Ashton is a Baltimore-based studio with a global team. We believe the best design comes from being out in the world.

We champion life experience as essential to creativity, and we celebrate each person’s unique talents as crucial to our success. Designing for inclusion and increasing access to our field are fundamental to our value system.

If you’d like to work with us, send us a note.

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Our Team

Alexey Ikonomou

Co-Owner & Creative Director

Jenny Hoffman

Co-Owner & Creative Director

David Ashton
Principal Emeritus

David founded Ashton Design in 1985 and, in 35 years at its helm, established it as a pillar of the Baltimore design community.

To David, everything is design—a philosophy applied with immense thought and care to each project that came through the door. He built a like-minded team whose collaborative style earned the trust of many clients and earned the studio international renown for its timeless design.

In 2020, David transferred ownership of his namesake studio to his long-time creative leads, Jenny and Alexey, ensuring Ashton Design would continue to deliver timeless work for decades to come. He’s still a friendly face around the studio.

Learn more about David’s design philosophy.→  

Our Community

While projects take us near and far, we never forget that Baltimore built us.

THE STUDIO ON PARK

Ashton is proud to announce the imminent opening of our new Baltimore City studio. The space at 844 Park Ave. has been reimagined to serve as a homebase for strategic thought and creativity. Soon, this former grocery store will again be packed with timeless brands—they’ll just be of our own design.

LOCAL ENGAGEMENT

We believe that design training should be accessible to all, whether in a traditional setting or through a grassroots initiative. Multiple team members teach at area institutions, including MICA and Towson University, and our studio regularly volunteers time and skills to support community-based projects.

Design influences everything, and if it’s done well you won’t even notice.

—David Ashton