Deza Ltd was established in 1998 by Fran Smith and Heather Harwood. Heather after two years relocated to New York state and is currently a radio personality in Buffalo, NY. Fran decided to continue building Deza on her own. The word Deza is not an acronym, but a word fabrication that combines both graphic design and theatre — design diva. Fran Smith is a designer by day and a theatrical director/actress with Live Arts by night. She is also director of Spectrum Summer Programs at Tandem Friends School for six weeks in the summer. Fran’s energy abounds and touches many corners of her Charlottesville community. Her ability to network is an added service she provides free to her clients.

Fran, an art/drama teacher, turned graphic designer in 1984, spent 18 years with Blue Ridge Graphics developing her design skill as a t-shirt artist. During her tenure with Blue Ridge Graphics she had the opportunity to work with a diverse cross section of people from the Charlottesville area. Those years at BRG taught her to be a good listener and trained her to graphically interpret a client’s idea.

Deza provides clients with quality graphic design, combined with vision and imagination, whether it be a logo, an ad campaign or a brochure, Deza helps clients generate demand for their product or service and achieve a strong identity. Establishing trust and friendship has always been a facet of a Deza-client relationship.

Fran designs: logos, brochures, business cards, letterhead, corporate identity, ads, posters, promotional pieces, illustration, direct mail, label, CDs, signage and package design. Anything that prints! Fran herself, does not do web design but shares office space and works with three top-notched web designers, enabling full service for her clients. She has drawers of samples and a long list of clients who will vouch for her talent as a designer. Deza is part of the 10 Flavors Studio, conveniently located on Charlottesville’s downtown mall above Christian’s Pizza and Revolutionery Soup.