Robert Gassman is a multidisciplinary architect, designer, and educator based in Iowa City whose work explores how design shapes everyday life across scales—from graphic communication and handcrafted objects to buildings, infrastructure, and landscapes that support thriving communities. 

Since joining Neumann Monson Architects in 2009, Bob has contributed to a wide range of civic and institutional projects across Iowa. Recent work includes the University of Iowa School of Music, the Weatherdance Fountain Stage Canopy, the GuideLink Center, and the Iowa City Public Works Facility. Alongside his architectural work, he helps advance the firm’s use of digital tools, data systems, and design communication.

Bob serves as an adjunct lecturer in the University of Iowa’s School of Planning and Public Affairs, where he teaches courses in graphic communication and visual thinking for planners and public leaders. His teaching explores how diagrams, graphics, and visual narratives can clarify complex ideas and help communities understand and engage with the systems that shape civic life.

Across his creative practice, Bob collaborates with his partner Shannon through the zzGassman Design Workshop, a multidisciplinary design practice spanning graphic design, digital media, and experimental creative work. He also runs Longfellow Leather, a small leather goods workshop producing handmade products and offering repair services.

At home in Iowa City’s Longfellow neighborhood, Bob and his family cultivate an edible urban landscape and participate in community initiatives including EarthMind and the Iowa City Bike Library, reflecting a shared interest in ecological design, active transportation, and community resilience.

Areas of Interest:

Graphic Communication