Denise Milan

Denise Milan is the founder and creative director of Milan Design LLC, an independent lifestyle and design firm specializing in weddings and corporate events. With a background in graphic design and business, Denise brings with her a unique skill set that she applies to each of her projects. Her company’s work has been featured in prominent publications, including Vogue, O, The Oprah Magazine, Elle, and W Magazine, for which she was also a contributing editor.

Design Background

Denise started her design career in 1995, working in-house for an advertising agency in New York City. While working there, she began to develop her own design style and approach to problem solving. She also received design education from the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City.

After leaving the agency in 2001, she founded her own design firm specializing in branding, packaging, and editorial/advertising work. In 2011, Denise co-created and co-owned a lifestyle blog called Lululemon Active. The blog was followed by 400,000 people when it was acquired by Pepsi in 2018. She continues to work with the company behind the brand on various projects.

Weddings & Bridal

Denise has worked on several weddings and bridal projects over the past 20 years, from engagement photos to wedding cake designs. She’s designed everything from the invitations, seating charts, and cocktail programs to the engagement ring and wedding dress. Much of her work focuses on innovative ways to present, display, and preserve the special day for the couple.

One of her most memorable projects was designing the invitation for the 2005 wedding of David and Susan, an event that was covered by numerous media outlets. The invitations were printed on gold-flecked stock with black ink, which gave the impression of a dark, rich chocolate.

Denise’s approach to designing weddings is to work closely with the couple to define their vision and goals for the day, and then to develop a unique plan to achieve those results. She designs the invitations, sets the theme, and creates design ideas for the wedding party’s attire and accessories. Additionally, she often works with the couple’s wedding planner to make sure that all of their plans are executed successfully.

Corporate Event Design

Denise has also worked on numerous corporate events, from annual meetings and retreats to award ceremonies and birthday parties. With clients ranging from small professional organizations to Fortune 500 companies, she brings with her a unique skill set that she applies to each project.

For example, she designed a brand guide for a large pharmaceutical company that included an identity system, annual report, and more. Her approach is to work with the client to understand their needs and goals, and then to create a cohesive identity system that will help them reach their desired results.

Milan Design LLC

Denise founded Milan Design LLC in 2011 and has been named one of the Top 25 Design Blogs by FeedSpot.

In addition to weddings and corporate events, the company develops packaging, designs logos, and creates websites and social media campaigns for clients. Its work has been featured in prominent publications, including Vogue, O, The Oprah Magazine, Elle, and W Magazine, for which it was also a contributing editor.

Denise is a prolific writer and speaker and has lectured at universities and design conferences worldwide. She is the co-author of The Everything Design Book and the creator of the blog Design School Files, where she shares her design insights and tips with readers. In addition, she publishes a print magazine called Design Milk, which focuses on design education, featuring interviews with prominent designers and educators. Denise has also been published in numerous books, including The Best of Elle Decoration, Beautiful Home Design Ideas, and Creative Collections.

Personal Life

While pursuing her design career, Denise worked in marketing and management at a law firm and an asset management company in New York City. After she founded her own firm, she worked as an administrative law judge for the state of New York. During her time as a judge, she worked nights and weekends to finish her dissertation, which she received her JD from Hofstra University in 2017. She then moved to Denver, Colorado, where she serves as a litigation judge. When she’s not practicing law or designing, Denise enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She also loves to cook, knit, and travel.