About the Studio

Designing systems for culture, identity, and digital archives

(Testimonials)

"Working with Jon Santos and Common Space has been a consistently positive experience. Jon’s creative direction and previous work set a high benchmark that we continue to reference for new campaigns. I trust Jon’s process and ability to deliver, even under tight timelines and shifting priorities. He’s always in the right realm creatively, and I know I can rely on him to refine concepts and push projects forward. When we need to move quickly, Jon is the person I call to hash out ideas and get things done."

Christine Messineo

Director of Americas, Frieze

"I owe a great debt of gratitude to Jon Santos. The installation for the biennial simply would not exist in its current form without him. What Jon created is truly wonderful—his vision, craft, and commitment shaped the work in ways I could not have achieved alone. His contribution did not merely support the piece; it fundamentally elevated it."

Werner Herzog

Filmmaker

Werner Herzog

FIlmmaker

“From concept development to execution, they demonstrated professionalism and passion at every step. Their work elevated our brand presence and created a product that our clients and partners continually praise.”

Zack Smith

For Ember Lane

"If you’re considering working with Common Space and Jon Santos, I can’t recommend them enough. Jon is truly a ‘design shrink’.. a psychologist of design. He offers not just creative solutions, but the thoughtful work of sitting with you, reflecting on what you’re doing and why, and exploring different practices and approaches. He doesn’t just recreate the wheel every time; he brings very specific advice and angles that help steer you toward a better, more sustainable practice. What’s special about Jon is that he empowers his clients to do things themselves through his initial guidance, but he’s always there, checking in and evolving the communication as your needs change. That kind of support and insight is really unique, and it’s made a huge difference for us."

Jack Wheeler and Melanie Dizon

Xapiri Ground

(Process)

We approach each project as a collaboration between strategy, design, and cultural understanding. Common Space works closely with artists, institutions, and organizations to translate complex ideas into clear visual systems, digital platforms, and long-term creative infrastructure.

Creative Research

Every project begins with research into context, audience, and intention. Understanding the cultural and strategic landscape allows the work to move beyond style and toward meaningful communication.

Strategy & Concept

Insights are translated into clear direction. This stage defines the conceptual framework, visual language, and technical structure that will guide the project forward.

Design Execution

Design systems, websites, publications, and digital platforms are developed with precision and care. Projects scale through collaboration with trusted programmers, designers, and specialists when needed.

Jon Santos is the founder and principal of Common Space, a New York–Honolulu based design studio working at the intersection of visual identity, digital platforms, and contemporary culture. Common Space operates as a flexible studio model. Jon leads every project directly and collaborates with a network of programmers, designers, and technical specialists depending on the scale of the work. This structure keeps projects conceptually focused while allowing them to expand when needed. His work spans brand identity, websites, exhibitions, publications, and long-term digital archives developed for artists, institutions, and cultural organizations.

Alongside his studio practice, Jon has a sustained history as an educator. He was an adjunct professor at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where he taught in the Visual Communications department, and has served as a visiting artist and lecturer at California College of Arts in San Francisco, Saint-Lukas Academy in Brussels, SAIC in Chicago, and the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. He has led design workshops in Tijuana and lectured at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the AIGA. Teaching has always run parallel to the studio — a way of thinking through design in public, with others.

“SANTOS TREATS THIS ARTWORK AS HE MIGHT TREAT HIS MUSIC – PRESENTING ONE FORM TO SUGGEST ANOTHER, LIKE A RHYME.

He exemplifies the new breed of artist who is liberated from codified artistic norms. By understanding this, one can begin to fully appreciate his range of creative activities. Known as an artist and notable underground DJ, he is also principal in the design group, Common Space, for which he creates posters and other marketing material for experimental musicians like himself. In this endeavor, he feels he is both “author and subject” of work that treats art, music, and visual culture in ways very few of us can. For Bay Area Now 3, Santos presents a video installation in which information is translated across multiple visual, aural, and textual forms. The work offers the viewer a rare opportunity to experience the relationships between sound, language, and form.”

Rene De Guzman, Curator, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

(Frequently asked Questions)