About Isenberg Projects

Founded in 2011, Isenberg Projects is a creative consulting agency based in Boston that specializes in placemaking and community engagement. We provide creative public realm advisory throughout the lifespan of a real estate project, helping to solve the complex challenges that reside at the intersection of community, business operations, and the built environment.

We work alongside clients to uncover an engagement plan that brings the most shared value — to a neighborhood, community, the City at large, and the various teams involved in building. We believe that the best communities are hyper collaborative and inclusive.

In every project we undertake, we strive to funnel as much of the production budgets to small minority owned businesses as we possibly can. Through our relationships with cities, districts, developers, artists, small businesses, musicians, nonprofits, and cultural institutions, we are committed to amplifying voices and varying perspectives to foster shared value and active places.

Our Team

Isenberg Projects is a certified women-owned business in the State of Massachusetts. We are an integrated team of community strategists, creatives, tastemakers, deal makers, producers and artists – all obsessed with culture and driven by insatiable curiosity. We pride ourselves on producing logistically complicated solutions that lead to a more engaging, more inclusive, and a more equitable Boston. 

Emily Isenberg

Founder + Creative Director

BIO
Emily is a creative force in place based work, As Founder and Creative Director, Emily Isenberg has led the creative vision and framed commitment to neighborhood scale since IP’s inception. Emily’s dedication to connecting people to ideas, and places has been a lifelong passion.

Drawing on over 15 years of social design, community engagement, marketing and production, Emily has overseen and lead creative activations, engagement programs and pop-ups for large-scale corporations, institutions, universities, and brands in both the public and private sectors across the country.

As a leader, Emily focuses on the intersection of real estate strategy and designed experience for the activation of great public spaces. Often working at multiple scales as a translator between with both private and public clients, she works to develop aspirational yet sustainable and implementable solutions.

When Emily isn’t at work, she’s riding one of her vintage road bikes to Cambridge coffee shops, or to check out local art and cultural experiences in basements, bars and museums alike.

Emily holds a BA in Marketing and Communications from Lesley University, has served as a Fellow of the Startup Leadership Program, is currently a contributor to Forbes magazine, and is occasionally as a part time contributor/ teacher to class rooms around the Boston area that have included (Boston University, Harvard University and Massachusetts College of Art and Design).

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Liz Woodward

Principal + Director of Strategy

BIO
Liz is the Principal and Director of Strategy at Isenberg Projects, where she leads the firm’s strategic initiatives and concept development, pioneering innovative models of collaboration to shape future urban spaces. With over 15 years of experience in placemaking, Liz integrates art, culture, and data to create inclusive, engaging public spaces that support both the livability and economy of cities.

Having worked in both rural and urban settings across the U.S., Liz is driven by the belief that every community is a unique ecosystem that thrives on creativity and participation. At Isenberg Projects since 2016, she works to transform public spaces into dynamic, democratic environments where people can gather, connect, and collaborate.

Outside of work, Liz enjoys backpacking, gardening, and working on her 1987 Jeep Cherokee. She holds a BS in Business from Endicott College and a degree in Photography from the New England School of Photography, and lives in Jamaica Plain.

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Molly Kalan

Director of Marketing

BIO
As the Director of the Marketing & Design department, Molly Kalan works at the intersection of creativity and strategy. She’s a team leader with over a decade of experience in ideating and managing community-oriented placemaking efforts and multi-channel creative campaigns.

Molly has always been enamored with cities—the energy, people, buildings, and signage that make up the urban landscape. She is passionate about fostering community connections through placemaking and design, believing that the most authentic experiences often stem from giving a platform to local artists and entrepreneurs.

Outside of work, you can find her biking around Boston, catching as much live music as possible, traveling to new places, and seeking out the best natural wine bars.

Molly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Villanova University and a Master’s in Media Studies from Syracuse University. She currently lives in Union Square.

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Madeline Jacobson

Lead Designer

BIO
Madeline is the Lead Designer at Isenberg Projects. From identity suites and marketing collateral to comprehensive digital campaigns and web design, she is a true visual storyteller.

With a passion for problem solving through visual design and building brand integrity, Madeline is responsible for crafting distinctive and impactful visuals that communicate a brand’s values across all touch points. Madeline combines her ability to translate and bring ideas to life with 10+ years of experience on in-house teams, and a whole lot of photoshop wizardry.

When Madeline is not in front of a computer you can find her exploring new cities, admiring public spaces, and seeking out the best places to watch the sun set.

Madeline received her degree in Graphic Communication from Millersville University. After 10 years in Boston, Madeline recently moved back to her hometown of Philadelphia.

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Anna Ferrari

Designer

BIO

Anna is a Designer at Isenberg Projects. With a keen eye for creative and digital trends, she keeps her clients ahead of the curve, and makes sure they shine. She values the power of art in fostering human connection and enriching the creative urban landscape. Since graduating in 2019, she’s been immersed in the agency world, exploring the vast realm of design, branding, and art direction.

Beyond work, Anna finds joy in writing and performing music, hosting friend-filled dinner parties, and exploring by bike. Anna holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications and Graphic Design from Ithaca College. After 5 years in Boston, she recently moved to Denver, Colorado.

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Elizabeth Ponce

Account Manager

BIO
Elizabeth is the Account Manager at IP. She works with clients, artists and vendors to bring people together through activated spaces, programs, and events. She is particularly passionate about providing a space for marginalized artists to learn, grow and stand in the spotlight.

Outside of IP, you can find Elizabeth checking out new exhibitions at art museums and galleries and at the movies with a bucket of popcorn.

Elizabeth studied Fashion & Art Media and Afro-American Studies at UMass Amherst. She currently lives in Dorchester.

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Max Frank

Associate Community Strategist  

BIO
Max Frank is the Urban Planning and Design Coordinator at IP, researching and strategizing ways to make public spaces more inclusive, engaging, and fun as part of the Community Impact Team. He is passionate about public space and making spaces for people to be outside whether in cities, parks, or wilderness.

Outside of IP, Max loves supporting small businesses in Somerville and going to the movies at the Brattle Theater.

Max earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Arkansas. He currently lives in Somerville.

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Gina Lindner

Senior Art Producer

BIO

Gina Lindner is the Senior Art Producer at IP, working with artists, clients, and collaborators to make public art activations happen across the city. She is passionate about public art, community engagement, and sustaining the arts ecosystem here in Boston. Her work both inside and outside IP prioritizes compassion and functions on the principles of inclusion, belonging, and accessibility.

Outside of IP, Gina is always catching the latest local art shows and diving into her own artistic, written, and curatorial passion projects. In the warmer months, you’ll find her foraging at outdoor markets, biking, hiking, and camping out for the sunsets.

Gina earned her BFA from MassArt in Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM) and Art History. She currently lives in Somerville.

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Izzy DeFilippo

Art + Event Producer

BIO
Izzy is an Art + Event Producer at Isenberg Projects, supporting the development and execution of creative projects through research, sourcing, and hands-on coordination. She plays a key role in keeping both the studio and project workflows running smoothly, approaching every effort with curiosity, positive energy, and a sharp eye for detail.

In her free time, Izzy loves to be active and explore the outdoors through skiing or going on long walks. She also loves thrifting and being immersed in a good book.

Izzy graduated Trinity College with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and French. She’s currently living in Beacon Hill.

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Trusted by…

We work with an array of clients ranging from development groups, cultural institutions, cities and neighborhoods, to small businesses.

Clients 

Non-Profit Clients