I’m Kim Maxwell Vu, a graphic designer and art director who has spent more than 20 years helping people understand the world through visual storytelling. My work starts with finding the idea — what matters in a story, what might surprise someone and what will make them want to look closer.
At The Minnesota Star Tribune, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post and USA Today, I’ve designed everything from high-profile news coverage to food features, political sections and magazines. I helped launch Star Tribune Magazine, developing its visual identity and design system from the ground up, and led art direction and design for Capital, The Boston Globe’s weekly political section. Across those projects, I’ve brought together typography, photography, illustration and information design to give each story an approach of its own.
Collaboration is central to how I work. I’m comfortable developing a concept with an editor, providing creative direction to an illustrator, working with a photographer on a shoot or helping a fellow designer work through ideas. I’ve commissioned and managed freelance artists and mentored emerging designers, sharing both practical guidance and the reasoning behind a design decision.
I care about making work that rewards attention and communicates clearly. I’m interested in opportunities where strong ideas, thoughtful design and a sense of public purpose can bring people closer to a subject — whether that’s a news story, an organization or a new experience.
Oh, and I suppose I can't go more than five seconds without talking about vinyl records. I'm obsessed — even more obsessed than I am about good design. Come find me at Discogs if you're so inclined!