About
Our Story
The Constellation Collective was founded in 2018 by two creative strategists who believe in the power of communications to make change. Together, Rachel & Megan bring over 25 years of experience creating clear, compelling, and inclusive content for brand communications, websites, publications, and exhibitions. The Constellation is 100% women-owned and operated, and based in Brooklyn, New York.
The idea for The Constellation Collective was born over a cup of coffee at the Hungry Ghost in Ft Greene.
Megan Canning, Co-Founder
Photo: Liz Ligon
Megan is a communications strategist and visual artist with nearly 15 years’ experience leading external communications and brand strategy for nonprofit art and design organizations.
Before co-founding The Constellation Collective, Megan directed communications & special projects for the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. In addition to overseeing external communications for all the foundation’s activities, including its artist residency program in Captiva, FL, Megan also managed a range of brand partnerships & special projects.
In her role, she spearheaded global licensing partnerships with Skateroom, Warby Parker, West Elm, and Tate Modern; oversaw media relations for the 2017 Rauschenberg retrospective; forged a new partnership with the (Obama) White House; and facilitated a new, feature-length BBC documentary about the artist.
Prior to joining the Rauschenberg Foundation, Megan was the Deputy Director of the Design Trust for Public Space. There she worked on a diverse range of projects and led all external communications, including the design, strategy, and production of project deliverables such as websites, exhibitions, and print publications.
In 2013 she led a complete branding refresh of the organization, including the creation of a new mission, vision, and values statements, a complete overhaul of the design, development, and content for designtrust.org, and an update of the visual identity and marketing materials.
Megan is a practicing visual artist with a studio in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
Rachel Crawford, Co-Founder
Photo: Stephanie Eichmann
Rachel is a content and digital strategist, project manager, writer, and accessibility advocate with 15 years’ experience helping nonprofits and companies of all sizes communicate more effectively.
She served as Executive Director of desigNYC — a nonprofit founded by Ed Schlossberg, Wendy Goodman, Deborah Berke, and Michelle Mullineaux — which brought designers and architects together with local nonprofits for pro bono projects focused on improving the lives of New Yorkers.
Previously, Rachel was a Partner at Carbone Smolan Agency, a branding and design firm with a 40-year history of building lasting brands. While there, she led a massive website overhaul for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, complete brand identity redesigns for companies like Sullivan & Cromwell and Taubman, and a signage and wayfinding project for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
Rachel is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC).
Rachel lives in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
“The backgrounds that they each bring to the table allowed for incredibly thoughtful, guided working activities as well as a terrific next-steps action plan. As an organization with limited budgets and big dreams, we found that incredibly valuable and helpful with minimal front work on our end.”
— Kate Brashares, Executive Director, Edible Schoolyard NYC
Our Expertise
We connect the dots between business strategy, organizational purpose, brand ethos, and audience needs to help our clients communicate more effectively.
Together we have over 25 years of experience in:
Brand Strategy
Content Production
Copywriting & Editing
Creative Direction
Digital Strategy
Project Management
Publication Production
Systems Management
Website Production & Management
The Collective
Collective members visit a farm stand during the Fall Retreat in the Hudson Valley.
We believe that we are stronger together, and that success is a collective effort. That’s why we started the Collective — a tightly curated membership group of women business owners.
Through weekly hang-outs, monthly events, annual retreats, and a private Slack channel, members ask for help, share knowledge, offer business advice, keep each other accountable, and collaborate on projects together.