Brian Edlefson

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there are approximately one million people named Brian in the United States.*

I'm one in a million. Literally.

I'm a creative director, designer, educator, and entrepreneur. My career has taken me from global Fortune 100 companies and independent agencies to universities and cultural organizations. Along the way, I've led creative teams, built brands, taught aspiring designers, and helped organizations find more meaningful ways to connect with their audiences.

My work has earned international recognition through juried competitions, including iF Design and Communication Arts, and has been featured in respected design publications, including Graphis, In-House Design in Practice, and Brand Identity Essentials. I'm also honored to have work included in the National Design Archive at the Library of Congress.

Today, I'm the Director of Creative & Digital Services at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, where I lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for the college's visual identity, creative communications, and digital experiences. My work brings together design, technology, and storytelling to support the college's strategic priorities and strengthen its reputation.

I founded Thesis as an independent design consultancy, focused on connecting product manufacturers with audiences in architecture and interior design. Over time, Thesis has evolved into a personal creative practice—a space for visual exploration, experimentation, and self-initiated projects. Through this work, I've explored ideas that intersect design, culture, and social issues, including healthcare reform, design education, and civil political discourse.

Education has been a recurring thread throughout my career. I've served as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Notre Dame and as an Adjunct Professor at Western Michigan University and Andrews University. Teaching and mentoring have shaped how I approach both design and leadership—with curiosity, critical thinking, and an appreciation for different perspectives.

My experience spans visual identity, brand strategy, typography, iconography, digital experiences, exhibitions, and publications, as well as art direction for photography, film, and motion. I'm equally interested in the big idea and the smallest detail—and in the relationship between creative ambition and practical execution.

I've always been interested in the space between the functional and the poetic—where thoughtful strategy meets something unexpected, memorable, or simply human.

*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census, first-name frequency data (published 2026).