SENIOR CREATIVE STRATEGIST, KAISER PERMANENTE, BURBANK CA
Amber Podratz is the Senior Creative Strategist at Kaiser Permanente. Working inhouse for the member marketing communications team, Amber consults with and acts as a sounding board for external agencies during the creative process in order to ensure that the overall strategic, creative, and branding goals are met. This is especially crucial in this time of healthcare – moving from a business-to-business model to a consumer model. Since graduating with honors from Art Center College of Design, Amber has been working for the last ten years as a designer and has had the honor of working with top firms including Robert Louey Design, Douglas Joseph Partners, and SamataMason. During this time, she has designed collateral for clients such as Park Hyatt, Four Seasons, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, and various healthcare organizations. She has received recognition from GDUSA, Hermes Awards, and has been published in Logo Lounge.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG DESIGNER JUST STARTING OUT?
Choose your battles, take on work you are passionate about, and most of all work with good people.
HOW DOES WHERE YOU WERE BORN, GREW UP OR LIVE NOW EFFECT YOUR DESIGN SENSIBILITY OR STYLE?
I grew up in the mountains of Santa Cruz in Northern California, in a 90-acre redwood forest. I see this in my design through my use of nature-based metaphors.
FAVORITE COLOR?
Gray, Yellow
FAVORITE TYPEFACE?
Imago, Knockout
FAVORITE APP?
Instagram, Headspace
FAVORITE WEBSITES?
NotCot.org, TheCoolHunter.net, Gilt.com, Jetsetter.com
FAVORITE TV SHOW?
Mad Men, Lost
FAVORITE BOOKS?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series, The Paris Wife, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and The Power of the Dog
FAVORITE MOVIES?
Amélie, Kill Bill series or anything Quentin Tarantino, 500 Days of Summer, Drive
FAVORITE MUSICIANS OR BANDS?
Paul Simon, Lady Gaga, Ellie Goulding, Jay-Z, Bob Dylan
FAVORITE FINE ARTISTS?
Byoungho Kim
GREATEST STRENGTH AS A DESIGNER?
My tasteful and discerning eye
WEAKNESS?
Website design
TALENT YOU WISHED YOU POSSESSED?
The control and grace of a ballet dancer
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
Psychologist or Fashion Designer
A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
The Shaker Rule of Thumb for Creating which states: “If it is not useful or necessary, free yourself from imagining that you need to make it. If it is useful and necessary, free yourself from imagining that you need to enhance it by adding what is not an integral part of its usefulness or necessity. And finally: If it is both useful and necessary and you can recognize and eliminate what is not essential, then go ahead and make it as beautifully as you can.”
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