romance” (she was an intern at a
firm where he worked), employs
nine designers to juggle projects,
about 70 percent of which are
print-based. Jake admits, “While
we can’t compete with [ Web-
based companies] on the techni-
cal side, they can never compete
with us on our creativity.”
From its start in 2003, Design
Army made waves as the go-to
innovative team for “turning up
the volume.” As a result, it has
attracted many clients from the
arts and entertainment arena
across the country.
“People hire us for the idea,”
says Pum. “With other compa-
nies, it’s always the same old
thing.”
Even as recently as a few
years ago, Jake says, the firm
was “known as just a little
high-risk.” These days, Design
Army receives so many requests
from all genres of clientele that
“we interview them as much
as they interview us.” Some
favorite assignments include
photo shoots for Washingtonian
magazine, collaborations during
which, Pum says, “we become
the editorial team as well as the
design team. We come up with
the story.”
Jake relishes the role of
reshaping a company’s image,
especially that of nonprofits
and charity organizations that
have previously received little
publicity.
“We love working for the
good-cause clients,” he says.
“One of our goals has always
been to make D.C. better.”
“We know this town inside
and out,” says Pum.
But they find their greatest inspiration while traveling,
whether to Pum’s native Thailand
or on a train ride to Penn Station.
“It’s not only about how
people see [our products],” Pum
says. “It’s about how they feel,
too. The way we see the world is a
little bit di;erent.”
—Corinne Whiting
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