ART DIRECTOR
What inspired you to become a Designer & Art Director?
I've loved books since I was little and told my mom I wanted to become an illustrator when I grow up. Ever since then, she enrolled me into art classes and many years later, I've found my way to become a designer & art director.
Companies you've worked for:
The New York Times, The Museum of Modern Art, Annie Leibovitz, Chobani, Base, Away, Assouline and many more.
Areas of expertise:
Editorial design, branding.
LinkedIn/Website: www.hwangsarah.com
What inspired you to become a Senior Designer?
I've always been passionate about art and design since childhood. I taught myself Photoshop in middle school and have been expanding my design and art direction skills ever since!
Companies you’ve worked for:
Google, Mediacom, iHeartMedia, Metro
Areas of expertise:
Branding, B2B marketing, illustration, data visualization, animation/motion graphics
Website: https://www.behance.net/pyazd
What inspired you to become a Producer & Art Director?
I love the process of bringing a brand's identity to life. Being able to solve visual problems and generate great designs that can translate across mediums is endlessly rewarding for me.
Companies you've worked for:
Verizon Media, HuffPost, the dtx company, Amex.
Areas of expertise:
Brand Identity, Video Production, Motion Graphics, Animation, Illustration.
Website: https://michaeldeangelis.com/
CLIENT SERVICES
What inspired you to become an Account Executive?
The world of entertainment and marketing has always interested me. After graduating from Mercy College, I felt that starting my career at a forward thinking agency would give me a great first look into the industry. I hope to continue learning, developing my skills, and branching out in different paths within entertainment and marketing.
Companies you’ve worked for:
Gramophone Media, Chuck Agency
Areas of expertise:
Sales, OOH/Experiential, Project Management, Communication, Critical thinking
COPYWRITER
What inspired you to become a copywriter?
At age 12, Maddie went to acting camp. There, she discovered her innate desire to make people feel something. Quickly, she realized she didn’t want to be the character - she longed to create the character(s) and mold the story. A writer.
Companies you've worked for:
Most recently, Maddie worked for the creative advertising agency Barbarian Group. In the past, she worked for the tech-focused consumer product company Mohawk Group and the online culinary magazine Panna Cooking.
Areas of expertise:
Short social copy. Give Maddie the space to tell a story, or give her 10 words and she'll do it even better. Additionally, during the quarantine of COVID-19, Maddie has discovered a fresh area of interest - slam poetry.
Website: www.madeleinemutscheller.com
What inspired you to become a copywriter?
Thirteen years ago, on a whim, I took an advertising elective class in college and I instantly fell in love with copywriting. Today, I feel like I'm still in the honeymoon phase.
Companies you’ve worked for:
Anomaly, Saatchi, Fallon, Deutsch, Translation, Havas, R/GA
Areas of expertise:
Copywriting
Website: www.schneiderben.com
What inspired you to become a Senior Copywriter?
As a kid, I loved reading, watching TV, and playing sports. That means I read every magazine and newspaper, and watched every game I could—including studying all the print ads and laughing at funny commercials. By the time I had to declare my college major, Mad Men was at its peak popularity, and it helped convinced me to choose advertising over journalism.
Companies you’ve worked for:
R/GA, AKQA, Harry's, Laundry Service, SapientRazorfish, Havas, Publicis
Areas of expertise:
Scriptwriting, Web/App Writing, Campaign Concepting, Direct Response/Acquisition Marketing Writing
Website : https://www.chris-liu.com/
What inspired you to become an ACD, Copywriter?
My career has always revolved around storytelling through the marriage of the image and the word for any medium. It was only later that I figured out I like to run a team and have a soft-spot for strategy.
Companies you’ve worked for:
Some of the big guns: Abbott, Guardian Life, Mastercard and Samsung.
Areas of expertise:
I am about idea-driven creative, copy and content and I am happiest when these elements come together in an elegant execution--with a little something unexpected as the icing on the cake. In terms of sectors, I have deep knowledge of financial services, insurance and consumer electronics. I’m also pursuing health/pharma.
Website : davidjpfister.com
What inspired you to become an ACD, Copywriter?
I'm inspired to tell brand stories that really connect with people in a personal way.
Companies you’ve worked for:
JWT, Deutsch, Razorfish, BFG, Force Majeure, Taylor Strategy, Mirum
Areas of expertise:
Copywriting, Creative Leadership, Social Media, Ideation, Humor, Scripts, 360 Campaigns, Strategy, Diversity, Inclusion...
Website: https://creativephillips.com/
PRODUCTION
What inspired you to become a Director of Production?
I am a passionate transformational leader driven to deliver complex and innovative digital solutions, leading analysis initiatives, identifying key strategic growth and knowledge sharing capabilities within evolving workplaces. I am inspired by unifying teams, harnessing their strengths to deliver best in class digital standards of excellence and creating true transformational change in both organizations and end user experiences.
Companies you’ve worked on:
General Motors, Comcast, Xfinity Mobile, Johnson & Johnson, New York Life, Invesco, Petplan, The Standard Hotel, Reebok, HBO, Dulux Group, MCC/MCG, Garnier, Victoria Racing Club, Central Equity Group, The Alfred Hospital
Areas of expertise:
Leadership & Strategy - Project/Program Management - Experience Strategy - Web Development - e-Commerce - Advertising/Integrated Marketing – SEO - Relationship Development - Mobile Devices & Marketing - Web Applications - Usability Testing - Production Planning - Agile/Scrum Methodologies - Content Management - Production Team Development - Digital Marketing - Project Estimation - Product Management - Competitive Analysis - Digital Transformation Planning - Project Plans - Implementation & Schedule Management - Timeline & Budget Adherence – Scoping – CRM – SEM - Ecosystem Definition - Technical Management - Stakeholder Negotiations - Client Relationship Management
What inspired you to become a Creative Producer?
As a seasoned Creative Producer and client service professional, I have led communications strategy development and implementation for many large-scale brands, across multiple categories in countries around the world including Hospitality, CPG/Beauty, Retail, Automotive, HiTech/Telco, Financial Services/Insurance.
I love to facilitate the development of creative ideas and powerful storytelling. I am passionate about the intersection among media, data, and technology and enjoy working on projects that bring those elements to life in today's omnichannel mediascape to deliver relevance to consumers and value to businesses.
Companies you’ve worked for:
TBWA\Chiat\Day, SidLee, VaynerMedia, Huge, Inc., Siegel + Gale, Hogarth Worldwide, Chobani, Evolution of Smooth
Areas of expertise:
Broadcast, digital, and print campaign production, integrated project management for strategic and creative development exercises, client services, business development
RECRUITER
What inspired you to become a Recruiter?
I was encouraged to explore the world of recruiting by a close friend and immediately fell in love with it. I enjoy the entire full lifecycle recruitment process, from sourcing to delivering the final offer. As a Recruiter, I'm the biggest advocate for both the candidate and for the organization that I'm working for. I love taking on challenging roles and learning from the unfamiliar!
Companies you've worked for:
Oscar Health, Able.co, Synergy Interactive, HUGE, American Express, Onward Search
Areas of expertise:
Technical recruiting specifically Product Design and Product Managers. I also have experience in recruiting for roles in marketing and business.
What inspired you to become a Recruiter?
My love for recruiting stems from my passion for people. I’m motivated by meeting talented people and helping them realize their full potential by finding the right opportunities for them, in one of the greatest cities on Earth.
Companies you've worked for:
AKQA
Areas of expertise:
Project Management, Strategy, UX, Account Services
SOFTWARE ENGINEER
What inspired you to become a Developer?
As a developer, I really love the creative process I get to go through in mapping out performant and maintainable ways I can bring user experiences and designs to life. The feeling of knowing I built and launched something that thousands of people will use and hopefully enjoy is awesome.
Companies you’ve worked for:
Barbarian, Crossbeat NY
Areas of expertise:
Frontend Development/Engineering
STRATEGY
What inspired you to become a Social & Digital Strategist?
Any form of creative communication was always of interest to me and finding my niche in social media strategy has provided really cool opportunities to help build communities and lead creative thinking.
Companies you've worked for:
Day One Agency, Publicis Sapient (Razorfish), 360i, Cohn & Wolfe.
Areas of expertise:
Social & Content Strategy, Social Marketing, Insights, Creative Briefs, Digital Marketing
Website: www.mashadanielle.com
What inspired you to become a Strategist?
After working as a retail manager for years I decided to make a career switch. I’ve always had a passion for understanding diverse groups of people and the thought process behind their actions. I take pride in understanding the consumer’s point of view and bring that into my recommendations to brands.
Companies you’ve worked for:
MRM, Anomaly
Areas of expertise:
Customer Journey Mapping, CRM, Insights
What inspired you to become a Senior Creative Strategist?
After developing an eclectic background in the arts and then in the start up world, the ability to apply emerging technology for creative projects came naturally. I transitioned from a marketer, to a producer, to finally a Creative Strategist. In this role, I've been able to combine my creative skills in the arts, my aptitude for innovation and technology, and my deep understanding of business objectives.
Companies you've worked for:
Brandwidth, Future Colossal
Areas of expertise:
Emerging technology, interactive digital experiences, innovation challenges, creative direction, concept design, experience design
What inspired you to become a writer?
I've always had a natural ability at crafting prose, so getting into all forms of the writing trade, whether it's journalism, social strategy or branded content, just seemed inevitable!
Companies you’ve worked for:
Thrillist, Popular Mechanics, Red Bull, Rolling Stone, GQ and more.
Areas of expertise:
Writing, reporting, social copywriting, social strategy, content strategy, etc.
Website: https://samblumnyc.tumblr.com/about
What inspired you to become a Creative Strategist?
I became a strategist with the ultimate goal of making the lives of others easier. To do that, I prioritize empathy, direction, and detail in all of my work, and use these pillars to drive brands in the right direction.
Companies you've worked for:
I've worked for the creative agency Conscious Minds in Portland, Oregon, and experiential agency N/A Collective out of New York City. I've worked for selected clients such as Nike, Sennheiser, Tommy Hilfiger, Concacaf, Twitter, and Wienerschnitzel.
Areas of expertise:
I specialize and have experience in Brand and Experience Strategy.
Website: teddypopick.com
UX / PRODUCT DESIGN
What inspired you to become a Digital Designer?
For the longest time I have just enjoyed making things on computers, I was always drawn toward things that were fun and interactive so I started learing more and more technologies that would let me create them. It all started back when flash was a thing and still owned by Macromedia, I would use it to make simple animations and website headers and banners and fell in love with the fusion of visual design and actionscript. It has been a long time since then but that is what really kicked it all off.
Companies you’ve worked for:
With Grok the most notable clients would be VMware, LeanData, CallidusCloud and Culturelle. And freelance would be Airbnb and BMW.
Areas of expertise:
Digital Design, Motion Graphics, Front End Development.
Website: https://www.madebykyle.com
What inspired you to become an Art Director / UI/UX Designer?
At the age of 13, I taught myself graphic design to design logos for professional esports teams. Ever since, I've been in love with capturing a brand's core values through visual communication. Adding UI/UX to the mix, I've been able to launch brands from concept to product launch,
Companies you’ve worked for:
Google, Coca-Cola, Puma, Caraway Home, Sweeten, rmdy
Areas of expertise:
Brand Identity, UI/UX Design, Web Design, Packaging, App Design
Website: https://www.leomargonzalez.com/
What inspired you to become a Product (UX/UI) Designer?
I was inspired by beauty within the elements and shapes of real-life so I wanted to translate that reality online.
Companies you’ve worked for:
Agencies: Sapient, Elephant
Brands: Peacock, Xfinity, Marc Jacobs, Orangetheory
Areas of expertise: End-to-end, UX, UI, Interaction Design, User Research
Website: http://imani.space/
What inspired you to become a UX & Product Manager?
I got into the world of Product by way of Software Engineering. I started a company called Breezcart, which was essentially a self-checkout mobile app to be used at grocery stores. While building this product, I learned the importance of UI/UX design, something that the core Computer Science education doesn't teach you. This sparked a deep dive into the world of Human-Computer Interaction and Product development as a whole. Since then, I founded another company, and have done various design work for clients in the startup space and in highly regulated environments.
Companies you’ve worked for:
Landed, NausicaaIQ, Cleat Street, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, American Express, Cisco
Areas of expertise:
User research, Prototyping, Journey Mapping, Documentation of User Stories & Acceptance Criteria, React with Redux, React Native, Node.js, Figma, AdobeXD, UI/UX Design
Website: https://www.sishirmohan.com [pw: callmesish]
What inspired you to become an UX Director?
Around the time of the first iPhone, I was a rare advertising creative who got an early jump on the digital bandwagon. I started at R/GA as a copywriter and, honestly, felt a bit useless. I was so used to talking about products, but was now in an environment where people were creating the actual product itself! That said, a writer's knack for communicating and connecting with humans isn't always front and center in the design process. Fortunately, several mentors at R/GA helped me marry that skillset with those of a product designer. They taught me how to find insights in user data, how to optimize conversion funnels for less friction and more joy, and how to design interfaces that not only have balanced hierarchy, proportions, and aesthetics, but also utilize my writer's skills of human communication and connection to inspire people to take action through interface.
Companies you’ve worked for:
Agencies: R/GA, Wieden+Kennedy, 72 & Sunny, BBDO, Publicis.
Design Shops: Fantasy, Elephant, Ueno.
Startups & Client-side: Splice, Venmo, Ford.
Areas of expertise:
eCommerce, marketplaces, content platforms, automotive, financial services, mobile payments, SaaS, enterprise software solutions, big data.
Website: www.brandonburns.co
What inspired you to become a Senior Designer?
MTV and Budweiser frogs ... I just always wanted to make ads, fun, engaging content and surround myself with those who wanted the same.
Companies you’ve worked for: Momentum Worldwide, R/GA, Fake Love, Digitas, Havas, Tribal Worldwide, JWT
Areas of expertise:
Design/ Art direction - UI/UX, 360 campaigns, print, Art Direction
Website : https://wesleyjones.net/
What inspired you to become a Designer?
I grew up painting, crafting, and doodling in class while harboring a love for language and story. It eventually became clear that the multifaceted world of design, illustration and visual narrative was one where I could unleash and develop all my inclinations to examine, make, communicate, delight, and be of use.
Companies you’ve worked for:
CP + B, Sarofsky, GLOW, HBO, Showtime, IFC, Hulu, theSkimm
Areas of expertise:
Multimedia design, Illustration, and narrative art and development
Website:
What inspired you to become a Product Leader?
I've been inspired by watching teams identify and solve the right problems, with the feeling that things may not always work - it's exciting!
Companies you’ve worked for:
DTCC, Philosophie, Datalogue, Informed
Areas of expertise:
SaaS, AI, eComm, Big Data
Website: https://www.theadamthomas.com