Growing up in a family of artists and hobbyists, Mary discovered the power of creativity at an early age. She holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology, including furniture design studies in Denmark—an experience that deeply shaped her design sensibility and appreciation for thoughtful craftsmanship.
Her love of the creative process lead her through an early career in a variety of design disciplines, including branding and CMF design, before planting roots in the contract furniture industry as a lead designer in the Gunlocke marketing and product development team.
In 2014, shortly after becoming a mom, Mary launched her own studio: Mary Bayer Design. Since then, she has become a trusted partner for brands like Allsteel, Decca Contract, HBF, Honeywell, Paychex, and Stylex—offering a blend of creative direction and design execution across product imagery, print and digital campaigns, and branded experiences.
Mary lives in Rochester, NY with her husband and three children.