Location: Westport
Staff: 8
Duration: 4 years
Key Players: Peter Leeds, Principal, President / Keith Hensel, Principal, Executive Creative Director
Key Clients: Eastern Land Management, Porsche, Sotheby's, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Tagetik, Education Through Music
Location: Middletown
Staff: 6
Duration: 5 years
Key Players: Stacey Dyer/Creative Director, Steve Varjabedian/Interactive Director
Key Clients: A Little Imagination Cakes, Community Health Center, Inc., Kra-ze Vodka Liqueurs, Norwich Free Academy, Oddfellows Playhouse
What do you do and where do you do it? I am Interactive Art Director at The Pita Group in Rocky Hill, where we strategize, design and implement web, interactive and animation projects for a wide range of clients. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I have always been artistic, but the graphic influence of the skate and snowboard industries made me realize that there was an actual profession here that interested me. I started off as a print designer but quickly discovered interactive, motion and 3d design; it's these challenges that keep me on my toes and wanting to learn and create more each day. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? This is a tough question, I have fallen in love with lots of projects. I suppose the Don't Surf Nude Dude game microsite for McAfee. I really enjoyed the challenges this project brought to the table, the opportunity to combine interactive design, 3D character modeling, rigging and animation and motion design all in one project. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Ten years from now I most likely will have started my own agency, focused around interactive and motion design. At least that's the dream. Who/What are your biggest influences? There are a handful of smaller national agencies that continue to push the interactive and motion space. I love seeing what they come up with. What do you wish you did better? Programming and mathematical relationships associated with it. I think, specifically, I wish I had a more comprehensive understanding of javascript. Why Connecticut? I was born and raised in Connecticut, left for a few years and realized it is definitely the place I want to live and raise my family. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? The folks at the Pita Group and Fathom, Matthias Palme, Scott Jones and Ben Roberts. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? My wife, our four boys and nature. What do you know now that you didn't know then? A bunch, but there is still a ton I want to learn.
What do you do and where do you do it? I do freelance illustration for a vast array of editorial, book, institutional, and advertising clients. I also teach design and illustration at The Hartford Art School and The New Hampshire Institute of Art. I work out of a studio in my condo in East Windsor. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I decided I wanted to be an illustrator my junior year in college. I had a couple of professors in the profession that were a huge influence on me. They introduced me to a number of artists that shared a common thread with the style I was developing. To this day, the initial artists they showed me are still some of my biggest influences. They made me excited to get into the field. I've stayed in illustration because I love it and I think its something that I'm good at. Ever since I started working as a professional, quitting has never been an option. I decided I was going to find some way to make it work. Also, being 5'11, a career in the NBA was a longshot. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? I've been really proud of the work that I've done over the past 2-3 years. I've learned a ton about digital techniques and printmaking techniques. One of the pieces that was a big jumping off point was the first poster I did for Antiques Roadshow. It started me on a new process of working that I've been using ever since. Working on it was a total headache but the learning experience was invaluable. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? I want to have a full-time position teaching illustration at a college in the Northeast, I want to be illustrating 2-3 books per year while also doing a good amount of editorial, institutional, and advertising jobs. Who/What are your biggest influences? I'm influenced by tons of illustrators and fine artists. My biggest influences in no particular order are Lane Smith, Mary Blair, Jim Flora, Chris Buzelli, Ben Shahn, Mark Ulriksen, and Gary Kelley. I'm always on the lookout for new sources of inspiration. What do you wish you did better? Where do I start? I wish I was a better painter, I wish I could draw better, I wish I was more handy, I wish I was better with type, I wish I could hit a golf ball straight... Too many things to mention. Why Connecticut? My wife and I are both very close with our families. Most of our family members are in Connecticut so it's been hard to leave. Regardless, I've always loved Connecticut. The close proximity to New York and Boston is nice and I've made a lot of great friends here. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? I've worked with some great art directors that I've developed lasting relationships with, including Merideth Harte at Sterling Publishing and Diane Earley at Charlesbridge Publishing. At the Hartford Art School, Mark Snyder has been one of my biggest supporters. Mark's a fantastic designer and terrific teacher. I've had the pleasure of working with Mark on a few projects. He has an incredible eye for good design. I'm continually amazed by Mark's generosity with his students and friends. I've met some amazing artists through my MFA in illustration program at the Hartford Art School. Program Chair Murray Tinkelman has introduced me to a ton of new influences. Another important connection I've made is Illustrator and NHIA Chair of Illustration Jim Burke. Jim's an amazing artist and has been a huge supporter for me as an educator and an illustrator. His friendship and professional guidance has been invaluable. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? I love movies, music, and sports. I love basketball, I play 3 to 4 times a week, it definitely helps me keep my sanity. I'm also obsessed with Boston sports teams. Part of my daily routine is to check out Boston.com to see whats going on with the the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, and Bruins. Hopefully by the time this comes out the Patriots will have just won another Super Bowl. What do you know now that you didn't know then? I guess I didn't know how much of my life would be devoted to being an artist and educator. It's definitely not a 9-5 job, it's something that I'm always thinking about and working on. It kind of makes it hard to have a lot of hobbies but its definitely all worth it.
What do you do and where do you do it? I do print and web design, as well as dabble in photography, for my own company, Thumbnail Designs. That's the technical answer. In truth, I create stuff all day long, usually still wearing my pajamas, in my cute nook of an office off my living room. As for location, I'm in the process of transitioning from Lyme to New London — a big change, but I am loving this small city! What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? You know, my journey to becoming a designer was a complete surprise to me every step of the way. I just kinda fell into it. I went off to UConn as an economics major (whatever was I thinking?) and quickly realized that it wasn't for me. I dropped that class sophomore year and enrolled into a photography class "just for fun". Well, that led me deeper into the School of Fine Arts where I stumbled into "computer graphics" as it was called at the time. From there, well, I just fell in love with it. Fast forward to today and I can't tell you how thankful I am to have found design and art in general. I was inspired by my Dad at a very young age to find a job that I loved. He loved his work so much that he couldn't wait for Mondays... I think I still enjoy my weekends a little too much, but I certainly don't dread Mondays. I love what I do -- what more reason would I need to keep doing it? What is your single favorite portfolio piece? Everyone's least favorite question, right? Every creation is special because you've put your heart and soul into it. But, I have one that reaches a higher level than the rest. I've started a fundraising project — The Shelter Me Project — to help homeless animals. I photograph the animals at the eight different shelters/rescue organizations I'm working with, and then put together a calendar to sell (with all proceeds donated to the shelters). This project is rooted so deep within my heart that nothing could compare to it. Not only do I love taking the photographs and designing the calendar, but it goes beyond that — I love giving back. It's an amazing feeling to take a skill you have and use it towards helping someone else — it warms the soul. So, while I am really proud of the final calendar each year, it really helps me as much as I am helping them — maybe more. How could this not be my favorite portfolio piece? What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Simple answer: Happy and still creating. Complex answer: I hope to have my own house in few years (here in New London, near the beach), with a studio space that inspires. Not only do I still want to be designing for Thumbnail Designs, but I hope to have the time to branch out into other creative mediums — like the letterpress machine I own that's been collecting dust. I want to be gardening, too, which means I have 10 years to overcome my fear of insects, lol. And I still want to be surrounded by the wonderful people I have in my life today. Who/What are your biggest influences? The "who" portion is easy to answer — Edvin Yegir, who was my mentor during school and helped me to realize what design was truly all about. And Christopher Passehl, who took a chance on me and gave me my first job out of school. His guidance and inspiration couldn't be more appreciated or valued. Without either of these two gentlemen, I simply would not be a designer today. I owe them everything and couldn't be more thankful. And everything they design continues to inspire me. As for "what" influences me, well that's too long of a list. It's everything — what I see, what I touch, even a smell that reminds me of a childhood memory can influence a design. What do you wish you did better? Draw! I apparently am missing the illustration gene. It can be frustrating to see what you want in your head, but not be able to translate it to paper or screen. Apple needs to create an app for that. Why Connecticut? Well, the first reason is family — almost my entire family is living in Connecticut, so I would hate to move too far from them. But, that being said, I really do love this state — especially my little southeastern corner. I enjoy the art scene and all of the culture. I find my weekends double-booked with so many different events — gallery openings, concerts, wine tastings, kayaking trips, etc. Plus, I live right by the ocean — that's priceless to me. A visit to the beach, in any season, clears my head and calms my soul. I also never get bored with the weather here — it's always changing and that keeps it interesting. I even like snow (gasp!) although I am biased because I don't have to drive in it often. To top it all off, we're just a few hours from so many wonderful getaway spots — Block Island, Kennebunkport ME, Boston, NYC, Finger Lakes region of NY, Burlington VT... It's simply home. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Well, I would have to mention Edvin Yegir and Christopher Passehl again here. And add to the list Alicia Melluzzo, an amazing artist who can paint anything and make it fabulous; Alan Maislen, who has a way with words I will never understand; Thomas Craig, who introduced me to grunge fonts; and lastly Lisa Kay, who is a fellow designer down in Fairfield County with incredible talent. Being self-employed, I guess this is kind of a short list, huh? Well, what it's lacking for quantity, it certainly makes up for with quality. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Well, assuming "this field" means what I do on a daily basis (design and a little photography) then I will add the other creative mediums that I love to play with: letterpress, screen printing, and stained glass. As for other pursuits: reading, baking (on occasion), being at the beach any time of year, petting cats (a full time job around here), and traveling. What do you know now that you didn't know then? What I know now is that I am a Creative. This wasn't something that came automatically with my Fine Arts degree, it was only in the last few years that I started thinking of myself in this way and believing in my work and that my creativity wasn't going to just go away. It took quite a long time for me to figure that out, but knowing it now makes all the difference. It's a part of me — soul-deep, and that's never going to change.
What do you do and where do you do it? By day, I am a graphic designer / creative director for a wide variety of projects; from branding and print to motion graphics and packaging. Sometimes I do it while I’m walking the dog, sometimes while I kayak, but mostly I work from my home office at the edge of Connecticut in Pawcatuck. But all I really need is my laptop (and an Internet connection), whether it’s in my office at home or in the middle of the Mediterranean…. have laptop will travel! (Oh and by the way, by night I’m a graphic designer too, I just wear a cape.) What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? From a very young age I was interested in art, but didn’t want to be selling my paintings on the street corner, so I went to school for veterinary medicine to eventually work with tigers. I didn’t discover the graphic design profession until midway through my physics and biology courses, when my elective art course instructors kept telling me to take a graphic design course. Once I did, I never looked back — it was true love. And still very much is. I love the challenge and unique story of every project that needs to be communicated. All I can say is that I love what I do and feel very fortunate to have the freedom and luxury of enjoying my work... Sometimes I can hardly call it work — but don't tell anyone. I still love tigers. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? There have been so many fun and interesting projects. Not sure I can say I have one. Besides, I tend to stand back and look at what could have been better, or modified. Although I do not dwell, as I am usually immersed in focusing on the next project at hand. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Well, alive for one; I’d like to still be happy, healthy, inspired and creative, while doing what I love, and exploring the world. Who/What are your biggest influences? I try to be open to take in everything around me; from the simple and tranquil color palette of a beach to the complex energy, sights, sounds and smells of busy city market. Being exposed to different points of view — whether they are from colleagues, students or an entirely different culture somewhere else in the world — continually keep my thoughts expanding. What do you wish you did better? What I wish I did better, the list would be way to long; I think on many levels I’m always striving to do better. I wish I were able to pursue some personal projects that I always manage to let fall to the side. To slow down a bit and not feel guilty for it. Sleep. Why Connecticut? Connecticut is where I ended up after college; I moved to San Francisco for a little while, discovered that I’m not fond of earthquakes and moved back. I would have considered living in Pittsburgh, where I am from, if it only had an ocean. I love the little edge of CT that I live in. I’ll stay for a while, as I work on raising funds for my second home in Capri, or a place yet to be discovered... Who are the best creatives you’ve worked with? I have been lucky enough to have studied, collaborated and worked with so very many talented people. And I’d like to think that I have learned something from everyone. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Well, certainly there is the quest to see the world; I love to travel, especially to places that are so totally different from my day-to-day world. Certainly sharing even the simplest moments with family and friends (and of course the dog and cat.) I enjoy the outdoors, islands, a peaceful kayak, and consider myself a tequila and chocolate connoisseur. What do you know now that you didn’t know then? Everything and nothing… I do not want to stop experiencing and learning and laughing. But mostly, how truly fortunate I am in so many ways.
What do you do and where do you do it? I do on-site design and Creative Direction and Design for small to medium sized businesses from my home studio. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? For me it is the inherently dynamic and evolving process of collaborating, conceptualizing and communicating each unique story. Each project is an opportunity, an education, a chance to connect. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? I would have to say Knoll Luxe. Working on print, interactive and packaging, it doesn’t get any better than that. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Working on a diverse group of relevant projects. Who/What are your biggest influences? Anything and everything. People, places, experiences, thoughts, emotions, art. What do you wish you did better? The business side. Why Connecticut? Family, friends, blue skies, green grass, trees, seasons. (Did I mention I lived in California for ten years?) Who are the best creatives you've worked with? I value every experience I have with other creatives. You always learn something. A new perspective, process, technique. However I do hold a special place for Richard Hollant. Not only is he a brilliant designer, collaborator and teacher, he is an amazing person. His talent, passion, vision, wit, intelligence, empathy and social consciousness are all qualities I aspire to as a creative. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Family, friends, photography, music, art, film and literature. What do you know now that you didn't know then? Design is about relationships.
What do you do and where do you do it? We work with a combination of mind-reading and magic, to create designs that are smart, clean, and timeless. (And, as you can tell, we also practice a monk-like modesty!) Since Julia Balfour is a full-service creative agency, a typical week involves brand name and tagline development, logos, brochures, email marketing, custom Facebook pages, custom e-commerce websites. We'll pretty much do anything but pick up your dry cleaning! We're a 24/7 agency; inspiration, ideas, and creative thinking doesn't take a vacation or a night off. We are always thinking about our clients and the work. We're trying to make the world a more beautiful and intelligent place, one client at a time. As for our space in Lyme, the story goes that Guy Wiggins and his son built it for a painting school in the 1930s when the Great Depression made selling art impossible. We think the walls have creativity built right in. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I'm the typical old soul, I've known what I wanted to be since I was five. I started working in a design studio — Look Design in San Carlos, CA — at 15. Went to the Art Institute of Chicago for the summer program at 16, and onto the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for my undergrad in Graphic Design at 17. After RISD, I became really interested in the whole "multi-media" thing. At that point classically trained designers weren't interested in web design and all of my teachers tried to talk me out of going down that road. Somehow my interest in web development and design overshadowed their opinions. I applied to and got into a masters program at Parsons called Design & Technology. There I learned how to think programmatically. After I graduated I spent four years at Parsons in the Design and Management department, teaching Visual Organization and Information Design. Now my day integrates both tradition design principles and what I like to call new world thinking. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? That's kind of like asking who's your favorite client, it would be impossible to choose! Each piece of work has a great story to tell. I think the best work happens when you have clients who trust your instincts but also want to collaborate with you on the outcome. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? I'd love to be here in our studio in Lyme, creating international, national, and local work. Work that touches people's heart and gets them thinking. Maybe we've added an extension on the studio with a pool so clients can sit and sip margaritas while we review their award winning work. We have a pretty cute team so having everyone in a bikini might mean that clients never leave. Who/What are your biggest influences? I always like to look at "the big guns," the Fortune 500 Companies. They are the ones with the time and money to spend on research and development. All of our projects are deeply rooted in research. Our world changes so quickly that we have to literally research each and every day. What do you wish you did better? I am very much part creative thinker and part business woman, I think my weakness comes in when we start to talk about spreadsheets and timing. That's when my eyes start to glaze over. That is why I always have an excellent project manager on my team! Why Connecticut? We are located halfway between New York and Boston on the Connecticut Shoreline. The Old Saybrook Amtrak station can get us to either in just over two hours. It just seemed like the perfect place to be creative. I like to refer to it as faux-rural. We're in the country but can get to a good restaurant, a good theater production, a good movie theater, and of course Target all within 15 minutes. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? I've worked with some incredible creatives but I think the most inspiring has been one of our current clients, Nick Hahn of Alpaca United. Nick was the former CEO of Cotton Incorporated and led the team that developed the "Cotton. The fabric of our lives" campaign. His energy and experiences continually inspire me to work smarter, harder, faster, better. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? My husband Edward and our son Cooper top the list! My husband Edward endlessly puts up with my need to work "just one more hour" and Cooper falls asleep every night to the glow of mommy's laptop monitor. I'm hoping he'll be a designer by age five just by osmosis. I am also a complete and utter shopaholic, both online and offline. At one point my husband thought I might be having an affair with the FedEx guy since he was here everyday. Other things I love: travel, bulldogs (we have an American Bulldog — Lily — and an English Bulldog — Daisy), Burn Notice, Sauvignon Blanc, Spin Class, and my GNO group. What do you know now that you didn't know then? Have total confidence in yourself and your vision.
What do you do and where do you do it? Creative direction and graphic design. Out of my home office — LittleBig Shop — and on-site at agencies. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? The opportunity to be creative every day. It's an amazing gift. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? It changes, but I'm always most in love with the project I'm currently working on. I tend to dream about it. Right now, I'm working on a new identity and packaging system for a local baked goods company, Four Flours. They have a lot of spirit in their brand history want this expressed in their new look. It's very enjoyable work. A lot of our local clients are vibrant, expressive people and I hope to keep attracting this type of client. For larger clients, I love working on the Starbucks Brand with the talented Tracy Locke team. There's so much style, artistry and hand-lettering involved that each could be considered a work of art. The whole team is aligned design-wise and we all play off each other. The communication is always smart and the process is both inspiring and fun. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Happy, inspired, passionate and balanced. Oh and rich, this may help a little with the balance. I'd also like to have a full client roster for LittleBig Shop and be working solely from the LB studio, with a fellow creative or two. Who/What are your biggest influences? When I work at agencies, often it's the junior creatives. They have so many fresh ideas, and a non-stop attitude, it's amazing. In general, I love collaborating. What do you wish you did better? I wish I could consistently stop working by 6 or 7. This is important to my family and personal life, especially since my family is growing. I really believe in order to bring out our full creative potential, we have to enjoy life and draw inspiration from it. The ideas flow better. Why Connecticut? My family is from Connecticut and it's a great place to work independently. I've grown a lot of connections over the years and there's a lot of diversity. I don't think I would have the same opportunities say in Wyoming, which is where I'm from. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Bill McBrayer at Concept One Communications is the best copywriter and communicator I've ever worked with. I often think of him on projects to this day and think to myself, "What would Bill do?" Creating clear communication is one of his gifts. Unfortunately, owning his own company and all, I don't believe he's available for freelance. Also, my husband, Erich Davis, is a true Renaissance Man. He's a designer, sculptor, painter, metalworker, blacksmith and more. His creative spark is unwavering, from the heart and just lovely to be around. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Organic gardening, healthy food, hiking, biking, the woods, singing (although I'm learning) and photography. My boys: My husband Erich, my soon-to-be baby Kol and my dog Buster. What do you know now that you didn't know then? I had always been steady paycheck kind of gal and I had a lot of apprehension about working for myself. I learned that I have the personality type to have my own business and that I wouldn't want to create my life any other way. Also, the people around us really do support us when we're doing good work, so we're never really doing anything completely alone. On top of that, I genuinely feel I'm helping those I work with.
What do you do and where do you do it? I am a designer and illustrator at Taylor Design in the busy city of Stamford. For the most part I just make coffee and refill the copy machine, but once in a while I get to work on some great stuff. I have been working here for just about five years and its been a great journey thus far. Somehow, I find time after work to generate self initiated projects. These projects for the most part are hand drawn illustrations. My latest project is a Alphabet poster, inspired by my nieces and nephews that I plan on having screened printed when done. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I grew up in Jamaica, following in my older brothers footsteps drawing comics and doodles. Near the end of high school between my obsession with advertising campaigns, drawing and poster making, a recruiter from an art school in Florida stopped in and completely blew my mind with career options. I knew from then on, that I wanted to do design. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? It changes from time to time. But currently I'm swooning over my alphabet poster. I have been taking as much time as I can afford to develop it and move it along. For the most part I tend to obsess over the next idea, that I need to create. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Hopefully, alive, healthy and still being creative with less worries. Who/What are your biggest influences? Opportunity. Hard work truly does pay off, I feel very lucky when good projects come my way. What do you wish you did better? I tend to over plan, and write out too many ideas which I end up not being able to focus on. I just need to work on things and not worry about every other detail as much. Why Connecticut? I moved to Hartford when I was 18, and it's been my second home since then. Stamford is currently making its mark. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? I admire a ton of people for their creativity, thought process and delivery. From my art teachers in high school, my teachers and colleagues I have met at the Hartford Art School and the coworkers I've had the chance to work with over the years. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Music, Food, Good/Bad Movies, Boxing, Traveling. What do you know now that you didn't know then? Everything. I just want to keep learning and seeing new things.
What do you do and where do you do it? I am an interactive designer at Cronin and Company in Glastonbury. I am also the owner/designer of my own small business, Sophie & Lili. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I always knew I wanted to do something in the design world. My dad was an art teacher for a while & would bring home his old (almost dried up) Design® markers for me to use. I was filling up sketchbooks at a quick rate. I didn’t care if it was fashion design, interior design or advertising. I wanted to sit at a big drafting table surrounded by markers, sketch pads & creative people. (Pre-computer days!) I couldn’t imagine not being “creative” for a living. Nothing else was / is really an option for me. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? I am pretty critical of my work. I get sick of looking at it after I am finished. However, I am most proud of a site that did for the CT Opera almost 13 years ago! It was a pro bono site that I designed & coded (mostly) myself at Keiler & Co. I probably used Frontpage or Dreamweaver? I had no idea what I was doing, but it was lovely. I got my first CADC award for it. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Yikes. I just hope to be RELEVANT and still doing something that I love. Who/What are your biggest influences? I am inspired & influenced by so much — design bloggers, fashion & textile designers, graphic & web designers, package & industrial design. I am in awe of what the creatives at IDEO, Apple & Smart Design are doing (& have done). I went to school for Fashion Design, but wish I dabbled in product design a little too. I never knew it was an option when I was that young. What do you wish you did better? Everything. I am my own worst enemy. I wish I could code (and enjoy it), take criticism better, balance my life/work/hobbies better. Why Connecticut? My parents transplanted us here from New York when I was 15. I hated it at first and went back to NYC to go to college. Then I moved to LA, but wound up wanting to be close to my parents. I felt I had my fill of the big city thing. It’s quiet, it’s beautiful and a great place to raise a family. My husband is born and raised in Connecticut. We have two little girls. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? I did my internship at Group Four Design and since then I have been lucky to have worked at some of the best ad agencies in CT — Keiler, Mintz & Hoke and Cronin. Over my 14 year career I have worked with too many talented ADs, CDs & Copywriters to count. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? I started a little girls clothing company in 2004 kind of by accident. It’s taken on new life as a soft toy / doll company. Aside from being with my husband and two young girls, I spend A LOT of time designing and making my dolls. It’s nice being able to call the shots creatively. (My customers are a delight. How much design criticism can you give about a cute little doll? My toughest customers are my daughters. I can live with that!) What do you know now that you didn't know then? I used to think web design was all about looking pretty. I had no idea what I was doing. Also, everything takes so much longer than you think it will.
What do you do and where do you do it? I'm fortunate enough to be the Director of Exhibit Design and Delivery at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. I lead the creative team that designs, produces and installs new exhibit and experience initiatives, as well as exhibit-related educational products. While most of our exhibits reside at our museum, we also currently have two exhibits that are on tour to museums and science centers throughout the country, as well as a mini-exhibit that is traveling to schools and libraries in Connecticut. Our interactive exhibits and initiatives recognize the value of play in promoting learning, creativity and discovery and are specifically geared towards children 10 and under, their families/caregivers and educators. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? Growing up I loved making things. In high school, all of my electives were art classes. When I was applying for college, the only thing that interested me was art. I selected graphic design as my major because I wanted skills that could pay for all of the student loans I would have when I graduated. As luck would have it, once I started taking graphic design classes, I fell in love with typography, color and grids. I keep doing what I do because I strongly believe that design can teach and inspire others. We approach all projects at the museum with the idea that design and content have a symbiotic relationship. As an example, if a graphic or activity doesn't appeal to our visitors, they're not going to read it or play with it. If the same component is well designed, but doesn't have a message or goal, they might read it or play with it, but there isn't anything to learn from it. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? Visitors to the museum regularly ask me what my favorite exhibit is. My response: “Each exhibit is like a child, they're each very different and require a lot of love and attention.” Honestly, I have no favorites and I'm really proud of what my team and I were able to accomplish with each project. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? I have absolutely no idea. As long as it's rewarding and I can pay my bills, it's all good. Who/What are your biggest influences? Cities, especially NYC; The energy and activity of places is a constant source of inspiration. Like most designers, I'm strongly influenced by subject matter of what I'm trying to communicate. When working on a project, I love learning everything I can about content to fully tranform a space into an experience that feels authentic and special. I'm also really inspired by the children and families we build the exhibits for. As part of the design process, we get feedback from kids on what they would want to do or see as part of an exhibit. The kids always come up with the best ideas — and then its part of my job to figure out how to make them into activities that translate and hold up in a museum setting. After an exhibit opens, there are always unexpected ways — some good, some bad — that kids use exhibits. Having a focus group that's always around is one of the best parts of the job. What do you wish you did better? Communicate my thoughts and ideas in narrative. Why Connecticut? My husband and I both grew up and went to school here. While there are many cities and places we like to visit, with the lifestyle we have, we haven't found a compelling reason to leave. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Before coming to Stepping Stones six years ago, I worked at a few design studios and learned something from just about all of the great creatives I've worked with. I'm really inspired by the creative energy of my colleagues at the museum, both members of my design team but also non-designers. I'm constantly impressed with the ideas and programs our Education Department create in order to teach kids. We consistently work together to either repurpose exhibit graphics and activities or integrate what they're working on into exhibits. This synergy is part of what makes the full museum experience great for our visitors. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Being at the ocean, reading, organic gardening, traveling, spending time with my husband and yellow lab and — while some might say it's technically “inside my field” — visiting museums. What do you know now that you didn't know then? Always keep an open mind and take risks as opportunities are presented. Ten years ago, I never would have believed that I would be doing what I am.
What do you do and where do you do it? What? Depending on who you ask, they will tell you I'm something completely different. I'm a Programmer, Designer, and Creative Strategist — but most importantly a problem solver — at Digital Surgeons. Where? Our offices are based out of New Haven, but I like to solve most problems in my home studio in Milford, on the slopes or while I'm sleeping. It sounds esoteric but it couldn't be closer to the truth. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I used to want to be a comic book artist cause I drew and sketched so much. I like figuring out ways to tell stories. Pretty far off from Digital Marketing, right? Well, I'm a tech geek, I grew up wanting to do film special effects, so when I found out there was a way for both those worlds to collide, I dove in head first. Everyday is a new day, a new problem to solve. The landscape changes by the minute, and constantly innovating and pushing the envelope keeps my head in the game. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? That is like asking me my favorite movie; it's a really hard question. I'd say top of mind recently, our campaign for Ovation Guitars is by far my favorite. The people at Ovation love the brand, and their passion and desire to be a leader in acoustic guitar innovation really inspired me to the ideas and executions we inevitably went with. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Probably doing quite the same thing in whatever capacity the future ends up. In innovation consulting, where I always get to push my skills and ideas into a reality. Combining art and technology really gets my gears going. I'd like to find more time to write and get more of my thoughts out. It is very hard to make time to tackle all that while growing our company. Who/What are your biggest influences? Music, film and obviously popular culture. I'm obsessed with playing video games or hitting the movies to zone out and let my mind go. It either drives me or knocks me even further off base. What do you wish you did better? Write. I struggle with the best way to articulate myself, and grammar is my worst enemy. I blame my English teachers for letting me be a class clown. Why Connecticut? Well, I'm born and raised here so that made it a bit easier to select. Why New Haven? Like everything we do at Digital Surgeons, picking the location for our office was something we thought long and hard about. In the end we chose New Haven, Connecticut. We wanted to be in an environment rich with creativity and intellectual stimulation. A cool space in the heart of the Yale campus answered that requirement. We wanted to be someplace within easy reach of the technology and business hubs of Boston and New York, but also wanted a city with its own thriving tech and start-up traditions. Finally, we wanted a place that was easy to get to and easy to get from. It's hard to find a more convenient city than New Haven (in fact, we couldn't). We hope you'll stop by and see us sometime. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Tough question! If I had to pick a top five, naturally it would be the core leaders at our agency, which is one of the reasons I partnered up with them. Mark Myrick, Creative Director, innovator, conceptual genius. Aaron Sherrill, our interactive director. Rob Slosberg from Turbine Boost (formally VGS Creative). What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Film, writing, snowboarding, music. What do you know now that you didn't know then? Being an entrepreneur isn't a job, it's a way of life. If you want to be good at it, you have to surrender your life to it.
What do you do and where do you do it? Owner/Creative Director of Jargon Boy Design Studio. The firm focuses on brand identity programs for various corporate clients. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? Saw an ad designed by Paul Rand. It was so modern compared to what was out and yet had been created in the 50s. Wanted to know how to do that. Love the profession because it's always changing and growing. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? It's always the next piece I'm about to make. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Continue doing work that challenges my own sensibilities and pushes clients to unexpected places. Who/What are your biggest influences? People who have a vision. Musicians like The Flaming Lips, John Coltrane, Sly and the Family Stone, Shuggie Otis and Israel Kamakawio'ole. I always look to artists like Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Jeff Koons, Ed Kienholz, HC Westermann and Robert Motherwell for inspiration. Also admire architects Craig Ellwood, Gregory Ain, R.M. Schindler, Richard Neutra and Robert Venturi and how they manipulate space. What do you wish you did better? Budget my time. Why Connecticut? My wife, daughter and I initially moved out here from Los Angeles for work and being closer to family. Now we've added a boy and have really fallen in love with our town of Fairfield. Could never leave. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Rick Seireeni: Owner of The Brand Architect Group in Los Angeles, CA. Co-authored the seminal book: Marks - New Directions in Logo Design. Taught me about how a design firm's identity is created and what it takes to be a great art director. Tamar Rosenthal: Creative Director of FIDM | The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA. Taught me how to create vernacular languages. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Amazing food, creating art and hanging out with my family. What do you know now that you didn't know then? You can combine a personal vision with commerce and be successful.
What do you do and where do you do it? I am the Senior Art Director at Mascola Group, a full service ad agency in New Haven. I’ve been here for over six years and I love it now more than ever. We have a client list that ranges from local to international and ultra-affluent to mass market. I get the opportunity to create everything from collateral for luxury residences onboard a ship that travels the globe all the way to tv spots and print ads for America’s ninth largest fair. Plus the dynamic here couldn’t be better — everyone has their own expertise, but we all realize that good advertising and branding comes from a group effort and that everyone’s voice and opinion needs to be heard. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I originally choose to study graphic design out of a fear of failing as a full-time artist, but in the time since then I am completely happy with my decision. At the University of Hartford I was exposed to the training and techniques to be a painter or illustrator — my original intentions for a life path — but I have gained a career that I can make a living at where I can still be creative every day. What is your single favorite portfolio piece? My favorite piece always tends to be the most recently completed one. The more time that passes since I have a completed project and the more I look at it, the more I would change or do differently. I guess with that thought in mind I would have to say the work that we are in the process of finalizing and sending to print for our client The World would be my favorite. The World is a luxury yacht with 165 private residences onboard. We are completely rebranding them and are producing a new Ad Campaign, Website (not currently launched, don’t judge me by the one online right now), and printed collateral. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? I really can’t answer that, I tend to not think any further that a couple months ahead of myself. I like to enjoy the present. And right now things are going really well… I just had my first child (a baby girl, Charlotte June Healy) with my amazing wife Katharine, I love my full time job and I own a business with my brother. Who/What are your biggest influences? My brother Jeff and the 13 other artists besides myself that contribute to One of Twenty have had a huge influence on the artwork I create personally. As for design and advertising, I try to not be influenced by trends. I always try to shape my work based on ideas and design that will resonate most with our clients' consumers. What do you wish you did better? A lot. Why Connecticut? I joke around about how lame I am by growing up in Connecticut, going to school in Connecticut and settling in Connecticut, but I really like it here. I loved growing up in a town on the water, I like being close to New York City and I go there as much as I can, I loved living for four years in New Haven, and I’m really excited that my daughter lives within 30 minutes of both my family and my wife’s. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? I am a huge fan of the collaborative aspect of the advertising industry. I know that my skills and talents can only take a project so far, so pairing with the right people can make or break a job. My creative partner Michelle Yue is unmatched when it comes to copywriting. She has an ability to give a brand a voice that is smart, relevant and at the same approachable to consumers. Also, the photographers and videographers we work constantly amaze me. Derek Dudek and Aaron Kotowski are two that we always go back to. They both can take a rough idea that Michelle and I present to them and turn it into amazing visuals no matter what the circumstances. It’s also pretty great that photoshoots get me out of the office. In my time at Mascola I’ve gotten to go to the Caribbean twice and Miami once, plus on a whole host of local shoots here in New England. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Outside of working at Mascola Group, I am also one of the founding partners of One of Twenty, an artist collective and clothing design company that I started with my brother Jeff in 2008. The collective is a currently a group of 14 artists from up and down the east coast. We host group and solo shows for our artists; the main idea being that we can use our combined networks to grow larger than any of us would be able to individually. For the clothing aspect, we use designs from our various artists to create men’s and women’s clothing, all in limited edition runs of 20. One of Twenty has become really important to me, if for no other reason because I get to collaborate on projects with my brother. Jeff is one of the most talented painters I know and his intuitive sense of color and composition constantly amazes me. Another reason is the complete creative freedom. While I love my job, it’s refreshing that I don’t have clients to answer to when making decisions. I get to create my own artwork and our marketing materials free from outside influences. I guess there is a sense of fear there too, if something turns out awful it is based upon the decisions made by us. And finally, I really believe that visual arts are important and need to be kept alive. Most of the events and shows that we host are at Skate Shops, Restaurants and Bars, during concerts, snowboard contests and at Roller Derby. I like the fact that we get to help expose people to something they might not have seen if it weren’t for the events we put on. What do you know now that you didn't know then? A lot.
What do you do and where do you do it? I'm a designer at Humongo, a digital creative agency in Danbury. I also have a lot of self-initiated projects like drawing all the synthesizers I own. If I'm not making art, I'm producing electro pop music as Teleflux. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I've spent my whole life drawing and have always considered myself an artist and a creative person. Around age 13 I became interested in web design and began creating websites. At that point I decided I wanted to be a graphic designer, and I definitely fell in love with it in college. Design is such a great career because you face new, exciting challenges every day and, it requires a lot of brain power. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? Probably the Draw On website. Draw On is a series of community events started by the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum that bring people together and foster creativity through drawing and art making. It's a great program and idea and I think I was able to capture the spirit of the event in a very unique and fun way. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Still loving what I do. Who/What are your biggest influences? I've always liked Pentagram's work. They manage to create cutting edge design without being too trendy. I really like Paula Scher. Her work always has the right amount of simplicity and bold typography. I'm really impressed by people who do process projects, creating a new piece of art or design every day. It inspires me to keep going. What do you wish you did better? I have too many ideas and I wish I could execute them faster. I wish I was a better blogger. I'm still figuring out the whole self promotion thing. Why Connecticut? I went to school here at the Hartford Art School and was lucky enough to find a great job in the same state. The creative community has been very supportive. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? The team at Humongo has been great. I couldn't ask for a better work environment. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Definitely music. I almost went to college for it. As I said before, if I'm not making art then I'm making music. Or looking for vintage synthesizers on eBay. What do you know now that you didn’t know then? Everything takes 5 times longer than you think it will. You won't love every second of your job. Self promotion is not a bad thing, and no, your work doesn't speak for itself.
What do you do and where do you do it? Currently I am the head art director at Silver Creative Group in South Norwalk. It is a small company so I wear a lot of hats. I am involved in every aspect of a project from concept to the finished product including naming, copywriting, illustrating and production as well as design. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? From as early as I can remember I have been creating art; drawing, painting, sculpting… whatever I can get my hands on to express myself. In college I realized I should pick a semi-reliable career path so I majored in graphic design and minored in illustration. Turns out it was a perfect fit, I love what I do and I manage to keep artistic balance by incorporating my illustration into my designs. I stay in the profession because it continues to throw me new challenges and there are so many techniques, mediums and styles I have yet to explore. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? The 2 Gold Street integrated campaign is one of my favorite works to date. My vision for the design of this project was clear from the moment I learned about the building. I love relating a piece to a certain time period and style, so the 1920’s architecture of this luxury rental was right up my alley. I enjoyed researching patterns, textures, typefaces, color and music to reflect the roaring 20’s. The client did not have any photos of the building so it was the perfect opportunity to take an illustrative approach. My concept came to life through a collaboration of my sketches and the illustrator’s talent. It was refreshing and surprising that a real estate development company was on board with such a unique branding strategy. They also afforded us the opportunity to use special printing techniques, enhancing the vintage quality of the piece. Going to the press run in an old print shop with antique equipment was a fascinating and unusual experience. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? I envision that I will continue to create in all different mediums and fields so I can grow as an artist and as a person. I hope I will design for a greater cause and improve my community and environment. I want to be part of something larger than design with fewer restrictions on my creative journey. Who/What are your biggest influences? Who: My eclectic group of friends, family and people I meet on an everyday basis. What doesn’t inspire me? Music, traveling, nature, history, food. Inspiration usually comes to me when I least expect it. It is organic and can’t be forced. The other day a piece of half eaten fudge w/ teeth marks inspired me. I always make sure I have a sketchbook nearby to record my constant stream of sporadic ideas. What do you wish you did better? I wish I were better at managing my free time so I could paint and create without a premise or purpose. Work that is just for the love of creation and the end client is me. Why Connecticut? Just how the stars aligned. I grew up in Queens and moved to CT when I was young. I love the proximity of beaches, NYC and my family. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Starting from the beginning, I have been surrounded by wonderfully creative people. I started drawing and painting with my mom, aunt and sister. In high school I had the amazing opportunity to work as a sculpture apprentice with Greg Wyatt and his talented staff in the St. John the Divine cathedral studio. Hartford Art School surrounded me with an art community of students and teachers that had a profound effect on my path as an artist. And of course the talented designers, copywriters, illustrators and programmers I’ve worked with at Silver. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? I love music, dancing, painting, drawing, traveling, jewelry design and cooking. I like to challenge myself by learning new things. I am currently learning how to play guitar. What do you know now that you didn't know then? I’ve learned not to over think things. If something doesn’t come to me naturally then it is contrived and not meant to be. I’ve learned to be more in tune with my instincts and to trust my gut. Although I may have over thought a few of these answers! Links to work samples: www.2goldstreet.com www.amino-vital.com www.455w37.com dev.200waterst.com
What do you do and where do you do it? I am an art director at Outthink in Essex. On the side I own Trove, a traveling boutique I started up 2 years ago. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? In high school I wanted to be an interior designer but realized my poor measuring/math skills would lead me to create spaces with oversized furniture and curtains that were too short. So, I went to Pratt for illustration, but after my sophmore year I changed my major to graphic design because I didn't want to be self employed. I have stayed with graphic design and I like it because it allows me to cross the line into illustrator sometimes and doesn’t corner me into doing the same thing every day. I would like to be a stylist someday though. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? In 10 years I will be 42, (scary). My girls will be 10 1/2 and 12, (scarier). I hope to have achieved the balance in life. Juggling a career, kids, wants, needs, good times, bad times...I want to continue to be passionate about what I do and appreciate what I have every moment. Oh, and I want partial residency in the Caribbean or outer Bahamas. (seriously) Who/What are your biggest influences? Who: India Hicks. Rebecca Thuss. Amy Butler. Dolan Geiman. People who are amazing creatives but don’t have a big ego. What: Antique stores. an hour in Homegoods. a window seat on a train ride with my ipod & sketchbook. old homes. peoples studios/work spaces. childrens books. treehouses. good blogs. islands. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? Right now, the work I am doing with Trove. I get to be the buyer, designer, art director, photographer, stylist and the best of all... the client! What do you wish you did better? I wish my everyday handwriting had a style. It seems to always change. When I was young I would constantly play around with the way I wrote, like I was searching for my identity. Nothing stuck. And it’s still all over the place. Cursive, caps, girly, sketchy, neat... I wonder what this all means. Why Connecticut? I ask myself the same question at the end of every summer. Seriously, I love CT — so nice to be close to NYC and New Haven is like a little jewel. But I have a serious plan to head to St. Somewhere at some point. I just have no use for cold. Who are the best creatives you’ve worked with? So many great people at TracyLocke and also at Colangelo. Chris Kelly is someone I will always remember working for and much of his design wisdom will always be in my head. And then of course all of my co-creatives at Outthink- I feel lucky to be part of such a close family of creative people there. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? By far, my deepest passion is for the islands. The water, the music, the sun, colors, the people, the forced simplicity. I love island life. And not the resort type (though I love that too). I am talking the small apartment with chickens running through my backyard, hanging laundry outside, riding my bike to work, type of island life. What do you know now that you didn’t know then? I didn’t know that I would be the same person at 32 that I was at 12. I used to daydream about the future and, for some reason, imagined someone I didn’t yet know... I had no idea that all my passions, fears, dreams would all stay constant. I still love mermaids and unicorns.
What do you do and where do you do it? I'm a designer at Bertz Design Group in Middletown. I also work on self-initiated, exploratory type projects from my home studio in New Hartford. Lately, I've been working on a series of loosely defined photographic projects. One of these is a study of flora through the process of decomposition (a few examples are above). The flowers have a very serene quality about them. Through these photographs, I seek to capture their understated beauty and grace in various stages of death. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? For me, it was like this: either go into teaching and get the summers off, or, go into the creative field and, well, be creative. (Admittedly, in hindsight, that assessment was completely ignorant and short-sighted.) I later realized that creativity, or being creative, is an intensive and self-perpetuating process. It is fueled by our formal and informal education (knowledge/theory), our openness to failure (exploration), our personal experiences and the thoughts and ideas that surround those experiences (frame of reference). Don't let anyone kid you, design isn't easy (and I'm sure teaching isn't either). But for me, the process is about learning and growing. In an essence, the more we give, the more we get. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? I don't have favorites. No single piece that I have ever produced has been that complete. I still cringe at some of my earlier work. In some cases, it’s nothing short of embarrassing. The value of recognizing the successes and failures with each piece reminds me where I started and how far I’ve come. Scrutinizing the failures, in particular, enables me to remain focused, and most importantly, hungry. I think sometimes there's too much emphasis on the production a finished piece, and that piece being complete, perfect and grand. When I look at my portfolio, I don't see finished pieces -- I see solutions that will always benefit from further thought and reworking. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Other than alive and well, I have no idea. This is easily the hardest question to answer. Who/What are your biggest influences? I'm inspired by people of all ages and in all professions, who's work is fueled by passion, dedication and concern for others. I hear and read about them everyday. If I'm lucky, I sometimes have the opportunity to engage, and possibly work with some of these folks. What do you wish you did better? Think. Design. Create. Strategize. Program. Write. You name it. I also wished my jump shot was a bit more consistent. (I'm not asking for too much, am I?) Why Connecticut? Because I grew up here. But the bigger question is: Why Not? Who are the best creatives you've worked with? I've been very privileged to work and associate with many talented, dedicated people that have helped further my professional/personal development in one way or another. I would have to say that Ted Bertz, John Gibson and Richard Hollant are at the top of that list. Without a doubt, these guys have made an indelible impression on me, demonstrating their leadership, attention to craft and unparalleled work ethic. I consider them great teachers and better friends. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Truthfully, I find most everything interesting on some level because I recognize its significance within the bigger picture of our interconnected world. I try to experience and learn as much as I can so that I can produce the best, most informed work possible. What do you know now that you didn't know then? Two things jump out at me: 1_ Sweat the small stuff. 2_ The more I think I know, the more I realize that I have a lot to learn.
What do you do and where do you do it? Basically, I have fun all day and get paid for it. Ha! It's true, I love what I do. I'm the owner of a small design agency in Bridgeport called Bananaland. We dabble in, but are not limited to: websites, IDs, brochures, monkey training, hand stamping, and intern torture. Why Bananaland? Cause the secret behind creativity is to be completely bananas. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? Possibly at age 1 when I consumed my first Crayola crayon, later realizing, "Hey, these aren't for eating." I stay in it because I'm always in it. There's no off switch, nor would I ever want one. Example 1, grocery shopping: "Why is milk packaged in a carton instead of rubber cow utters?" Example 2, driving: "CT plates should be available in PMS Hexachrome Magenta C" Example 3, at the dentist: "It'd be awesome if these pamphlets had a dancing tooth saying 'clean me' in Gotham bold." What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? Be Our Neighbor. It's not just about good design, but the gathering of a community. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? Drinking wine on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. And of course, doing quirky, creative, interesting design for quirky, creative, interesting people. Who/What are your biggest influences? Fellow CT creatives, Stefan S., Wes A., my sister, my guy What do you wish you did better? "THE BOOKS" Why Connecticut? This state is wild! Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Again, my sister and my guy come into play. Also Michael Francis Barnes. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Alpine climbing, art, outer space, art, glow stick twirling, art, banana eating, art. What do you know now that you didn't know then? I know nothing now but hope to know something then. Sites that go with the samples: http://www.thebananaland.com/ http://be-our-neighbor.com/ http://campkayak.org/ http://gunniethedunnie.com/
What do you do and where do you do it? I basically run c.creative from my living room amongst 2 active pre-teen stepchildren. So, while bombs are going off on Call Of Duty, disco-themed arcade music is blasting away on Marble Ultra Blast, I'm creating a color palette for a restaurant in Switzerland, tent banners and graphics for Waffle Planet or program applications for the Rally Foundation Cancer Research for Kids. If it weren't for the 12 years working in studios bustling with drama, noise and pure chaos I would have folded months ago. Hands as steady as a surgeon. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I originally went to FIT in Manhattan for Fashion Design. I lived, breathed and was nourished by Vogue as a kid...but after a year into the program I was disappointed in finding way too much dirt and indulgence in the industry. By then, I found much appeal in Advertising, so I switched majors. Advertising lead to Package design, consumer graphics lead eventually lead to Graphic Design. It all bleeds together for me and I have to say, it certainly helps to have a multifaceted background. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? I have to say the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational piece gets the most attention. I love the simplicity of Huge Type. After 10 years of trying to get the client to like small, petite, discreet, and completely illegible type, it was actually refreshing to just go BIG. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? In my very own little private studio built just for me...close enough to the family and yet....just far enough away. Who/What are your biggest influences? Without a doubt, Margo Chase. In many ways, I feel a kinship or a parallel journey in design sense. I started out in college rapidographing all my logos by hand. I never grew tired of the process. We share the love of using the ancient art of chinese calligraphy as well. There's something peaceful in grinding your own ink. I simply heart her. What do you wish you did better? Being that I am now just learning Flash, Dreamweaver and Fireworks, I'm looking forward to utilizing these programs as efficiently as I do Illustrator and photoshop. Why Connecticut? I get asked this all the time by my city friends. While I did love living in the city, what I missed most was actually driving my car to the grocery store. There's a quality of life in a sleepy little town like Deep River that I love. It keeps you centered and your way of life humble. It's all about the simple things. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? I learned an enormous amount from both John Visgilio and Rena Debortoli. They're both brilliant and set the standards that I hold for myself now. What are your loves/passions outside of the field? Cooking. I have Tyler Florence, Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver on my iPhone, I think that says it all. What do you know now that you didn't know then? That I'm actually good at what I do. It took me 10 years to realize that.
What do you do and where do you do it? I am a graphic designer, creative director, project manager, owner, operator, and all around great gal at traciedesigns, in Fairfield. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? From an early age, I've always liked to draw and create. When I was in high school, the only class I excelled in was anything to do with art. When I went on to art school, I had to take a graphic design class, and I was hooked. I couldn't believe that people made a living doing something so fun and cool. I stay in it because I love what I do. On any given day, I have dozens of ideas buzzing around in my head. The fact that I get paid to make those ideas come to life is like the icing on a very yummy cake. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? I don't necessarily have a favorite piece, but I am especially proud of my logo work. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? In 10 years I hope to have the kind of business that allows me to pick and choose the projects I want to work on, rather than taking on a project because of that pesky mortgage. I'd also like to see at least one of the many business ideas in my head come to fruition. And finally, I'd like to be independently wealthy (which I guess goes hand in hand with the above). In 10 years I'll be getting ready to send my second child off to college — yikes. Who/What are your biggest influences? Jessica Hische is a big influence — I love her type. Alejandro Paul is an amazing type designer, too. Designers like Tina Roth Eisenberg, Khoi Vinn; I love, love, love their simplicity. There are a ton of outside influences as well — my camera is filled with a bunch of stuff that grabs my attention. It could be anything from my kids to the color of the grass to the way the sunlight reflects off of a building. What do you wish you did better? Among other things, I'd love to be able to balance my work vs. play time a little better. I love what I do — but sometimes the downtime is just as important. I just read a great quote that said something along the lines of being a freelancer isn't choosing your own hours, it's choosing which 16 hours of the day you have to work. Isn't that the truth? Why Connecticut? I was born and raised here; so it's not really a question of why, but more why not? Who are the best creatives you've worked with? I worked with a great team at my last full time job — for ImageMark, in Wilton. And Amy Graver and everyone over at Elements. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Shoes. Photography. My kids. Letterpress printing — not necessarily a passion, but I have a huge desire to learn the trade. Letterpress printers in Connecticut: please let me come play and learn! What do you know now that you didn't know then? Be happy. I love what I do for a living; if that isn't a reason to be happy, then I don't know what is.
What do you do and where do you do it? I am freelance graphic designer and illustrator. I work from my office (living room) in Cromwell. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I have been drawing constantly all of my life. As a young child I would disassemble the music albums around me and recreate my own. When I realized that it was someone's job to design these packages it blew my little mind. I love what I do and that is what keeps me going. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? I would have to say my tribute zine to Major Taylor (I am aware that picking a self-authored piece may be cheating). Major Taylor was an American cyclist who won the world one-mile track cycling championship in 1899 after setting numerous world records and overcoming racial discrimination. Renowned as The Fastest Bicycle Rider In The World in the early 1900s, he accredits his success as a world champion to the value of good habits and clean living. He has a list of 12 guidelines to live by — some are very quirky, I illustrated each of these for the zine. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? I'd love to be a little more financially secure and able to be a bit more selective with the projects I take on. Aside from that I can't complain — it's fantastic to be able to do my own thing. I would however like to be doing more gallery shows and possibly teaching again (on the side). In terms of location, I am not quite sure. I spent the last 4 years in Boston, and now I am back in Connecticut (my home state). Boston was great, but it's also nice to be back in CT. Who/What are your biggest influences? I really admire artists like Steve Powers (Espo) and Parra. I look up to people like Rich Stevens (Diesel Sweeties) and Kate Bingaman-Burt (Obsessive Consumption) for their incredible consistency. What do you wish you did better? Just getting things done without over-thinking each detail. Why Connecticut? I was born here, my girlfriend is going to grad school here, many of my friends are here, and New Haven has the best pizza (anywhere). Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Vaughn Fender, Will Bryant, Ryan Frease, Ira Cummings, Troy Monroe, Aaron Belyea, Chad Kouri, Peter Stockmal... I could go on and on... What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Music, bicycles, skating. What do you know now that you didn't know then? Everything. Hah, well that hard work really does pay off. That I am capable of making a living without a studio's support.
What do you do and where do you do it? I am a creative something or other. I spend my days designing and directing for websites, print, identities/logos and more at Parallel, a design studio I founded with the help of a few like-minded individuals. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I knew what I wanted to do from a very young age. Some kids grow up playing cops and robbers, I grew up playing "let's run a design studio." Once that middle school bell would ring, my brother, a close friend, and I would get to work building up our fictitious design studio, Parallel Vision. We'd sit around brainstorming ideas, sketching out logos, and building out websites for clients that don't exist. Eventually, we put Parallel Vision to rest. Years later, just after college, I started up a design studio and called it Parallel. I do what I do because becoming a professional skateboarder wasn't feasible. Honestly though, I am a designer because I still get the same kick out of it as I did when I was starting out and I plan on doing what I do until the projects stop coming. I feel my profession offers so many ways to immerse myself into anything and everything that it would be foolish to not remain in it. We design so intimately for a product, service, or brand that we truly get a glimpse into countless other professions; that is why I do what I do. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? Currently my favorite piece in my portfolio is titled, "If waves come, learn to surf." It's a personal piece that I feel defines me quite well. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? In 10 years, I want to be someone that makes things happen through creativity and good business decisions. I want to be in a position where I have the tools and resources necessary to see any idea through to completion. Who/What are your biggest influences? I am most influenced by processes by which a product is created. I like knowing that behind every product, there were unique steps to making it complete. For example: designing a typeface, preparing a letterpress, or piecing together a watch. I am also influenced by user interactions. I enjoy seeing how people use a product or service. It's interesting to see how one might use something differently than another. I think this is why a major focus of mine has always been designing for the web and mobile. I am influenced by people too. Alan Fletcher for his brilliant mind, Charles & Ray Eames for their incredibly well-considered furniture, Apple for their consistent innovation and attention to detail, and the many typographers, designers, business men and women who see value in good design. What do you wish you did better? I might primarily be a graphic/web designer, but I often dream about product design, furniture design, architecture, and industrial design. The only problem is my 3D modeling experience is limited. Seeing through my ideas is something I hope to get to one day. Why Connecticut? Connecticut has offered me everything I've needed so far. Nowadays I can comfortably work in this very scenic state for someone who resides on the other side of the world. I grew up in Connecticut, so living and working here made sense. It's a great state to live in and it's home to my friends and family. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? My core team throughout the past few years: Brian, Matt, Max, and Shawn. Their dedication and passion for what they do has been invaluable throughout the hundreds of projects we've worked on together. If you guys are reading this, thank you for the good times. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Skateboarding has become a necessary ingredient to my life. When I was younger, it was merely something new to be a part of, getting together with friends and casually skating, but over the years it has transformed into something I look forward to everyday. It keeps me in shape, it clears my mind, and the reward from landing a trick worked on for days, if not years, is a feeling unlike any I can describe. Additionally, like most, I have a weakness for puppies and kittens. What do you know now that you didn't know then? Too many to list. Another reason to love what I do.
What do you do and where do you do it? I am the Senior Art Director at The Worlds Smallest Ad Agency. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I've been drawing and painting obsessively since I was about 3. Around the age of 14, I got into graffiti, and the obsession grew exponentially, to the point of being unhealthy. Draw-paint-sleep, draw-paint-sleep, draw-paint-sleep. My grades and my relationships definitely suffered, but I regret nothing. When it came time for college, I started out as a sociology major because I was wicked into Marxist theory, but eventually couldn't hack it in the math department. I switched to art (after a sympathetic sociology teacher turned me onto the Constructivist movement). I've always detested 'fine art', so I knew I didn't want to be a painter-painter. I couldn't imagine doing oil paintings for rich people to hang in hotel lobbies... gross. By this point, graffiti had taught me a neurotic love of letterforms, and anonymity, so graphic design was obviously appealing. All the aspects of graffiti, none of the trouble. Done deal. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? I can't imagine being able to pick one. There are some pieces I'm quite proud of, and there are some turds. My portfolio as a whole is what I'm most proud of I suppose. It showcases a large chunk of my life. The good, the bad, the embarrassing. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? With my family, or on a bike, or ideally with my family, while riding bikes. Who/What are your biggest influences? Vandalism, handmade type, things that are broken. Music, music, music. The work my friends produce. My friends are absolutely fucking amazing, I am constantly humbled by their brilliance and honored to be able to associate with them. I've won the lottery in that department. I feel like I snuck onto the first class section on a plane where everyone is the world's best — painter, writer, designer, thinker, musician, etc — yet somehow they let me tag along, and I'm just thrilled to be there. What do you wish you did better? Organize, not get frustrated, push back effectively. Why Connecticut? The economy, stupid. No, but really. I'm a west coast kid. California, Oregon, Washington. Unfortunately, the economy tanked there long ago, so I came out here for job in Manhattan, ended up in Connecticut. New Haven is amazing. Hartford is great, Bridgeport is great. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Too many to mention. Andy Yasgar, John Lepak, Vaughn Fender, Joe Porto, Troy Monroe, Wojetek Pirog, Caitlin Shiller. I know I'm forgetting some, but these kids definitely come to mind. What are your loves/passions outside of this field? Skateboarding, bikes, vintage italian scooters, graffiti, music. The same dumb shit I've been doing daily since I was 14, but now I'm 31 and just can't seem to grow out of them. The only thing in my life that's changed in the last 16 years is the birth of my son Gabriel. He's amazing, and he is my everything. What do you know now that you didn't know then? That the only person/place/thing you should be loyal to, is your family. Everything else is a distant, distant second.
What do you do and where do you do it? I'm a designer working at Humongo located in Danbury. What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it? I knew when I fell in love with drawing around age 7 that I wanted to have a job where I could be creative in any way or form. It was the one area that came naturally to me growing up. I stay in this field because I find it incredibly rewarding to make a living by being creative. No matter how tough of a day I might have, I always remind myself that I'm part of a small percentage of people who love their job. What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio? Hmmm, that's a tough question. I think if I had to only show one piece of work to someone, it would be the website design for Plaid Nation 2009. Plaid Nation (now Humongo Nation) is our annual summer tour celebrating innovation and creativity. It's kinda like a rock band on tour but instead of rock stars, there are creative agency folk. We took a lot of time strategizing this site and loaded it up with the latest and greatest social media tools that we felt were important for users to watch and interact with us as the tour made it's way through the South. Additionally the site look and feel is fun which made it a pleasure to work on. What/Where do you want to be in 10 years? I hope to be doing what I'm doing now, going to work every day and getting to be über creative. Oh, and I hope to have a dog, too. Who/What are your biggest influences? My influences seem to range from which ever medium I'm working in. I have always admired Alexander Isley's well thought out approach to print and identity work. When it comes to interactive work, I find Chris Spooner and Megan Fisher inspiring because of the amount of detail they bring into their projects. What do you wish you did better? I wish I was better at receiving feedback. I'm guilty of shutting down a bit if a critique gets away from me, but it's all part of the process. I usually get right back at it after a proper sulk. Why Connecticut? I was born and raised in the Hartford area and after spending my first few years of college in New York, I realized I prefer to visit the city, not live in it. I also have been a big fan of the different agencies located in the state so I always knew the opportunity to do some great work was always here in Connecticut. Who are the best creatives you've worked with? Hands down, the team at Humongo. All of our designers have such different approaches and styles that it's helped me grow as a designer. Every day, whether we're brainstorming, strategizing or designing, we're constantly trying new things, which is awesome! What are your loves/passions outside of this field? I'm an avid musician so love any opportunity I get to make/record my own music. I've recently started enjoying writing. I've had the opportunity do some guest writing on some design blogs including Six Revisions and Brandflakes for Breakfast, which is kind of funny because the last thing I ever wanted in school was to take on additional writing projects, but doing so is quickly becoming a near and dear hobby. What do you know now that you didn't know then? I've rapidly learned how incredibly social this profession is, especially within the state of Connecticut. Just using social media tools, I've been able to talk with other Connecticut creatives. There are a lot of friendships to be made, and a lot of the times it's who you know. So reach out to people!
58th Annual Ad Club of CT Award Show Call For Entries Deadline March 9
The Ad Club of Connecticut’s 58th Annual Award Show is rapidly approaching. Deadline for entries is Friday, March 9, 2012. Complete rules, forms, drop off locations and payment information is on their site. Judging will take place the end of March and all winners will be notified soon after. The Show will be held on Wed, May 23 at the Curtis Cultural Center, 175 Main Street, Meriden, CT.
Madison|Mott Celebrate 13 Years in Business
Madison|Mott of South Norwalk celebrate thirteen years in business, with a new website and a blog post by co-owner Luke Scott. “Through it all, we’ve endured, and evolved. We even changed our name, to better represent the way in which our firm, and distinctly different partner personalities, provide clients with a better balance of all this new technology, coupled with the classic advertising techniques required to build and sustain a successful brand.”
Connecticut Creatives Make the Connecticut Magazine 40 Under 40 List
Peter Sena, founder of Digital Surgeons in New Haven, David Klineberg, VP of Client Services at Response LLC in New Haven, and Ali Parmelee, co-owner of Think Creative Group in New Haven, all have made Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40 List. “If you’re worried about Connecticut’s future, you’ll probably feel better after visiting with the people on these pages — nominated for inclusion by their co-workers, neighbors, business associates and even family members. We hope you gain as much encouragement from meeting them as we did.”
"Ted Bertz: Posterized Impressions from the Durham Fair" — Felt & Wire
Be sure to read this wonderful article on Felt & Wire: “After recently finishing a personal project, a book commemorating posters completed from 1987 to 2008 for an agricultural fair held each year in Durham, Conn. — Fair Play: Twenty-three years of Durham Fair Posters — Ted Bertz, founder of Bertz Design Group, reflects on the evolution of the graphic design industry over the same period.”
Taylor Design Included in 2012 HOW International Design Awards Annual
Sarah Lawrence College magazine, designed by Taylor Design in Stamford, was selected for inclusion in the 2012 HOW International Design Awards Annual. The issue was designed by Hannah Fichandler and edited by Suzanne Gray, and features work from photographers Andrew Lichtenstein and Don Hamerman.
Ken DeLago of Wilton Featured in Communication Arts Typography Annual
Ken DeLago of Wilton, Design Director at Golf Digest / Condé Nast, has made it into the Communication Arts Typography Annual for his identity for Hertz Construction Company. Said Ken of the mark: “A two-man construction team makes up Hertz and the two Cs in the logo do double duty as the CC in Construction Company as well as representing the two men involved. The negative space creates the ‘H’ in Hertz. The stencil effect on the hand-drawn letters create a building block motif.”
Taylor Design Annual Places in Graphis' 100 Best Annual Reports 2011
Keep America Beautiful Annual Review “My World Tomorrow” — produced by Stamford’s Taylor Design — was selected as a gold award winner in Graphis’ 100 Best Annual Reports 2011. The volume contains the best Annual Reports and Interactive Annual Reports of the past year. Only thirty companies were awarded a Gold Award, all of which are accompanied by a case study Q&A with the award-winning design team.
Taylor Design Launches New Blog
Taylor Design in Stamford has launched a new blog, 24/7 Main. “Some might call it an obsession. When one of us comes across a beautiful piece of design, learns a hot tip, or creates something new, we like to share it with our friends. Which is why we publish our blog 24/7 Main.” The blog categorizes its content under three “channels” —Share, Tell and Create. And true to Taylor Design form, the blog is beautifully designed, with great use of Typekit webfonts.
The Shelter Me Project's 2012 Calendar Just Released
The Shelter Me Project is a photographic fundraiser for animal shelters and rescue organizations, created by Karen Stevenson of Thumbnail Designs in Lyme. Their 2012 Calendar is here, featuring all new photos in the same award-winning design. “My heart has always gone out to animals in need of their forever homes,” says Stevenson, “and so I have decided to reach out to them through my camera lens. The images in this collection are very personal portraits with which I wish to raise both funds and awareness: the proceeds from all sales are donated to the shelters. And through this project I hope to share the beauty, playfulness and dignity of all of these wonderful animals.”
Two Connecticut Printers Honored in GD USA's American Printing Awards
GD USA introduced the American Printing Awards this year, and two Connecticut printers made the cut. Finlay of Bloomfield won three awards, while Allied Printing in Manchester picked up five. “The focus is on the kind of projects that matter most to designers, on how great printing enhances design and on making sure that print buyers see the winning work of these top performers via GD USA.”
Two Connecticut Agencies Honored in GD USA's Web Design Awards 2011
Two Connecticut firms were winners in the GD USA American Web Design Awards — BroadcastMed, Inc. for broadcastmed.com and Padraic for 15ftl.com.
Two Employers of Creatives Make the List on Hartford Courant FOX CT Top Workplaces 2011
Hartford Courant / FOX CT announced their winners for the Top Workplaces for 2011. Making the list: Adams & Knight in Avon and Valassis in Windsor. “Pay and benefits are just small pieces of the puzzle, less important in this competition than teamwork, ideas, leadership and open communication. But it all comes down to two big factors: Respect and execution.”
Bertz Design Group Releases Durham Fair Posters Book
Hot off the presses — the Durham Fair Posters Book, a collection of the 23 years of commemorative posters created by Ted and Bertz Design Group with authored captions by Ted himself. Ted will be at the Durham Fair signing books while supplies last. You can also purchase online. A portion of the proceeds are being donated to Farm Aid.
Jargon Boy Project Highlighted in Communication Arts
Jargon Boy of Fairfield was featured in the Exhibit section of this year’s Communication Arts Design Annual for his poster for Bridgeport Arts + Cultural Council — specifically his poster on “local hero” Igor Sikorsky. “With a funky color palette, layered visual language and a modernist sensibility, the campaign was inspired by poster master Victor Moscoso and artist Robert Rauschenberg,” said art director Gregg Chinn.
CT Represents at AIGA BoNE Show 2011
Connecticut was well represented at the AIGA’s biennial Best of New England (BoNE) Show, held June 9 in Boston — Ethan Bodnar won for his work for Cultivate; Keiler & Company for their work for Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford; and CO:LAB for their work for Bated Breath and Design Is Love. A traveling exhibit of all the winners comes to Connecticut this fall, courtesy of AIGA CT.
PUSH Design Camp Will Return in 2012
PUSH Design Camp will return for a second installment in July 2012. Check out the Flickr album of this year’s, or secure your spot for next year — early bird sign-up runs through December 31.
JB Design Appears in CA Design Annual
JB Design of Norwalk won a coveted spot in the Communication Arts Design Annual 52, for a logo for client 55 Wine Bar and Restaurant in Fairfield.
CO:LAB To Appear in LogoLounge Vol. 7
Two logos designed by CO:LAB in Hartford have been selected to be included in LogoLounge Volume 7, to hit bookstores in July. The logos were for clients bated breath: a theatre company and AIGA Connecticut.
Julia Balfour Wins Ten GD USA Awards
Julia Balfour, LLC in Lyme announced that it will take home ten GD USA American Graphic Design Awards this year, for clients such as Ashlawn Farm Coffee, Smashing Darling, Pet Dreams and the-e-list.
2011 Winner of the AIGA CT Scholarship Announced
David Zarovny was announced the winner of the AIGA Connecticut Student Scholarship for 2011 at a ceremony honoring Mike Scricco — AIGA Connecticut 2010 Fellow — on May 12.
Ad Club's 57th Annual Awards Show Winners Announced
The Advertising Club of Connecticut announced the winners of their 57th Annual Awards Show. The Gold Pen went to Keiler & Company for their Stanley ad campaign; the Gold Brush went to Outthink for their Ivoryton Playhouse branding and advertising campaign, and Best of Show went to TracyLocke for their Mountain Dew spot. Other winners included Adams & Knight, Digital Surgeons, Elements, Fathom, Cashman & Katz, silver creative group, Colangelo and Smart Graphics.
Winners Announced for Ad Club Out of Home Competition
Congratulations to Avid Marketing Group for their first and third place wins, and Gariphic Design for their second place win, at the Ad Club of Connecticut Out of Home Competition, announced February 24 at the event.
How 2 Design 2011 Promotion
Felt & Wire has a well-illustrated profile of an exciting How 2 Design 2011 promotion. Those on their mailing list have received the first installment of a bi-monthly series of faux 45 rpm records (really a geniusly disguised piece of ultra-thick Mohawk Superfine) that double as a calendar. H2D selected charities for each record/calendar to parallel the story told by their song choice.
Chris Piascik In First CA Typography Annual
Artist and designer Chris Piascik was chosen to appear in the first ever Communication Arts Typography Annual, with his hand-drawn, letterpressed series of business cards. The entry gets the star treatment with a full page dedicated to his piece.
Print Regional Design Annual 2010
Print’s Regional Design Annual 2010 is now online. Connecticut is less prominent than previous years, with only MX Mitchell Designs representin’ (though multiple times). CC wonders if the competition is more stiff, with the former “New England” being folded into the larger category of the “East”?