Blueline Design
A creative studio redefining the modern exhibition space
Bespoke Silkscreen Wall Graphics
Our Work
The Corcoran
Bruce attended the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. from 1964-1972. At the Corcoran, Bruce was immediately captivated by serigraphy. The accumulation of color layers builds excitement as each consecutive layer embellishes the last, revealing the finished piece with an air of surprise. Bruce met fellow student Libby Dorsett while at the Corcoran and they would marry and in 1975 open Blueline Design together. Bruce also started teaching part-time at the Corcoran School. During this time, he introduced at the ground floor silkscreen graphics to exhibiting institutions of renown, by being the first to print exhibition grade graphic text at the Corcoran Gallery. Jake grew up there in the gallery surrounded by one of the most spectacular private collections of American art, helping his parents masking screens and cleaning squeegees.
The Smithsonian
Blueline Design started printing for the Smithsonian Institute in the 1980s with their work on the Carnival exhibit at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, on the National Mall. Since then, Blueline Design has contributed to exhibit installations in almost all eight of the Smithsonian Museum locations, including the entire permanent collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, where Bruce and Jake demonstrated their capacity for large-scale projects.
The National Building Museum
Since the 1990s, Blueline has featured some of its most versatile work at GSA’s National Building Museum, having contributed to such epic exhibitions as: César Pelli, Big and Green, and Liquid Stone. Masterful layering of transparent color, entire walls painted in plaid, and large-scale murals representing cartography, the artist’s signature, or block lettering. Blueline Design’s most recent work there at NBM is the title wall and introductory paragraph for the welcome center, on permanent view at the ground floor colonnade.
What We Do
We empower art and culture by making your ideas clear and engaging.
Craft & Precision
Whether produced on site, or in house (to be delivered as text panels installed by the client’s own personnel): silkscreen leaves little else to be considered. Graphics can simply be painted out, and wall surfaces and panels alike can be prepared for the next show, or they can be left permanently for a seamless, lasting, quality finish. The process is more than mere applique, it is a true and ancient artistic medium with a contemporary sense of precision.
Silkscreening
Established in 1975 by first introducing silkscreen wall graphics to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the studio evolved from a fine arts/illustration background to providing wall graphics and text for the exhibitions of several major Washington, D.C. area museums and fine arts institutions.
Restoration
Over time, Blueline Design has grown to include major restoration projects such as the floral motif of the Great Hall at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery to developing lasting relationships with exhibit companies for new permanent installations nationwide.
Who We Are
Our deep knowledge of fine art and craftsmanship adds a multiplier effect to our work.
Bruce Thiel
Bruce is the master printmaker and cofounder of Blueline Design. He was trained as a fine artist at Washington D.C.’s Corcoran School of Art, with a concentration in printmaking. Not only has Bruce printed for other Artists such as Brockie Stevenson and Jack Pearlmutter; his own original work has been featured in Alexandria, Virginia’s Lyceum and galleries throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area. Bruce’s layering of abstract shapes composed of transparent inks emphasizing positive and negative linework informs his compositions. With an almost afro-centric, or indigenous style, he gives way to complete trust in the subconscious realm for imagery.
Jake Thiel
Jake is a registered architect in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia, and not only reads design drawings and specifications, he also draws and designs them himself. Jake is the business manager and journeyman printmaker at Blueline Design, and received his Bachelor’s of Architecture at Pratt Institute. Jake is an avid sketch artist and scale model maker and often translates his streetscapes and figure drawings into fine arts serigraphs.
Clients
Our network of creative clients range from museums to fine art institutions and exhibition houses.
Museums
- Freer Gallery of Art
- National Archives Museum
- National Building Museum
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- National Museum of African Art
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of The American Indian
- National Museum of Women in The Arts
- S. Dillon Ripley Center
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
Fine art insitutions
- City of Alexandria
- Corcoran Gallery of Art
- Dumbarton Oaks
- Glenstone Foundation
- McLean Community Center
- Sasakawa Peace Foundation
- The Phillips Collection
- Virginia Historic Society
Exhibitions Houses
- Design & Production Inc.
- First Floor Graphics
- Hadley Exhibits Inc.
- Pacific Studio
Brand Graphics
- DC Rental
- Design Cuisine