Derek
Benedict
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Information
Camp shirts
2024 collection
Camp shirts
2023 collection
Utility Pants: production
Japanese ripstop
Forrest Commons
Design references
Carhartt pants
Vintage painter pants
French army overpants
development
Storytellers & Creatorss
With the next iteration, these pants were pushed in a different direction, taking the original samples as a starting point and reworking them for spring wear. Rich brown and green colorways were introduced to bring warmth and depth to the fabric, grounding the utility of the pant in tones that feel natural, worn-in, and seasonally right.
materials
Japanese Ripstop
100% Cotton
MADE IN
Portugal
Production moved overseas for this run, a decision that came with its own set of challenges. The process was admittedly messy, new communication rhythms, revised standards, and a lot of back-and-forth to protect the original intent of the design. But that friction was part of the work. Each adjustment sharpened the final result, reinforcing what mattered and stripping away what didn’t.
Forrest Commons
Design references
Carhartt pants
Vintage painter pants
French army overpants
The Forrest Commons Heavy Canvas Workwear Pant is built as a study in functional workwear, borrowing cues from classic painter, carpenter, and shop pants that were designed to be worn daily and pushed without restraint. The silhouette is straightforward and honest, letting the construction details do the talking. Mirrored front and back pockets create a balanced, utilitarian layout that’s intuitive in use and satisfying in form: tools, hands, or personal effects land where you expect them to, whether you’re working, moving, or just living in the pant.
MADE IN
New York City
development
Storytellers & Creatorss
materials
Cotton Ripstop Cotton Canvas Brushed Cotton Twill
Cut from an unapologetically heavy 16oz canvas, the fabric borders on excessive in the best way. With time, pressure, and repetition, the canvas will crease, fade, and break in uniquely to the wearer, rewarding hard use with character rather than deterioration. This is a pant meant to be worn without caution, improving as it ages.
Utility Pants: samples
16oz heavyweight canvas
derek.r.benedict@gmail.com
@derekbenedict
new york, nY
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Capabilities
Digital Production
Building what designs turn into: responsive landing pages, email, and reusable component systems in Webflow, Shopify, and Framer.
Social and Ad Campaign Design
Concepting and designing ad creative for paid social, static and motion, from first idea to final export.
Brand Creative and Art Direction
Visual systems and creative direction that keep a brand looking like itself across every channel.
DTC Content Design
Landing pages, PDPs, and seasonal campaign assets for consumer brands, built to convert.
Product and UX design
Sign-up flows, conversational experiences, and product UI, including AI-driven tools like Scout.
End-to-end brand building
Identity, e-commerce, and product from the ground up, the way I run my own label, Forrest Commons.
Experience
The Maze Group
Creative Manager
2023 - Present
Equinox
Digital Designer, Freelance
2023
Storytellers & Creators
Digital Designer, Freelance
2022 - 2023
Various Clients
Digital Designer, Freelance
2022 - Present
Personal Trainer
Equinox
2019-2022
Calvin Klein
Accessories Design Intern
2018
Derek
Benedict
My work lives across two modes: the performance-driven, fast-moving world of brand and digital advertising, and the more open creative territory of building Forrest Commons from the ground up. Both push me to think clearly about visual systems, audience, and intention. Good design, to me, is just the right idea executed without waste.
Education
Parsons School of Design
BFA, Product Design
2016 - 2019
General Assembly
UX/UI Design Certificate
2020
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Computer Science & Mechanical Engineering
2015 - 2016