Liza Rao is a design director and creative producer with deep roots in storytelling and creative production. Today, she partners independently with museums, cultural institutions, and mission-driven organizations to shape immersive, meaningful experiences that resonate across generations.
Liza finds inspiration in work that combines poetry, art, metaphor and meaning; all to help educate and ultimately make the world a more beautiful place.
Her work in interpretive design allows her to do just that with purpose-driven clients. Liza’s work reflects her extensive background in architecture and graphics. She began her career at Studio Joseph, an award-winning design studio in New York, where she completed her first exhibit at the Skyscraper Museum and fell in love with interpretive design. When she and her husband relocated to Memphis, TN, she joined Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, leading wayfinding & signage design projects from concept to installation. During her 15 year tenure at G&A Strategy & Design (formerly Gallagher & Associates), Liza led projects ranging from wayfinding to large-scale museum master planning and design.
Liza studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. Her continuing education in business and finance has made her a supportive and knowledgeable partner for her museum clients.
Services
Project Direction
Creative Direction
Graphic Design
Client Representation
Wayfinding & Signage Design
Final Digital Art
Production
Project Management
Project Budgeting
Donor Support
Clients
with G&A Design & Strategy
The National Museum of African American Music : Nashville, TN
The LBJ Presidential Library & Museum : Austin, TX
The National WWII Museum :
New Orleans, LA
The International Spy Museum : Washington, DC
The Ford Presidential Library & Museum : Grand Rapids, MI
The Carter Presidential Library & Museum : Atlanta, GA
The Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience : Meridian, MS
Freedom Park at Navy Pier : San Diego, CA
History Jackson Hole : Jackson, WY
The National Archives : Washington, DC
St Nicholas Shrine : New York, NY
The John Paul II Shrine & Museum : Washington, DC
The US Postal Museum :
Washington, DC
Military Women’s Memorial : Arlington, VA
College Football Hall of Fame :
Atlanta, GA
Cheekwood Mansion & Estate : Nashville, TN
with Looney Ricks Kiss Architects
Memphis Center City Commission
The National Civil Rights Museum : Memphis, TN
Eddy Street Commons : South Bend, IN
The LEX : Lexington, KY
New Broad Street Realty : Winter Park, FL
Toyota : Memphis, TN
FedEx : Memphis, TN
i-Bank : Memphis, TN
Mental Health Institute : Bolivar, TN
City of Bolivar : Bolivar, TN
The Walt Disney Company : Celebration, FL
Select Clients
The National Museum of Health & Medicine : Washington, DC
American Revolution Center at Yorktown : Yorktown, VA
Jamestown Settlement Museum : Jamestown, VA
The Hershey Story Museum :
Hershey, PA
The Hershey Archives : Hershey, PA
Catherine Hershey Schools :
Hershey, PA
The Mob Museum : Las Vegas, NV
The Georgia Aquarium : Atlanta, GA
Cox Communications : Atlanta, GA
Miami Black History : Miami, FL
Louisiana Civil Rights Museum : New Orleans, LA
The Tate, Etienne & Prevost Center : New Orleans, LA
The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience : New Orleans, LA
Fair Park : Dallas, TX
The Witte Museum : San Antonio, TX
The New York State Museum : Albany, NY