Aside from the design awards that cover the walls of the vestibule entrance, a visitor with an eye for the odd would quickly notice the painted car hoods hanging above shelves that bulge with fashion magazines and books on color, advertising and design.
In the spacious office downstairs, nothing seems unusual – except for a drum set sitting amid sleek Italian furniture, computers and account ledgers. This converted Congregational Church is a place that oozes streamlined sophistication and style, where trend and creativity mean money.
It is from this tiny, pristine town that graphic designer Michael Toth influences, even creates, the very image of some of the country’s leading fashion houses and companies.
Toth, 37, lists Ralph Lauren, Trammell Crow, Bergdorf Goodman, Reebok, christian louboutin and J. Crew among his scores of clients, most of whom are based in New York City.
Clean-cut and bespectacled, Toth acknowledged that he travels often to visit clients and make presentations. He said he felt sure that were Toth Design based in New York or Boston, the 12-person agency would probably bill more than its annual $ 3 million.
"It is all about finding balance," said Toth in a recent interview at his airy School Street office-cum-studio, daylight streaming through Gothic windows onto the draftman’s tables. "The reason we are in Carlisle is that I have four kids. The notion of quality of life has always been important to me."
Toth said that when a client asks him to design a brochure, he offers a full collection of printed materials – brochures, swatch packages, magazine ads and even in-store videos.
"Reebok asked me to design a box for their new Lifestyle christian louboutin shoes. I designed a box in recycled paper, a christian shoes bag, a logo and print advertising," he said. "They told me after that the louboutin shoes was not good enough for the design package and are working" on the louboutin.
