Laura Jacoby

Education & Licensure

• BS, Visual Communications, University of Delaware

Biography

Laura Jacoby is the Owner/President of 701 Creative (formerly Debra Malinics Advertising),  a long-established strategic design, advertising, and marketing communications agency located in Philadelphia, PA, with a nationally recognized award-winning work, and a 40+ year reputation for excellence, innovation, and impressive results. The agency has vast experience in many industries, including healthcare, real estate, legal and financial services, travel, hospitality, entertainment, senior living, manufacturing, government, education, cultural and non-profit sectors. 

701 Creative’s long list of clients (past and present) includes area healthcare institutions Wills Eye and Jefferson; cultural institution icons Opera Philadelphia (formerly Opera Company of Philadelphia) and Peter Nero and the Philly POPS; and local non-profits The Wistar Institute and Gift of Life Donor Program, the latter who has been with the agency for nearly 4 decades and has grown to be the largest organ procurement organization in the country. 

Laura’s – and the agency’s – design work has won many creative awards including Philly Gold and American Graphic Design Awards for Creative Excellence and has been published in trade publications including Print, Communication Arts, Graphic Design USA, and Rockport Publisher’s Best Restaurant Graphics 2. 

Since 1996, Laura has been an adjunct instructor at Rosemont College. Undergraduate Studio Art Program classes taught include Graphic Design I, Graphic Design II, Graphic Design Special Projects, Graphic Design Portfolio, and Typography. Graduate Publishing Program classes taught include Publication Design, Advanced Publication Design, Elements of Design, and Production Essentials. She has also served as a thesis advisor to 5 graduate students. 

Other activities include AIGA Philadelphia Board involvement and participation in its Mentorship Program. She is also a 25+ year reviewer for AIGA’s, “Feedback” event held every May to review the portfolios of senior design communication students from the tri-state region and offer professional advice and support. Throughout her career, Laura has been active in mentoring as well as lending her time and design talent to help small and startup businesses.  

Laura received a BS in Graphic Design/Visual Communication from the University of Delaware. Since then, her professional experience has spanned design firms, a printing company, teaching, and pro-bono work for various nonprofit initiatives.

Undergraduate Course

• Typography