Design executive Kate Aronowitz of Google Ventures will mentor students from the SCAD De Sole School of Business Innovation, School of Design, and School of Foundation Studies.
Category: People
Smigielski Heads ‘Brand Design At VML’
VML has launched Brand Design at VML, a studio specializing in powering brand growth through design. The move aggregates the agency’s capabilities in design positioning, visual and verbal identity systems, and brand governance. Leading the North America group will be Robb Smigielski, Chief Design Officer for North America.
Denomination Expands To New York City
Global drinks branding specialists, Denomination is marking a new stage in its growth, adding a New York City office to its existing Sydney, London and San Francisco locations, and making two significant additions to its leadership team.
StrawberryFrog Jumps To Sonderup
StrawberryFrog has promoted Nick Sonderup to Co-Chief Creative Officer alongside Tyler DeAngelo in order to inject diverse perspectives into their creative DNA.
Proverb Founder Is AIGA Fellow
Awarded at the local chapter level, the AIGA Fellows program recognizes designers who have made a significant contribution to raising the standards of excellence in practice and conduct within their local or regional design community as well as in their local AIGA chapter.
Robin McLoughlin Pens Leadership Book
Accomplished brand and creative strategist Robin McLoughlin has published “Creatives in Leadership.” The new book, available now on Amazon, offers insightful guidance into unlocking problem-solving strategies by hearing from a collective of creative leaders and their experiences.
New Hire In NYT Digital News Design
The team welcomes Laura Salaberry as a graphics multimedia editor focused on short-form vertical video.
Justin Ahrens Heads O’N Creative
O’Neil Printing has announced the launch of O’N Creative, a pioneering brand agency led by creative community leader and legend-in-the-making Justin Ahrens. The venture, whose tagline is ‘Made for Impact,’ intends to enhance brand marketing via ‘creativity, agility, and strategic use of AI.’
Clever Creative Hires Aguayo and Palmer
The creative agency has hired Dania Aguayo as head of Strategy and Emily Palmer as group account director. Clever has been women-owned and led from day one.
Berry Appointed Director at UIC Design
The School of Design (UIC Design) at the University of Illinois Chicago announced today the appointment of Anne H. Berry as its new Director. Berry has helped shape and propel important conversations through her research, which focuses on representation and diversity in design.
Brittney McDonald Is Managing Director At High Tide
McDonald has spent more than a decade driving growth at businesses ranging from large creative agencies like Havas, Phenomenon, and mcgarrybowen to founder-led startups. She’ll now help evolve the agency’s approach and offering.
Lippincott Taps D’Esopo As President
Lippincott, the global creative consultancy, announceds that Michael D’Esopo will become President of the company and has been designated as its future CEO. Rick Wise, current CEO, will transition into a new role as Chairman.
Chip Kidd is Veep at Knopf
Chip Kidd is promoted to VP and Art Director at Knopf and graphic editor at Pantheon. An industry legend, he has designed covers for the likes of Michael Crichton, Jill Lapore, Cormac McCarthy, JD McClatchy, Gabriel García Marquez, Haruki Murakami, David Remnick, Donna Tartt, John Updike, and Elie Wiesel.
Gary Bernstein To Commercial Senior VP Of Fedrigoni Special Papers
Gary Bernstein’s has been appointed as the new Commercial Senior Vice President of Fedrigoni Special Paper North America. Melissa Stevens, who served at Mohawk, is named Chief Marketing Officer.
Simon Thompson Upped To Equator Global Director Of Photography
Global packaging design agency, Equator Design, has promoted Simon Thompson to the role of Global Director of Photography. He will lead the photography department’s efforts worldwide.
BAM Names Farfan Chief Brand Officer
BAM has named creative agency veteran Luis Felipe Farfán as Chief Brand Officer. He will bring a holistic, entrepreneurial approach to the job, and is the first Mexican American to serve on BAM’s senior leadership team.
Margaret Calvert To Receive TDC Medal
The Type Directors Club’s highest honor recognize individuals and institutions who have made outstanding contributions to typography.
Jason Brown To Pearlfisher Global CEO
Pearlfisher has named Jason Brown as its first-ever global CEO, a new role in the independent agency’s 32-year history. Brown will be based in New York, where he will lead global business growth across both Pearlfisher studios in London and New York.
Jan Gottesman Honored By PIA
The Printing Industries Association, Inc. (PIA) has announced the selection of Jan Gottesman, President of Kelly Spicers, as the PIA 2024 Executive of the Year. Kelly Spicers is a major West Coast distributor of paper, packaging, digital media and graphic supplies.
Margaret Russo Joins Chase
Creative agency Chase Design Group (CDG) has appointed Margaret Russo to Group Creative Director, New Media. With over 16 years of experience at traditional/digital agencies, most recently as Group Creative Director at Grey Advertising.
Sonderup To ECD at StrawberryFrog
StrawberryFrog adds Nick Sonderup as Executive Creative Director. He is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated creative leader, ECD and writer. Sonderup was previously at Pereira O’Dell, where he led the NY Office and creative department.
Barrett Hofherr Promotes Bluey To Associate Partner
Ted Bluey is upped to Associate Partner at Barrett Hofherr. He has helped redesign the MIXT brand, led full rebrands for GrassRoots Farmer’s Co-op and the California Coastal Commission and most recently worked with DoorDash.
Isbara To Succeed Tenny At SAIC
Jiseon Lee Isbara currently serves as provost of Otis College of Art and Design. She will follow Elissa Tenny as president in the 158-year history of School of Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).
Hartman to CCO at Venerable Werremeyer Creative
Health and wellness marketing agency Werremeyer Creative promotes Steve Hartman to CCO. Hartman now spearheads the agency’s creative initiatives and leads its innovative approach to healthcare marketing.
Former DDB CCO Ari Weiss Launches Indie Agency
Ari Weiss, former Global Chief Creative Officer at Omnicom Group agency DDB has launched an independent advertising agency called Quality Experience (QX).
Julie Rains Joins Greteman Group
Greteman Group has appointed Julie Rains to project manager at the aviation-focused marketing agency. Rains assists in overseeing the workflow and resources associated with agency tasks.
Rosete Upped At Tiger Lily
Creative and production studio TigerLily has promoted award-winning creative Varick Rosete to Chief Design Officer + Principal. Rosete previously spent more than a decade as Art Director at the studio.
Daniel Binns Is Elmwood Global CEO
Elmwood, a global design consultancy owned by MSQ, appoints Daniel Binns as new Global CEO. Binns joins Elmwood from Interbrand, where he’d spent more than a decade as part of the global leadership team.
Educator To Watch: Genaro Solis Rivero
Genaro Solis Rivero is an award-winning graphic designer and educator specializing in branding. He joined the Baylor University Art faculty in 2023, following five years of teaching Communication Design at Texas State.
Amy Su To Creative Director At Cutwater
Creative and media agency Cutwater has bolstered its leadership team by welcoming Amy Su as Creative Director and Justin Juul as Director of Social. Su and Juul are working throughout Cutwater’s full client portfolio.
Inspiration In A Time of Unease
This October 2023 edition features our annual ‘Responsible Designers To Watch’ special report aka ‘Designing For Good’. Domtar is the exclusive and founding sponsor.
Designit Bolsters Americas Team
Designit, a Wipro-owned global experience innovation agency, names several hires as part of its growth strategy in the Americas. Most of the hires will focus on creative, design and brand-building for clients.
Minneapolis Legend Peter Seitz (1931-2023)
Peter Seitz, a pioneering graphic designer closely associated with Minneapolis MN’s creative community, has died. He is often credited with being the spark that began the Twin Cities’ ascent into a design mecca.
Greteman Group Announces Art Director Promotion
Greteman Group announces the elevation of Tasha Wentling to art director at the aviation-focused marketing agency. Wentling joined the firm full-time four years ago, and previously served as a graphic designer.
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships Announced
AIGA has named the winners of the 2023/2024 AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships. Awarded annually, the scholarships encourage social and environmental responsibility and cultural awareness in the next generation of artists and designers.
Gravity Global Names Pearce As US Head of Creative
Bobby Pearce has joined Gravity Global in the newly created role as U.S. Head of Creative. Pearce has led creative for such agencies as BBDO, David&Goliath, The Wonderful Company, Fallon Worldwide, and GS&P.
Designit Names Christine Pizzo Head of Design and Creative in Americas
Christine Pizzo reports to Laura Breines, Designit’s head of Americas, with a remit to strengthen the full-service, end to end design and creative offerings.
Hilary Lentini Inducted Into Marquis ‘Who’s Who’
Hilary Lentini has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who. Lentini is an experienced business owner and award-winning graphic designer who has been in the industry for over three decades.
Satoru Wakeshima Named Partner At CBX
As CBX marks its 20th anniversary, Satoru Wakeshima, a 17 year veteran of the agency, will balance the growing needs of current clients as well as looking ahead to the next 20 years.
VSA’s Arnett Joins Two (More) Boards
VSA Partners’ Chairman and Founder, Dana Arnett, has been appointed to two prominent boards, reinforcing his personal and VSA’s firmwide commitment to the Chicago community.