Mark Smith

Mark Smith’s background includes a varied past that stretches around the globe.  His creative bent has been his ticket to experiences that have included tool and die design; production design for both film and theater; interior design for retail and residential; product, graphic and clothing design; as well as marketing communications design.  Mark was also involved in the beginning of the personal computer industry as lead designer for the tradeshow COMDEX.  Due to his vision and systems approach Mark was voted into the position of President at Envelopments by his partners to oversee the design of their business. When not working Mark can be found hanging out with his two daughters or gazing out to sea.

What has influenced you most in regards to design?
It was probably my trip to Japan as a fourteen year old.  The differences between Japan and California were obvious and assaulted my senses. But what really stuck and is still so present in my mind is that I went to the World’s Fair, Expo ’70 in Osaka which was titled “Progress and Harmony for Mankind.”  I also went to Hiroshima, to the museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome, ground zero.  With these two journeys, the contrast for man’s ability to create and destroy was forever etched into my mind.

What is your favorite design project you have done?
I would say it was inventing and implementing The Prevention Symbol Project.  Due to the increase of AIDS in the early 90’s there was a need for a proactive symbol that would focus on prevention.  The Prevention Symbol was used by peer educators at schools, student events and concerts such as Lollapalooza.  Adopted by students the symbol was used for focusing on other high risk issues like violence, drugs and the environment.  We also produced a video entry for KCET’s Life & Times student competition, which was awarded the grand prize and aired throughout southern California.

Do you have a specialty?
Design to me is not so much about solutions as it is about asking the right kind of questions. With that in mind I have been able to take on a wide variety of projects.  I was involved with designing and manufacturing the first mono-shock bicycle back in the early 70s; in the early 80s I participated with developing the first working local area network to be displayed in a tradeshow environment; later in the 80s I helped to design a clothing line that the fabric was printed with the first large scale sublimation printer brought into north America.  And of course, in the 90s we developed the first mix and match invitation system now known as Envelopments.

How is it to work with, and be partners with your wife, brother and sister-in-law?
I love it.  Is it easy, not always.  Rewarding, yes.  It would be hard to find someone else I trust more than David, Holly and Deborah.  We each bring something different to the business.  And because we are a family our business has grown that way as well.  We have employees that have been with us since we started, we have very few employees who have left, we have many couples working with us and we have seen a number of babies born into our big Envelopments family.  Some say we don’t have an HR department but a Department of Genealogy.

What’s your focus now in life?
Aside from making sure Envelopments is on track and able to keep the promises it makes…our two beautiful daughters Zoë and Sofia light up my life.