LARISSA
PICKENS
Hi there! I’ve been working in design for 20+ years, currently as a studio owner, advisor, and mentor.
I also have a thing for fragrances.
→ Connect on LinkedIn
DESIGN STUDIO
I started my career in book publishing at Chronicle Books, which sparked my passion for storytelling through design. Over time, I wanted to explore beyond the page, which led me to Parsons’ Design & Technology MFA.
While I still love beautiful printed pieces, digital offers entirely new ways to communicate and build deeper experiences. After graduating, I opened my design studio and have worked with clients ranging from Calvin Klein, Condé Nast, Scholastic, and Estée Lauder to early-stage start-ups.
Today, we focus on women’s healthcare, beauty, and lifestyle brands, offering branding, packaging, and digital design along with ongoing creative partnerships.
→ Float Design
DESIGN ADVISOR
As an advisor for FURI Sport, I’ve worked with co-founders Erick Mathelier and Michelle Spiro since the early days, witnessing the brand grow from an idea to a funded start-up ready to make the world of tennis more inclusive.
I’m excited to help shape FURI’s future and, as the team says, “Dream Big. Let It Fly.”
→ FURI Sport
DESIGN MENTOR
I love mentoring new design talent and helping mid-career designers figure out their next steps.
It’s truly an honor to get invited into someone’s hopes and dreams to help them strategize and get a new perspective, or at least learn from my mistakes.
→ ADPList
FRAGRANCE ENTHUSIAST
Fragrance has always been one of my favorite indulgences, from admiring my mom’s perfume bottles to visual design for fragrance brands such as Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, and Calvin Klein.
In that role, I had the opportunity to trial new scents for fragrance development. Having a small team eagerly sniffing perfume samples on your forearm while discussing the fragrance journey is a bizarrely unforgettable experience.
This led me to launch Everfumed where we interview perfumers, review fragrances, and explore perfumery ingredients.
It’s been a delight to learn more about the world of fragrance (and have an excuse to collect far too many perfumes).
→ Everfumed
CANDLEMAKER
I still had the itch to create my own scents which led me to a perfume-making class in Paris and launching my candle line Fernweh Editions, which combines my passion for fragrance and travel.
Each candle set or “edition” is inspired by the scents of a specific place, from the snowy forests of Alaska to the sunny gardens of the Mediterranean.
With the tagline, “Candles that take you on a journey,” I love dreaming up new scent adventures.
