Point Five Design was founded by Alissa Levin in 1997. One of the studio’s first clients was Lingua Franca, a magazine that took a witty, irreverent approach to covering the world of ideas. That project brought into focus the core mission of Point Five: To create engaging and provocative design that puts idea-driven content at the center. The studio went on to work with a variety of other magazines, non-profits, academic institutions and entrepreneurs, who shared Point Five’s passion for inspiring ideas and smart design.

In 2002, Ben Levine joined Point Five as lead designer and art director for Legal Affairs, a vibrant alternative to law journals and reviews, published out of Yale. He has been a partner at Point Five since July 2007. Ben and Alissa’s recent clients include The Paris Review, Princeton University, Harvard University, Columbia Journalism Review, Brooklyn Law School, New York University Child Study Center and the Vera Institute of Justice. Point Five has been recognized by The American Society of Magazine Editors, Folio: Magazine, Graphic Design: USA and the Society of Publication Designers and the Society of Illustrators.

Our Team

Alissa Levin, Founder/Principal/Design

Alissa is from Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She began her career in Los Angeles as the lead designer at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. In 1997, Alissa moved to New York to launch Point Five.

Benjamin Levine, Principal/Design

Ben was raised in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona in 2000, where he studied psychology and graphic design. Before joining Point Five in 2002, he worked with such clients as the Dial Corporation, Adidas, and the Phoenix Suns. He became a partner at Point Five in 2007.

Nathan Eames, Design

Nathan, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2007 with a degree in Graphic Design. He joined Point Five as junior designer later that year. Prior to attending RISD, Nathan played Division I soccer at Indiana University-Purdue Univeristy Indianapolis while studying art and design at Herron School of Art.

Kate Hartnick Elliott, Communications/Marketing Strategy

Kate is President and Founder of Hartnick Consulting a marketing firm in New York City. Kate brings 20 years of marketing, strategy and copywriting expertise to Point Five as our Communications Partner. Kate has spoken on a variety of communications-related topics at venues including Columbia Business School, The New School and The Support Center for Nonprofit Management. A native New Yorker, Kate received her BA in English and Psychology from Amherst College and her MBA in Marketing and Management of Organizations from Columbia Business School.

Michael Murphy, Technology/Web Development

Michael is Point Five’s Technology Partner for website development, marketing and consulting. We have been working together since 2000 to improve the online presence of non-profit, publishing and progressive organizations. In addition to his work with Point Five, Michael has developed sites for organizations including Make the Road New York, The Monacelli Press, The Nation and The Campaign for Fiscal Equity. Michael is from Chicago, Illinois and graduated from the University of Colorado where he studied international business and history.

Erika Forsell, Studio Management

Erika grew up in California and joined Point Five Design as Studio Manager in 1999. She brings 10 years of administrative and managerial experience in the fields of communications and public relations.