Meet Madison Maloney ’15: SIGD Advisory Council Member

Following her 2015 graduation from Auburn’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD), she went to work in New York for one of the largest accessory companies in America—Kate Spade—where she provided graphics for the home department showcasing typography, calligraphy and illustration.

Maloney later joined Rifle Paper Company, a young husband- and wife-founded design and accessory firm established in 2009. Rifle began with a line of stationery, greeting cards and invitations, but has since expanded into a lifestyle brand, designing products as diverse as shoes to wallpaper. The company’s offerings are now found in thousands of retailers around the world.

As Design Director at Rifle, Maloney oversees the design process of in-house products such as greeting cards, desk accessories and home décor from conceptualization to final product. She also oversees the seasonal design process for licensed products and promotes the Rifle brand to the company’s numerous external partners. Those partners have included companies such as Loloi, York Wallcoverings, Pottery Barn Kids, Lavazza, Target, Keds, Venus and Case-Mate.

Beyond design, Maloney’s expertise extends to collaboration across diverse teams and leveraging marketing analytics strategically to ensure Rifle maintains a commitment to a customer-centric approach. It is an approach she also intends to apply to her new role as a member of the SIGD Advisory Council.

“My aim is to share insights gained from both my professional experiences and my personal journey,” Maloney said of what she hopes to contribute.  “Having followed a unique career path, I’ve gained a fresh perspective on diverse opportunities across industries and collaborating closely with designers from various backgrounds. That enables me to offer a different viewpoint.”

And having had a career of contrasts herself, she wants to help emphasize the importance of versatility.

“My goal is to highlight the many career paths within design, ensuring students have the comprehensive knowledge and educational support they need,” she said. “Keeping our program aligned with industry needs is crucial in today’s ever-changing landscape, and I want to help build and support a community that equips students for success across various design fields.”