about
Alfalfa Studio is an interdisciplinary graphic design studio located in Soho in New York City. Virtually every graphic medium is represented in our project portfolio, from print and web to motion graphics and environmental design. With our extensive experience and pool of talented collaborators, we can meet most design challenges.
PHILOSOPHY
“Make the idea clear and simple, but the design surprising and beautiful.”
For every project, we bring integrity to our work by searching for a unique solution to the design problem at hand. Never following formulas or rules, we begin with a white canvas, so to speak, as if the project were a painting.
But our canvas is always stretched by our personal journeys through many worlds: language, love, literature, film, fine art, pop culture, music, science, politics, travel, and dreams. We embrace diverse visual styles, points of view, techniques, cultures, and influences.
What keeps us excited about design is the challenge of solving complex problems for our clients through simplicity, surprise, and beauty.
RAFAEL ESQUER, Principal
A native of the Sonora desert of Mexico, Rafael Esquer has made New York City his home for more than a decade.
In 2007, Taschen included Esquer among the world’s 115 most progressive graphic designers working today.* In 2004, as Creative Director at @radical.media, his group’s work in communication design received the National Design Award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. The Olympic Museum and the Library of Congress poster collection contain some of his work.
At Alfalfa Studio, which Esquer established in 2004, clients have included The Glass House, Björk, The New York Times Magazine, Nike, AIGA, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Tommy Boy Records, Target, Scholastic, Museo del Barrio, and MTV.
Esquer received his BFA in graphic design from Art Center College of Design. He currently sits on the Advisory Board for AIGA’s Diversity Archives, curating the first exhibition of contemporary and twentieth-century work by minority graphic designers.
*Charlotte and Peter Fiell, eds. Contemporary Graphic Design.
NIGEL SIELEGAR, Senior Designer
Before joining alfalfa studio, Nigel worked for Firebelly Design Chicago as a junior design and soon after, he worked for Motorola developing new set of icons and user interface. Nigel’s design ranges from deep thinking to pragmatic multidisciplinary approaches. His design versatility can be seen from his portfolio that includes Installation works for TV networks, product designs for fashion companies, and numerous branding and print works for clients ranging from small non-profit to big international companies.
Nigel has earned his bachelor degree from The Illinois Institute of Art Chicago and graduate degree from the Designer as Author program at The School of Visual Arts in New York. His works has been awarded Certificate of Typographic Excellence by the Type Directors Club, Adobe Design Achievement Award semi finalist, and has appeared in many design blogs, press, and publications.