Empty Studio is a comprehensive agency offering cohesive graphic design across media, creative project management, copywriting and editing, consulting services, and more. It’s a partnership between long-time friends and colleagues Erica Tarrant and Mary P. Traverse that leverages our broad connections throughout Seattle’s creative business community.

We met many years ago at an alternative newsweekly far away, where Mary was Art Director and Erica was Production Manager. We reprised our relationship a few years later in Seattle at another alt-weekly. Since then, we've collaborated on many projects, and finally decided to form Empty Studio.

Between us, we bring a broad set of skills and specialized knowledge. We've connected with talented professionals whom we trust. We can offer the skills of photographers, writers, illustrators, marketing pros, web developers, event coordinators, and more. We have a vast network of talent to meet every need.

Erica’s interests span politics, pop science, and the arts. She cofounded PublicDisplay.ART, a publication dedicated to amplifying Seattle's artists and stimulating arts engagement in the community. Following 20 years as a department head at the Stranger, Erica and a former colleague had the idea for PD.A during the pandemic. Since folks couldn't go out to galleries, why not bring galleries to them in magazine form? In addition to cofounding PD.A, she served as editor, art director, and production manager for three years. Erica has passed her commitment to the arts on to her twins, who have rudely moved across the country to attend college.

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Mary has known she wanted to be an artist from the time she was old enough to hold a crayon, and is delighted that she's made a career out of her love of visual expression. She has over 20 years experience in design and illustration and received her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Mary also makes art across a variety of media—currently she's obsessed with mixed media collage and drawing on her iPad. She's also obsessed with dinosaurs, costumes, and her horrible little dog.

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