Welcome to REA

Favorite vacation spot:

Australian born, with a history that began with branding for boutique wineries in Melbourne, Joe has continued his thirst for design, creating iconic brands both nationally and internationally. With experience at renowned brand agencies Grey Worldwide and Base Design; his portfolio spans work for Honda, Pepsico, City of Melbourne, RXR, JBG SMITH, Blackstone, Mack-Cali and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. He has received award nods from D&AD and both NY & Tokyo Type Directors Clubs.

Driven by a relentless curiosity, Joe seeks to deliver considered solutions to complex design challenges, placing clarity and good thought at the forefront of every outcome. Intelligent, intuitive and inclusive, his designs are grounded in strong conceptual thinking underpinned by an awareness of social and cultural attitudes.

Would like to visit:

A Miami native who has backpacked around the world, Shana has since made herself very much at home in NYC. At REA she has overseen from concept to completion large-scale commercial, residential and retail projects for Himmel and Meringoff, Blackstone, JBG SMITH, RXR, Grosvenor, Oxford Development Companies and more.

Motivated to help amazing design happen, Shana channels her preternatural levels of organization towards achieving exceptional results for both her clients and her team, and revels in seeing creative ideas brought to life. In an environment built around design and big ideas, she gets to flex her own creative muscles via the impromptu problem solving that forms the heart of her project manager role. A time management pro both inside the office and out, Shana spends her off hours weightlifting, hiking upstate and basking in the affections of her Maltese pup Kila.

Favorite place:

Born in Queens, Michael fell in love with the changing face of NYC. He saw the city’s architecture and design as a bookmark of the times, and was determined to make his own mark on the city.

Having graduated from FIT, Michael worked in his uncle’s fashion production company, where he became passionate about the possibilities arising from the intersection of business and purposeful design. After spending some time in Fashion, he found graphic design and communications to be a better fit. A role at a graphic design firm handling real estate clients followed – the city had come calling. Unable to ignore Manhattan’s siren song, Michael launched REA, shaking up the real estate world by delivering singularly beautiful marketing keepsakes vastly at odds with the plodding institutional fare that was the industry standard at the time.

Supported by a team of design professionals with backgrounds in branding and design, and deftly responding to new shifts and disruptions in real estate, the studio has since evolved its focus towards strategic place-making.

Michael remains fascinated by the question of what it takes to make a place that people gravitate towards. This has become a central theme at REA. Under Michael’s leadership, the studio’s unrivaled ability to help clients express the essence of a place through considered, engaging brand identities has positioned it as a conversation leader. 

Favorite place:

Born to parents from the Dominican Republic and raised a New Yorker, Jessica’s proud of how this melting pot city has influenced her perspective. A self-described lifelong learner, she earned a degree in Urban and Community Studies from the University of Connecticut before moving back to New York and honing her skills, first as a fulfillment manager, and later as a project manager, for clients in the events, design, and food industries. At REA, she helps real estate leaders create compelling places by overseeing projects from concept to completion.

Driven by the endless potential of the creative process, Jessica excels at rallying teams around details to create distinct outcomes that are as thoughtful as they are thorough. With a focus that never strays from the big picture, she uses organizational prowess and imaginative problem-solving to keep us on track and on vision. Even outside the office, you’ll find Jessica planning—in her free time, she enjoys helping friends and families bring party ideas to life.

Favorite place in NYC:

Originally from northeastern Italy, Michela studied advertising, graphic design and editorial design in Pesaro and Urbino before heading Stateside to complete an MFA at the Yale School of Art. She built her portfolio at Benetton’s creative studio Fabrica, the Yale British Art Center and several design and architecture studios in Europe and the US before landing at REA, where she has worked on place-making projects for Mack-Cali and JBG SMITH.

As a designer, Michela throws herself into the discovery stage to uncover what makes each project fresh and unique. Passionate about the possibility inherent in every assignment, she seeks to explore an idea from multiple viewpoints, making connections and drawing inspiration from the world around her — overhead conversations, found objects and serendipitous media snippets. The Jacks store across the street from REA speaks to her frugal upbringing and keeps her thrifty soul at peace.

Would prefer to be:

A UK native, Tom has lived, worked and studied on both sides of the pond, including at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. Over the years he has built a portfolio of work for noteworthy brands including Bonhams, Sirin Labs, Related and Salomon.

Tom’s approach to design foregrounds simplicity and solutions. In every project he strives to deliver the cleanest, clearest solution possible, while bringing in subtle, unexpected elements that add meaning and delight. An avid sportsman, Tom spends his summers on the golf course and his winters on the ski slopes.

Favorite place in NYC:

Sara grew up in Ann Arbor and earned a degree in Art and Design from the University of Michigan. After graduating and moving to New York, her role as a designer quickly evolved as she discovered a growing interest in the operational side of the creative process. Stepping into project management at REA, she uses her meticulous eye for detail to transform projects into noteworthy brands—such as Liberty BKLYN, SPACE+, Cannon Hill Capital Partners, and 99 Coolidge.

Inspired by the opportunity to impact cityscapes and “up-and-coming” communities, she approaches every project with tremendous thought and care––ensuring every ‘t’ is crossed, every ‘i’ is dotted, and every result is nothing short of remarkable. When she’s not delving into the details of placemaking, you’ll find Sara connecting with the outdoors swimming, biking, or hiking.

I live:

Originally hailing from Kansas, Nick studied Graphic Design at Fort Hays State University. Pulled by New York’s renowned creative energy, he quickly took advantage of the city’s opportunities, growing his portfolio at leading agencies, where he contributed to global brands such as Microsoft, HairClub, and Starbucks. At REA, he leverages his award-winning perspective and knack for holistic strategy to transform burgeoning ideas into iconic places.

Nick deeply considers every aspect of design, leading him to bring thoughtful, comprehensive ideas to the forefront of each distinctive project. A proud art collector and supporter, his admiration for meaningful expression informs and inspires his creative approach. Outside of work, he’s continuously hunting down the next piece to add to his home gallery.

I would like to visit:

Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Alex moved to New York to pursue her love of design at the New School in Manhattan, and completed her education at Northeastern University. After following career opportunities up and down the East Coast, she’s thrilled to continue sharpening her creative skillset in the city where it all began. At REA, she is constantly exploring, discovering, and refining new ways to strengthen the connections between people and place.

Alex’s ever-evolving approach to design is dynamic, yet intentional. She aims to use her creativity to not only answer important questions––but provoke them as well. Her unique perspective and adaptive process allow her to synthesize information into approachable, inspiring brand expressions that impact the way communities work, live, and interact. A jack of nearly all trades, Alex enjoys an eclectic array of hobbies including DJing, painting, gardening, and thrifting.

I would rather be:

Originally from Vietnam, Cong has followed his passion for design across the globe, venturing stateside to study at the Parsons School of Design and Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts before eventually landing in Los Angeles. At REA, his concept-forward approach shapes ordinary briefs into noteworthy places.

Boldly creative and meticulously strategic, Cong strives to design visual stories that both stir emotion and solve problems. He is dedicated to challenging norms and regularly pushes himself—and clients—outside of comfort zones to create distinct brands that resonate on a deeper level. After hours, you’ll catch him finding inspiration nearly everywhere—such as in a good tune, nature walks, long cook sessions, or a foreign language overheard on his travels.