Design Agency Co is a boutique public relations + brand strategy firm specializing in strategy, communications and social engagement. 

We work with architecture, design, and lifestyle brands to strengthen and advance their reputation and industry standing through strategic marketing, media relations, and social engagement initiatives. We blend extensive knowledge of the practice of design with established industry connections to successfully guide our clients in all areas of promotion.

Erin Cullerton

Erin Cullerton

Founder | Chief Strategist

Erin has been helping creative brands successfully expand their marketplace visibility for more than two decades. As the former Deputy Director and Director of Communications for the American Institute of Architects in San Francisco, Erin leverages extensive knowledge of the practice of design with established industry connections, deep media savvy, and proven best practices to position our clients for exposure to the right audience at the right time.

Through the years, Erin has launched numerous community engagement initiatives, including the successful Architecture and the City festival, the nation’s first month-long design festival, and most recently the Making LA conference. She has consulted on several national festivals, and garnered support for her efforts from the National Endowment for the Arts, Graham Foundation, and LEF Foundation. As a former journalist, her writing on design and culture has appeared in ARTnews, Metropolis, ReadyMade, Surface, Time Out London, and Wired, and she is the editor of the publications Contemporary Prefab Houses and Young Architects Americas.

Erin sits on the editorial advisory board of The Architect’s Newspaper and formerly co-ran Design East of La Brea (or de LaB), an educational design nonprofit known for throwing some of the “best offbeat design experiences” in Los Angeles. She is an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco.

Erin’s favorite design object is the Petit Trianon light by Dutch designer Paula Arntzen, which she loves for its ingenious egg-like shape (made from paper, no less), and because it provides an opportunity for the eye to eat too.

Lisa Boquiren

Lisa Boquiren

Communications + Brand Strategist

A design and architecture aficionada, Lisa brings wide-ranging expertise in brand building and brand stewardship for creative businesses, chiefly interior design, architecture and retail, to Design Agency Co. Equally adept at marketing communications and media strategy, Lisa works across traditional and new media to create compelling stories and find the best fit for our clients.

Particularly talented at rebranding initiatives, Lisa has successfully shepherded such efforts for multiple clients, including the San Francisco Design Center and EHDD, among others. She is extremely active in the design community and highlights of her volunteer commitments include the initial concept and incubation for The Missing 32 Percent (now EQxD), as chair of the AIA San Francisco communications committee, as well as the creation of branded YouTube videos for Breast Cancer Emergency Fund and DIFFA San Francisco. Lisa currently serves as the gallery editor for SPACES Magazine.

Lisa’s favorite designer is Alber Elbaz for his creative brilliance, immense capacity to empathize with the women who wear his clothes and his championship of seamstresses and artisans.

Emilie Kress

Emilie Kress

Communications + Marketing Strategist

Emilie’s diverse background in marketing, public relations, interior design and retail, allows for a broad sense of what motivates or entices both the industry and consumers. She utilizes a holistic view in understanding our clients’ needs and achieving success through strategic marketing, public relations, events, promotions, business development, networking and creative exploration.

Verner Panton inspires me. He took risks and truly understood the effect of color and form on both the emotions and spirit.  

Alexandra Israel

Alexandra Israel

Communications Strategist

Alexandra brings a diverse background in public relations to Design Agency Co. For the past fourteen years, she has been working in public relations and strategy with a specialty within arts and culture, focusing on everything from book launches, gallery openings, nonprofit events, breaking ground of local businesses, product launches and much more.

A museum aficionado since her introduction to Jean Dominque Ingres‘ portraits as a small child, Alexandra  has been incorporating her personal passion for the arts into her everyday work.