I am Nadia Coen, an inter-disciplinary creative director and designer with extensive experience in communication and environmental / experiential graphic design for cutting-edge exhibitions and branded environments. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, I have been practicing art and exhibition design in New York City for over 20 years, delivering creative direction from ideation through content design, curation, identity, books and collateral, pitch materials, and large-scale environmental experiences. My studio, Coen Projekts, is a multidisciplinary practice focused on public spaces and institutions for diverse cultural audiences, with a track record including the permanent redesign installation of the Alice Austen House Museum (opened May 2019), and projects for the National Civil Rights Museum, Smithsonian Postal Museum, Maimonides Infants & Children’s Hospital, Jaffe Food & Allergy Center, Mount Sinai Jaffe Food & Allergy Center, and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Lobby, as well as MoCADA startup identity and signage experience. As a visual artist, my work has been exhibited by MoMA, Paul Getty Foundation, Pompidou Center, and acquired by national and international collections. I have been featured in Metropolis Magazine, Interiors Magazine, Artforum Graphic Design in Contemporary Culture, Cooper Hewitt, AIGA, and more.

Nadia Coen

I am Nadia Coen, an inter-disciplinary creative director and designer with extensive experience in communication and environmental / experiential graphic design for cutting-edge exhibitions and branded environments. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, I have been practicing art and exhibition design in New York City for over 20 years, delivering creative direction from ideation through content design, curation, identity, books and collateral, pitch materials, and large-scale environmental experiences. My studio, Coen Projekts, is a multidisciplinary practice focused on public spaces and institutions for diverse cultural audiences, with a track record including the permanent redesign installation of the Alice Austen House Museum (opened May 2019), and projects for the National Civil Rights Museum, Smithsonian Postal Museum, Maimonides Infants & Children’s Hospital, Jaffe Food & Allergy Center, Mount Sinai Jaffe Food & Allergy Center, and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Lobby, as well as MoCADA startup identity and signage experience. As a visual artist, my work has been exhibited by MoMA, Paul Getty Foundation, Pompidou Center, and acquired by national and international collections. I have been featured in Metropolis Magazine, Interiors Magazine, Artforum Graphic Design in Contemporary Culture, Cooper Hewitt, AIGA, and more.

Available to hire

I am Nadia Coen, an inter-disciplinary creative director and designer with extensive experience in communication and environmental / experiential graphic design for cutting-edge exhibitions and branded environments. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, I have been practicing art and exhibition design in New York City for over 20 years, delivering creative direction from ideation through content design, curation, identity, books and collateral, pitch materials, and large-scale environmental experiences.

My studio, Coen Projekts, is a multidisciplinary practice focused on public spaces and institutions for diverse cultural audiences, with a track record including the permanent redesign installation of the Alice Austen House Museum (opened May 2019), and projects for the National Civil Rights Museum, Smithsonian Postal Museum, Maimonides Infants & Children’s Hospital, Jaffe Food & Allergy Center, Mount Sinai Jaffe Food & Allergy Center, and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Lobby, as well as MoCADA startup identity and signage experience. As a visual artist, my work has been exhibited by MoMA, Paul Getty Foundation, Pompidou Center, and acquired by national and international collections. I have been featured in Metropolis Magazine, Interiors Magazine, Artforum Graphic Design in Contemporary Culture, Cooper Hewitt, AIGA, and more.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Founder / Creative Director at Coen Projekts
January 1, 2008 - Present
Coen Projekts is a multidisciplinary design studio focused on museums, visitor experiences, and environmental/branding environments. I lead ideation, content design, curation, identity, books + collateral, and the planning and realization of large-scale environmental installations, working with diverse cultural audiences to foster meaningful participation in big ideas. The practice has produced permanent installations and exhibitions for clients including the Alice Austen House Museum, MoCADA, NYU Langone, Maimonides Infants & Children’s Hospital, and other major museums and medical facilities.
Senior Art Director / Design Consultant at Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA Design)
January 1, 2006 - September 30, 2025
Led art direction and exhibition graphics for major museum projects, including The National Civil Rights Museum (Memphis), Smithsonian Postal Museum, The Corning Glass & Innovation Center, and international exhibitions such as the Hans Christian Andersen Travelling Exhibit. Collaborated with architects and curators to translate complex ideas into accessible public experiences, overseeing identity, signage, and narrative graphics.
Founder / Creative Director at Coen Projekts
January 1, 2008 - Present
Coen Projekts is a multidisciplinary studio specializing in museum and branded environments, environmental and experiential design, identity, print and digital collateral, and content strategy. Responsibilities include strategic planning, concept development, design direction, curation, and execution of large-scale environmental installations and exhibitions for cultural institutions and corporate partners.
Founder / Creative Director at Coen Projekts
January 1, 2008 - Present
Interdisciplinary design practice focusing on museum, visitor experience, and experiential environments. I lead strategic planning, ideation, content design, curation, identity, books and collateral, pitch presentations, and large-scale environmental installations, with an emphasis on meaningful participation from diverse audiences. Clients include cultural institutions and brands, with a track record of delivering permanent installations and branded environments that translate big ideas into accessible experiences.
Founder / Creative Director at Coen Projekts
January 1, 2008 - Present
Interdisciplinary design studio focused on museums, visitor experiences, environmental/experiential design, identity, books + collateral, and large-scale installations. Notable projects include the permanent redesign of the Alice Austen House Museum (opened May 2019) and work for MoCADA, NYU Langone, Maimonides Hospital, and other cultural institutions.
Founder / Creative Director at Coen Projekts
January 1, 2008 - Present
Inter-disciplinary design studio specializing in design for museums, visitor experiences, environmental / branded environments, identity, books + collateral, and large-scale environmental experiences; practice spans ideation, content design, curation, pitch presentations, and multimedia direction.
Senior Art Director / Design Consultant at Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Inc
January 1, 2008 - October 10, 2025
Worked on select museum projects including The National Civil Rights Museum (Memphis), Smithsonian Postal Museum (Washington, DC), The Corning Glass & Innovation Center, IBM Thinc at Epcot, Hans Christian Andersen Travelling Exhibit (Denmark), and other exhibition graphics as a senior art director / design consultant.
Founder / Creative Director at Coen Projekts
January 1, 2008 - Present
Inter-disciplinary design studio specializing in museums, visitor experiences, environmental and branded environments, with ongoing work on permanent and temporary installations for cultural institutions and exhibits. Notable recent projects include the permanent installation redesign of the Alice Austen House Museum (opened May 2019) and collaborations across healthcare, education, and cultural sectors.
Founder / Principal at Coen Projekts
January 1, 2008 - Present
Inter-disciplinary design studio specializing in museum and branded environments, creating permanent and temporary installations, signage, identity and content design for public spaces and diverse cultural audiences. Notable engagements include the permanent installation at the Alice Austen House Museum (opened May 2019) and collaborations on projects for the National Civil Rights Museum, Smithsonian Postal Museum, Maimonides Infants & Children's Hospital, Jaffe Food & Allergy Center, Mount Sinai Jaffe Food & Allergy Center, and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Lobby. Leadership includes strategic planning and multi-disciplinary creative direction across print, web and experiential media.
Senior Art Director / Design Consultant at Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Inc.
December 31, 2008 - October 10, 2025
Senior art direction and design consultant contributing to major museum and exhibition projects, including the National Civil Rights Museum (Memphis), Smithsonian Postal Museum (Washington, DC), The Corning Glass & Innovation Center, IBM Thinc at Epcot, MoCADA, and other large-scale institutional environments.

Education

Add your educational history here.

Qualifications

Bronze Award of Environmental Design – The Steuben Flagship Store, New York
January 1, 1999 - September 30, 2025
Good Design Award – Smithsonian Postal Museum: Stamps that Changed the World
January 1, 2004 - September 30, 2025
Bronze Award of Environmental Design – Corning Glass Innovation Center
January 1, 2000 - September 30, 2025
Bronze Award of Environmental Design
January 1, 1999 - October 10, 2025
Bronze Award of Environmental Design (Corning Glass Innovation Center)
January 1, 2000 - October 10, 2025
Graphis Annual Design Award (History Exhibit Wall, Children’s Hospital, Presbyterian)
January 1, 2003 - October 10, 2025
The Design Ånnual 47
January 1, 2006 - October 10, 2025
The Chicago Athenaeum Award (Good Design)
January 1, 2004 - October 10, 2025
The Design Annual 47 Award
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
The Chicago Athenaeum Award
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
The Graphis Annual Design Award
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
Bronze Award of Environmental Design
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025
Applied Arts Magazine Award for Environmental Design
January 11, 2030 - October 10, 2025

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Healthcare, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Government