Irene Korol Scala

Mentor, author, and passionate advocate of great type and thoughtful messaging, Irene pushes herself and her team to refine the craft of visual story-telling and developing brand authenticity. Her credentials include a prestigious degree and full-tuition scholarship from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, where she had the opportunity to study with educators such as Paul Rand, Lou Dorfsman, and Milton Glaser.

Irene went on to postgraduate study at The Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. Upon returning to New York City, she joined a multi-disciplinary design studio, creating a variety of print and web communication pieces. Irene Scala teamed up with James Craig in teaching Typography at The Cooper Union and co-authoring the Fifth Edition of the internationally-acclaimed textbook Designing with Type, 5th Edition: The Essential Guide to Typography. 

Together, they created the web site DesigningWithType.com, devoted to the art and appreciation of typography. The site offers a unique resource for students, educators, and professionals, showcasing talent from all over the world. Also, as an online companion to the Fifth Edition, Scala and Craig created DesigningWithType.com/5 to provide additional information beyond the scope of the book. The Designing With Type brand expanded to include an international DWT Workshop and DWT Awards. 

Conducted internationally by James Craig, the DWT workshop offers both a creative challenge for the students and a rare opportunity to compare their work with major schools from around the world. It is built around three projects designed to explore different aspects of typography and graphic design. The projects are directed primarily towards students who are just beginning to appreciate the richness and potential of typography and are eager to learn more about its creative possibilities.

The DWT Awards fund scholarships for Cooper Union's incoming art students or those who exhibit a strong interest in graphic design and wish to study abroad in a foreign country. Designed to help cover living or travel expenses, the awards allow students to advance their design skills and engage in life-enhancing, cultural experiences. Most recently, DWT launched the Visiting Chair program which invites acclaimed designers to teach at Cooper Union.

After holding positions in communication design, advertising and marketing, publishing, and branding, Irene accepted the challenge of joining a 2-month-old marketing start-up focused on the higher-ed landscape. As Executive Creative Director, she leverages her experience in education, graphic design, written communication, and user focus. In the early years, Scala was instrumental in building a dream team of designers, writers, freelance talent and trusted vendors. Now, she leads the creative department in creating data-driven solutions and achieving results that "surprise and delight" their clients.

Irene Scala continues to direct award-winning creative work, consult, lecture, and collaborate—always seeking the next challenge and demanding great results.