about the founder

Rebecca Gilbert is a New York–based creative who left a corporate career to build something that felt closer to what she loved: design, storytelling, and the culture of city life.

What began as a small creative project turned into The City Select, a creative studio and media brand blending strategy and storytelling to create work that feels intentional and alive. The studio works with hospitality, lifestyle, and travel brands to create thoughtful content, from social media strategy to creative direction and visual storytelling. 

Alongside her client work, Rebecca runs The City Select newsletter, a space for writing about culture, design, and the details that make city living inspiring. It’s both a creative outlet and an extension of the studio’s philosophy: that good work starts with curiosity and noticing the world around you.

Before building The City Select, Rebecca spent years working in a variety of corporate industries, learning how strategy shapes perception. Eventually she wanted to create in a way that felt more personal and connected, work that builds presence rather than noise.

Today her focus is on helping brands tell stories that resonate. Her approach is intuitive and grounded, shaped by the belief that design and storytelling can turn even ordinary moments into something worth remembering.