Marisa Ripo

Founder / Creative Director @C I R C L E S

PartnerExecutive CoachProduct Designer🐦 DesignConsultingFashion DesignerAdvisor

Marisa Ripo is a design leader, expert curator + brand identity specialist. She has 15+ years of industry experience + has held roles forecasting trends, leading design teams + developing product strategies across various brands. Led by the design philosophy of authenticity over everything, Marisa is passionate about raw materials, simplistic construction + heritage details. She finds herself most inspired when physically engaged in product: elbow deep in vintage, working in factory + wandering material archives. A strong desire to continue learning has led Marisa down varied paths within fashion; overseeing a wide range of categories: from accessories to performance to home design. Much of Marisa’s inspiration is found outside of the fashion world, bringing a unique perspective to her designs with a background in studio art + history. Marisa has held positions of distinction at Coach, DKNY, Gap + The North Face. Her strength is in understanding brand identity + creating consistency throughout product collections. She is endlessly curious + prides herself on leading her teams with enthusiasm + empathy. Focusing on areas of equity + diversity in team culture and sustainability + ethics in design culture has defined Marisa’s leadership career. In early 2023, Marisa founded C I R C L E S — a NY based creative studio specializing in brand identity, conceptual direction + full service design. Through C I R C L E S, Marisa is able to bring her creative vision + leadership strengths to multiple brands across varying industries. Marisa resides in her native Brooklyn with two tiny pups who will inevitably crash your zoom meetings.