Fitch is an international design firm with North American headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Fitch is known for innovative retail design and takes a multidisciplinary approach to environments, products, packaging, digital media, brand identity and brand experiences.
Fitch’s materials library supports their designers with samples of everything imaginable that could go into a retail store — from wallcoverings, upholstery, flooring, beautiful lighting and more. Designers can touch, feel and see how the various elements work together, and designers use the materials to help their clients envision future environments. In an age where so much is going digital, the tactile quality of the materials is important and can’t be replaced by technology. Having the materials library adds value to Fitch by speeding up the design process and creating more informed decisions.
Carly Tysh manages Fitch’s materials library and is an award-winning, senior designer. She does a fantastic job displaying the latest materials while creating an inviting space for easy access and conversations. Carly’s knowledge of team projects allows her to meet the needs of the designers, and her keen insights as an interior designer has led to the library’s increased functionality.
The Archives at the Ohio History Connection are a treasure trove of Ohio history. Open to the public, the library collection includes birth and death certificates, prison records, county directories, military rosters and so much more. The main room of the library houses only .005% of the entire collection, the rest lies in the stacks beyond (they span several stories of floor to ceiling shelves). The newspaper collection dates back to 1795, and visitors can browse through microfilm to read stories from local papers.
The library and archives are frequented by researchers and genealogists. Materials are also used in litigation to settle land disputes and by veterans to prove service with the help of military rosters. The library offers reference services via email and in person, and the library provides access to popular databases including Ohio Memory and Chronicling America.
A very big, heartfelt thank you to all those who supported, saw and introduced themselves to us last night at Pecha Kucha.
Another huge thank you to the amazing professionals who opened up their incredible libraries and shared how they and their teams provide exceptional value to their organizations. We are fortune and humbled to be members of this wonderful community here in Columbus, Ohio.
We look forward to publishing our first library profile this Monday at 1 p.m. EST.