The studio

Moran Griffin, Inc. was rebranded in January 2022. It was formerly D Griffin Studio, Inc. which was founded by David Griffin in 2015. The name change reflects the addition of photo editor Kathy Moran. The studio specializes in publication design, photo editing and project consulting, with an emphasis on photography.

Kathy and David have a combined 70 years of publishing experience. They maintain broad connections to photographers, editors, graphic artists, and illustrators for any job that might require specialized skills. Having led large creative teams, both are adept and reliable at project management. 

Interested in working together on a project, please email either kathy@morangriffin.com or david@morangriffin.com

Check out A List, where we keep selected articles and resources (always a work in progress).

Kathy Moran

Kathy is co-founder of Moran Griffin, Inc. and works as a photo editor and project consultant. Previously, she was National Geographic magazine’s deputy director of photography. As the magazine’s first senior editor for natural history, Kathy produced projects on terrestrial and underwater ecosystems for the magazine since 1990. She was the project manager for the National Geographic Society/Wildlife Conservation Society’s partnership documenting photographer Nick Nichols and Dr. Michael Fay’s trek across Central Africa. The resulting stories were the impetus for the creation of Gabon’s national park system. More recently she produced two single-topic conservation-focused issues of the magazine on oceans (May ’21) and the Serengeti (December ’21).

Kathy has photo edited several books for the Society, including Women Photographers at the National Geographic, The Africa Diaries – An Illustrated Life in the Bush, Cat Shots and most recently, Tigers Forever. She was the photo editor for two anthems of wildlife photography, “100 Best Wildlife Pictures” and “Wildlife, The Best Photos.” She recently curated an exhibition for the Society’s museum “50 Best Wildlife Photographs” which has traveled around the country and internationally. Kathy has produced numerous books with ILCP photographers in collaboration with the University of Chicago Press. She was named “Picture Editor of the Year” for her winning portfolios in the 2017 and 2006 POYi competition and the 2011 Best of Photo competition. 

Kathy is the chair of London’s Natural History Museum’s “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” competition (2023–2026). She is a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographer and currently serves on its board. She is on the advisory committee for Focused on Nature. She continues to edit books and projects, mentor photographers, serve on photo juries and work with the xPosure Festival in Sharjah, UAE. She lives in Dresden, Maine, with her husband and two bad cats.

David Griffin

David is a graphic designer specializing in photographic-based projects and publications. He founded D Griffin Studio in 2015 and is co-founder of Moran Griffin, Inc. in 2022. Previously, he was visuals editor of The Washington Post and held a number of positions at National Geographic including: executive editor of E-Publishing, director of photography of the magazine, design director of books and deputy layout editor of NGM. David has worked in design and photography departments of U.S. News & World Report, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Hartford Courant, The Everett (Wa.) Herald and The Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. He’s a graduate of Ohio University and an alum of Stanford’s Professional Publishing Program.

David did a TED talk on the power of photography which has nearly 1.5 million views.

David was the Secretary of the Jury of World Press Photo (2015–2020) and is on the boards of the Eddie Adams Workshop, the Virginia Quarterly Review; and a nominator for the Prix Prictet. He was a founding board member, and later president, of Look3: Festival of the Photograph. He co-curated the festival with photographer Vince Musi in 2012.

He is married to Kathy Moran (former deputy director of photography of National Geographic), and have a son, Kyle, who is off on his life's adventure in Salt Lake City. Kathy, he, and two cats, reside in Dresden, Maine.

A longer bio is here.