MANAGING DIRECTOR, SPRING DESIGN PARTNERS, NEW YORK NY
Meghan has, throughout her career, focused on fostering connections between brands and their consumers through an astute understanding of the cultural context that influences relationships. With a background in art history combined with 17 years in brand strategy, Meghan is uniquely situated to see the role that culture can play in influencing perception and defining communication. Her past brand experience includes Coca-Cola, Molson Coors, Boston Beer Company, Voss, Bacardi, and Absolut. Her perspective on culture, consumer behavior, branding and design has been featured in AdWeek, Brand Packaging, and The Dieline, as well as NPR Marketplace. Spring Design Partners, where she is Managing Director, is a branding and design consultancy with over 20 years of experience helping build and grow consumer brands.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Born in Shippensburg PA, now live just outside NYC in Glen Ridge NJ
DID YOU GO TO DESIGN SCHOOL?
I studied art history at Colby College and spent a year studying art and art history at Temple University in Rome
LEFTY OR RIGHTY?
Righty
MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Night owl disguised as a morning person
FICTIONAL OR HISTORICAL CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH?
Jo March of Little Women
ARE YOU MUSICAL AND/OR DO YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
Not at all! Though I desperately tried to play the saxophone in 7th grade
FAVORITE BOOK?
I adore Jane Eyre and The Good Earth
FAVORITE MOVIE?
A Fish Called Wanda
FAVORITE TV BINGE WATCH?
Stranger Things
FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM?
Instagram
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Pablo Picasso
FAVORITE CHARITY?
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
Cooking
COLLECT ANYTHING?
Tea Cups
COLOR USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
None. Color is so important in setting the tone of a design, it needs to be in service of the strategy
DOES PRINT HAVE A ROLE IN YOUR DESIGNS?
Yes, the execution of a design is as important as the design itself and the medium of expression contributes to how the story is understood
DESIGN MENTOR/INSPIRATION/HERO?
I had the pleasure of working with semiotician Charles Leech on several projects and he opened my eyes to how deep cultural detail can go in shaping communication and perception through design.
GREATEST STRENGTH/WEAKNESS AS A DESIGNER?
As a design strategist, my biggest strength and biggest weakness is that I am not a designer. Not being a designer allows me to be 100% open to all the visual possibilities. I am not burdened by a single image in getting the point across which is a strength. On the other hand, not physically designing the end product is a weakness as I don’t have an intimate connection to the craft.
ADVICE TO A YOUNG DESIGNER JUST STARTING OUT?
Listen and observe those around you because there is so much to learn. But at the same time, never lose sight of your own point of view.
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
A food stylist
A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
Follow the path that is laid before you, and always be open to the possibilities of what is to come. Listen and observe those around you because there is so much to learn. But at the same time, never lose sight of your own point of view.
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