Kevin Budelmann

Kevin Budelmann (born February 27, 1970) is an American entrepreneur, designer, writer and teacher. He is the co-founder and president of Peopledesign, a design and consultancy firm based in Grand Rapids.
Early life and education
Budelmann was born in Louisville, Kentucky and mostly grew up in upstate New York. In 1992, he earned a bachelor's degree in design at the Carnegie Mellon University, where he participated in a Study abroad program at the School of Design in St. Gallen Switzerland and was on a winning team for an international design competition sponsored by Apple.
Career
After graduating Budelmann began work at Herman Miller, where Kim Yang was already working. The two knew each other from their time at Carnegie Mellon. In 1996, Budelmann left Herman Miller to start a design firm with Michael Barile, a Herman Miller colleague. The next year, Yang also left her job and thus they founded BBK Studio in 1997. Budelmann and Yang bought out Barile in 2003 becoming the co-owners of the firm. In 2007, they changed the name of their firm from BBK Studio to Peopledesign.
Budelmann helped establish AIGA West Michigan in 2008, serving as its first president. He also joined APDF (Association for Professional Design Firms) in 2009, first serving as the brand and social media marketing chair, then as vice president and then as president of the organization.
In 2010, his first book Brand Identity Essentials was published. The book is co-authored with Kim Yang and Curt Wozniak. It is the fourth book in Rockport Publisher's "Essentials" series and has been translated into six languages. The book features mini-case studies and provides basic logo and branding design guidelines and rules through 100 principles. An expanded, interactive version on the Apple iBookstore was released in 2012.
In 2011, he enrolled for Masters of Design Methods degree at the IIT Institute of Design and completed it in 2013.
In 2016, Budelmann joined the global board for IxDA (Interaction Design Association). He has served on advisory boards for AIGA, Design West Michigan, Grand Rapids Magazine, NewNorth Center for Design and Innovation, and the Keller Futures Center. His work has published in many books and magazines, including Encyclopædia Britannica. Budelmann is an adjunct professor at the Northwestern University and IIT Institute of Design where he teaches design, brand and innovation. Through his firm, Budelmann has worked with Amway, Founders Brewing Company, Jaguar Cars and Spectrum Health among others.
Awards
*Student Design Competition, sponsored by Apple (1991)
*40 Under 40 by Grand Rapids Business Journal (2009)
*Communication Arts
*AIGA
*Graphis
Personal life
Budelmann married Yang in 2002 and they have three children.

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