Ben Wagner

Design Director at Warby Parker, Founder at Lido Studio

Brooklyn, New York, United States

About

Ben Wagner is a Midwest-raised, Brooklyn-based designer and art director. As the founder and creative director at Lido Studio, he creates bold and thoughtful work for clients who aim to inspire and delight; including Warby Parker, Crate & Barrel, CB2, Kate Spade, Domino, Meetup, Rifle Paper Co., and IDEO. In addition to client projects, his original product designs—like the iconic Forever Gay Pin—are sold at stockists including the Whitney Museum, and have raised over $10,000 for LGBTQ+ nonprofits. Ben’s work has been featured in Vogue, Elle Decor, Print Magazine, and AIGA’s Eye On Design; and in 2018, he was recognized as a Young Guns 16 Finalist. Outside the studio, Ben is an avid Instagrammer, compulsive traveler, and staunch Fleetwood Mac fan.

Experience

  • Warby Parker (New York, United States · Hybrid)
    • Design Director
      Oct 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 9 mos

    • Contract Design Director
      Mar 2023 - Oct 2023 · 8 mos

  • Founder & Creative Director at Lido Studio
    Jan 2018 - Present · 8 yrs 6 mos

    Work with a variety of clients to design strategic, holistic brands and applications across print, web, product, physical spaces, and social media, from proposal stage through execution. Manage project timelines and budgets. Sub-contract and direct additional designers, photographers, developers, and copywriters as needed.

  • Designer & Art Director at Freelance
    Oct 2014 - Present · 11 yrs 9 mos

    Conceptualize and execute compelling design solutions for print, web, product, branded environments and social media. Select clients include Warby Parker, Airbnb, Crate & Barrel, CB2, Poppin, Kate Spade New York, Cricket's Circle, Hello Mr. Magazine, Georg Jensen, Sandisk, Firebelly Design and IDEO.

  • Part-time Faculty at Parsons School of Design - The New School
    Aug 2019 - Feb 2020 · 7 mos

    Developed curriculum, assigned and graded coursework, and taught twice per week for a 15-student Topics: Branding course at Parsons School of Design.

  • Designer, Windows and Store Experience at Gap
    Aug 2013 - Oct 2014 · 1 yr 3 mos