Patio 

Info
Blackthorn
Rebrand for a event technology company that keeps people at the center of it all.

Build with Purpose
A marketing consultant who helps purpose-driven organizations scale their impact.

re/
MFA thesis exhibition for VCFA Graphic Design, Summer 2023. Federico
A typeface project that explores humble materials and generational ideologies.

Zoc
A science-based study tool that can aid in deeper learning in higher ed. Epic Fail
A tool for the classroom that helps students embrace failure and reflection. The Current
Positioning a Rhode Island gift shop as a local tastemaker and contemporary curator.  

Patio is a graphic design studio that specializes in visual identity, art direction, and design strategy.


About Patio


Patio is led by Kyla Paolucci. After listening to the song "Chicken Teriyaki" by Rosalia, she misheard the lyrics and started researching the Spanish and Catalan interpretations of “pati.” Translating to a recess or break from school, she began to romanticize the idea of an outside gathering space without walls and how that might encourage collaborative and experimental projects. Rosalia was really saying “nothing here for you, chicken teriyaki,” but if you’re looking for a spirited graphic design service, you’re in the right place.


Working with us


Patio specializes in visual identity, art direction, and strategy. We view design as a process that benefits from exploration. Following trends can be foolproof way to make something nice looking, but we like to envision placements that challenge immediate solutions: Sometimes you overbake the cookies. Sometimes a crunchy cookie is what you’ve been needing all along. We create work that balances structure with openness, invites collaboration, and makes room for ideas develop.


Research-driven solutions.
Taking time to investigate the key elements of your story and who you want to share it with is an essential part of our process. We prioritize research to create outputs that are impactful and culturally resonant.
Well-crafted design.
We create voice through considered typography. Whether it’s a visual identity, in-house presentation, or a new website, each project reflects a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Clear and efficient communication.
From kickoff to after-care, we ensure the design process is smooth, efficient, and collaborative. You’ll always know where the project stands and feedback is welcome at every step.  
Thoughtful and strategic partnerships.
Beyond delivering good work, we’re here to support you with insights and recommendations that go beyond the brief. We’re invested in our relationship with you and how your designs can drive impact.


Our Clients


With experience across in-house teams and agency collaborations, and years working in marketing design within the entertainment industry, we bring a clear understanding of diverse audiences. This perspective allows us to position ideas effectively while delivering work that supports both business goals and broader cultural relevance.




Patio prioritizes projects dedicated to sustainability and non-violence. We partner with commercial clients to subsidize our work with resource-limited organizations. If you are an organization who could benefit from low-cost graphic design support and strategy, we encourage you to get in touch. 

We are physically based in Brooklyn, NY which is situated on Lenapehoking. We honor, respect, and learn fom the enduring relationship that exists between the Lenape people and their ancestral territory.

Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.


re/


Team
Zach Leader, Ray Masaki, Rick Heffner, Ana Melendez

Web Development
Mattieu Moreau Domecq
In choosing a reflective octahedron to serve as our mascot, the art direction and web design for VCFA’s 2023 Graphic Design thesis exhibition presented a rotation of eight graduate projects that interrograted expressions of humanity.

Reflecting on the cyclical nature of design, history, and experiences, we found that they are not singular or linear—they are relational and ever-evolving. The prefix “re” emphasizes the importance of learning from our pasts and using that knowledge to promote effective change within the work we do for others and ourselves.





Blackthorn


Project Type

Visual Identity, Marketing

Team

Andy Ramsaran, Gina LiCalzi, Lucinda Hoxha, Sophia Willinger
Blackthorn approached Patio to lead a rebrand focused on human connection and modernity. We kicked off the process with a group workshop to better understand how Blackthorn employees wished to reposition themselves after growing into a trusted resource for teams that plan business-critical events. Collaborative efforts like these can have the potential to transform market trends. 

Inspired by Blackthorn’s previous mascot, we developed a vibrant color palette to catch people’s attention instead. The new logomark draws inspiration from the Blackthorn flower to symbolize how our relationships with each other—and to technology—continue to evolve. Along with type and color, Patio supported with a product video, illustrations, and internal communication materials. We were especially pleased to see how Blackthorn employees embraced their new, collective voice.


Our big and green guiding light, Thorny.


Zoc


Project Type

Visual Identity, Marketing


Team

Jon Sousa, Tahmedul Islam, Andrew Mora
After collaborating on several initiatives with the folks at Zoc, Patio was brought on to define an early visual identity and narrative direction for Zoc’s seed fundraising efforts. With AI transforming how students learn and retain information, we crafted a compelling product video anchored by a study-music track designed to resonate with student habits and underscore Zoc’s science-driven approach.

Zoc is an education technology tool built on proven cognitive science frameworks, helping students master material through personalized AI support. Our work helped articulate the platform’s dual appeal: empowering students with adaptive tools to overcome academic barriers, and offering educators a path to equitably integrate AI into their classrooms. This resulted in an an identity that can speak clearly to both student and administrative audiences, positioning Zoc as a future-forward ally in higher education.




Build With Purpose


Project Type

Visual Identity, Marketing

Team

Tahmedul Islam, Andrew Mora
Visual identity for Build with Purpose, a strategy consultant helping mission-driven organizations build sustainable futures. By balancing clarity and adaptability, this flexible system is inspired by the imminent need for most organizations to simplify workflows, empower teams, and foster long-term growth. Designed to be both scalable and strategic, a bold color palette and icon system become a toolkit for different combinations and visual opportunities, supporting the client’s ability to shift and adapt over time.



Federico


Project Type

Creative Practice, Type Design

Author

Kyla Paolucci
Federico is a typeface modeled after the sign-making practice Federico Paolucci, a solitary World War II vet who drafted his progressive philosophies in electrical tape for all those who passed his home. His practice employed humble materials to manifest hope despite his own economic barriers. 

Type design has become more accessible over the years with free software and online instruction. Federico is an authored, analog process that must leverage desktop tools to exist in a predominantly digital market. However, it’s most genuine form is physical and replicable: Letterforms made with tape. Serving not only as a typeface, Federico is a system that connects the author to her generational design roots by embracing traditional methods while adapting to modern tools and technologies. 




Epic Fail Pass

 

Collaborators

Alison Schwartz, James Rutter

Materials

Laser printing on Astrobright Cosmic Orange, 24lb 
School is the safest place to fail, but not everyone has that privilege. The "Epic Fail Pass" seeks to reshape the perception of failure within educational contexts. As a credit allowance, it can empower students to turn setbacks into moments of reflection. Integrating the Epic Fail Pass into classroom strategies has promoted accountability and cultivated a culture of growth and resilience among learners.

This approach offers a practical tool for transforming failure into a positive learning experience. For educators, the pass is an assistive tool to use missteps as opportunities for development and improvement, fostering a supportive environment where students feel empowered to learn from their experiences.


An unused Epic Fail Pass at the end of a semester...


The Current


Project Type

E-commerce, Visual Identity
The Current is a modern gift shop bringing curated, design-forward home goods to a lively main street in southern Rhode Island. Working closely with founder and longtime friend, Britni (a trend-savvy entrepreneur with a sharp eye) Patio developed a brand identity and e-commerce experience that reflects the store’s playful energy and evolving inventory.

Rooted in Rhode Island’s coastal identity, the visual system incorporates a neutral palette and flexible graphic elements that allow the brand to shift fluidly with the seasons. Our goal was to create something that felt both distinctly local and unmistakably contemporary in order to capture Britni’s forward-thinking creative endeavors while offering a timeless foundation that can grow with the shop.




iCapital


Project Type
Visual Identity, Marketing
Patio was invited to take part in a design challenge to redesign the marketing website to promote iCapital’s latest technologies. These relative explorations would become seeds to discover new business KPIs and strengthen communication for an array of customer profiles.

Our ideation for iCapital culminated in two customer-centered outputs for the homepage and navigation bar that responded to competitior analysis. Visual identities and icon systems were developed to translate product capabilities with a side order of soft copywriting. Though these designs were not fully implemented, this investigative work helped iCapital establish stronger task flows on their site and expand digital design leadership.