-term success. We greatly appreciate Emily's astute attention to detail and amicable nature.
SERVICES
Wayfinding Analysis and Strategy
Visitor Experience Design
Signage Design and Planning
Experiential Graphic Design (EGD)
Exhibition Graphics
Branding and Identity Systems
Information Design
Branded Environments
Architectural Signage
Interpretive Signage
Park and Site Signage
CLIENTS & Collaborators
CLIENTS
American Museum of Natural History, Margaret Mead Film Festival
Anchorage Museum at Rasmussen Center
Bronx River Greenway Alliance
Cape May County Library
Nectar Hills Farm
Utica Harbor Point
Earth Matter
First Americans Museum
Foundry
New Jersey Institute for Technology
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
NYC Department of Transportation
NYC MTA Transit
NYC Economic Development Corporation
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Hudson River Park Conservancy
Hong Kong Land
Lancaster History
Lee H Skolnick A + D Partnership
Leni Schwendinger Light Projects
Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy
Lower East Side Girls Club
Mandarin Oriental Hotel
National Veterans Memorial and Museum
NYC Health + Hospitals
H+H Metropolitan Hospital
Roberto Clemente State Park
Niagara Falls State Park
Bear Mountain State Park
Saint George Ferry Terminal
Staten Island Museum
Starborn Industries
Wangfu Central
The Photo Group
Riverbank State Park
NV5
Borough of Red Bank, NJ
City of Trenton, NJ
Village of Cherry Valley, NY
City of White Plains, NY
Jamaica Center
Saratoga Springs Visitors Center
AECOM
COLLABORATORS
Allied Works Architecture
Hardesty and Hanover
Grimshaw Architects
Cetra Rudy Architects
Lee Harris Pomeroy Architects
Johnson Fain Architect
David Chipperfield Architects
QRP Partners
Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Stantec
Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architecture
United States National Park Service
Weintraub Diaz Landscape Architecture