Directory Profile

Kaitlin Messich is Art Director in the Institute’s design studio, where she leads the award-winning Community Branding Program she created in 2019. Named to her position in 2024, she manages the design team in creative direction, specializing in community branding and placemaking that helps cities and counties across Georgia strategically leverage their unique assets to foster economic development, attract investment, enhance quality of life, and preserve a strong sense of place. Since joining the Institute in 2013, Kaitlin has led the creative direction for over 60 community projects, blending research-based strategy with graphic design. Her portfolio spans downtown master planning, brand identity systems, adaptive reuse concepts, and placemaking initiatives that translate vision into action. Through this work, she has helped communities generate millions in public and private investment, revitalizing downtown areas and boosting local pride. Kaitlin’s background in historic preservation, design, political science, and the visual arts informs her holistic approach to community identity and storytelling. She frequently shares her expertise with statewide and national audiences, training community leaders, mentoring students, and presenting on how branding and design can drive economic and cultural impact.