Mayer/Reed Gallery Artist Profile: Anne Samuel

Our in-studio gallery recently featured the three-dimensional work of Mayer/Reed Landscape Architect and Associate Anne Samuel. The suspended installation plays with light, shadow and subtle movement.

Composed of found materials, the untitled piece uses red acrylic, painted wood, monofilament and small beads in a study of balance and luminosity. A scrap of acrylic led to this exploration of possibility. “I wondered what I could make out of it,” Anne reflects. “I was most interested to see how the light cast on the wall would become part of the art, moving throughout the day with changing light conditions.”

Anne’s artistic pursuits have long embraced the act of making and building, spanning beading, jewelry, sculpture and furniture. Unconcerned with assigning meaning to her creations, she is guided instead by material curiosity and the physical process of formation. With training in theater and physics before earning her Master of Landscape Architecture, she is an artist equally attuned to art and science. “I am constantly trying something new in my art,” she says, “often dictated by a self-imposed challenge to create with the materials at hand.” A palette limited to cast-off materials makes the process more intriguing to Anne and reflects her commitment to sustainable design.

Posted February 18, 2026
Written by: Mayer/Reed
Categories: IN THE STUDIO 

The Gift of Creative Curiosity

Curiosity drives us to explore and learn. It opens the door for our imaginations and our technical expertise to work together, and it allows us to wonder, “What if?” As we gathered to celebrate 2025 and welcome the adventures of 2026, we challenged our team to engage their creative curiosity on a familiar object.

The task: reimagine the Mayer/Reed logo as a holiday gift—in just two hours.

The activity encouraged us to flex our creative talents and experiment with materials and processes available in and around the studio. The instructions were purposely ambiguous: be curious and play.

The studio was soon buzzing with energy as our team, fueled by sugary holiday treats and music, began sketching, painting, building, filming, photographing and animating. Exploration awakens a bit of joy in us all.









Cheers to a prosperous year filled with abundant curiosity and moments of discovery.

Posted December 30, 2025
Written by: Mayer/Reed
Categories: IN THE STUDIO 

Announcing Four Promotions

Mayer/Reed is pleased to announce the promotion of four team members whose leadership and dedication continue to elevate our firm. 

Landscape Architect Shannon Simms has been promoted to principal. In this role, she co-leads the firm’s urban design and landscape architecture group alongside Principal Jeramie Shane. Known for her big-picture thinking and ability to bring clarity to complexity, Shannon is a respected voice in public open space design with particular expertise in multimodal streetscapes. She is currently engaged in efforts to reimagine downtown Portland as a livable neighborhood and strengthen its relationship with the Willamette River. Her recent projects include the Green Loop Concepts and West End Street Plazas in Portland, Oregon, and the Riverwalk in St. Helens, Oregon.   

Landscape Architect Michael O’Brien has been promoted to associate. With more than 30 years of professional experience, Michael brings finely honed design and management expertise and is valued for his mentorship of emerging landscape architects. His sensitivity to site context, ecological function and human experience informs all of his work. Michael’s recent projects include OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital expansion and Errol Heights Park in Southeast Portland.  

Senior Visual Communications Designer Margaret Drew has been promoted to associate. Margaret is recognized for her approach to planning and designing inclusive wayfinding systems that inform, guide and connect people across differences in language and ability. Her recent work includes leading signage standards for Multnomah County Library’s 15-branch system.  

Content Coordinator/Editor Stefanie Warmouth has been named associate in recognition of her vital role in quality control and promoting Mayer/Reed’s story and culture. Her copyediting and communications expertise upholds the firm’s standard of excellence. Stefanie’s recent initiatives include managing the firm’s social media presence and project-managing our 2025 Portland Winter Light Festival installation at Mill Ends Park. 

We are proud to recognize growth from within and grateful for the contributions of these four individuals. 

Posted December 01, 2025
Written by: Mayer/Reed
Categories: IN THE STUDIO 

Art Gate Wins SEGD Global Design Award 

“A brilliant collision of community, typography, language, and identity, all in a single plane of metal. Bravo!” — Juror 

The art gate at Washington School for the Deaf received a Merit Award at the 2025 SEGD Global Design Awards. Mayer/Reed Senior Designer and Associate Debbie Shaw attended the November 13 ceremony in San Francisco to accept the honor. The awards recognize innovation in experiential design, celebrating projects that shape how people experience the built environment. The Mayer/Reed-designed art gate was one of 30 winners out of nearly 300 submissions at the international awards program this year. 

The 72-foot gate, laser-cut with custom hand-lettering, is a focal point of the campus redesign by Mithun and Skanska. The jury praised the art gate’s “…beautifully crafted design that marries sophisticated metal work with the youthfulness of primary education and the building blocks of learning language. The best part of this installation is the shadows it projects on the ground, making the ASL signs a multidimensional fabric of the campus.” 

Posted November 18, 2025
Written by: Mayer/Reed
Categories: AWARDS  PROJECTS