Learn to listen, and I mean really listen, to your co-workers. No one person has all the answers, only together as a collective can we unite and produce powerful work.
The vibrant culture here at JUST is fueled by the amazing people who we work with. In our Team Spotlight series, we feature a different member of the team, highlighting the individual’s contributions to our culture.
What is your role at JUST?
I have the pleasure of being one of JUST’s Art Directors
How would you explain your job to your grandparents?
As creatives we are visual problem solvers. We rely on using visual cues, colors, shapes, and imagery to explain to the viewer our message.
What do you enjoy the most about working on the creative side of marketing?
Creative is one of the most subjective discipline in our industry, making it one of the hardest and yet most rewarding things. It comes with long hours, endless revisions, and countless opinions. But once your packed up for the day and on your way home and look up to see that billboard you spent weeks working on… well there is just no other feeling like it.
What are the latest trends or innovations are happening in your field?
Creative is moving past just simply pairing a compelling visual with a catchy headline. It’s about learning to create a reason for that visual to exist in the first place. You learn to visualize a brand’s mission and help them convey a sense of emotion and meaning behind their campaign. Making the audience feel or do something.
How do you stay up to date with the latest news in marketing and design? Any favorite publications/blogs you follow?
As creatives we are constantly pumping out ideas, designs, and concepts on a daily basis, and it’s very easy to get burnt out. It’s crucial to constantly make sure you are recharging your creative batteries in multiple ways on a daily basis. I am constantly scrolling through sites like Dribbble, Behance, and Abduzeedo. I follow dozens of artists in all fields, painters, writers, illustrators, animators, photographers. Subscribing to countless publications like Adweek and FastCompany.
How are you spending your quarantine time?
I finally get time to take a deep dive in online education. With so many companies offering educational material it’s easy to brush up on new techniques and skills.
What does it take to be successful at JUST?
Collaboration, collaboration, collaboration. This means learning to listen, and I mean really listen, to your co-workers. No one person has all the answers, only together as a collective can we unite and produce powerful work. Learn to repeat back what you hear people saying. Listen to what they are saying while they are saying it, instead of just planning your next response. And just be positive, no one likes working with Oscar the grouch.
What inspires you at JUST?
I get inspired everyday not just by my amazing co-workers and teammates, but our fantastic clients. There is nothing more motivating than when you just finished presenting a concept to a client to hear them be utterly speechless and just say Yes! Let’s do it! Their belief and motivation in our skills pushes us to want to constantly go above and beyond.
Is there an achievement you’ve earned while working at JUST that you’re most proud of?
One of my favorite clients to work on is OFX. They are a client that believes and values our opinions and ideas. They constantly challenge us to think outside the box and create something amazing. It’s rare to have a client that gives you such creative freedom and validation like that.
What is the most valuable piece of advice that you have for someone pursuing a career in marketing?
Collect, save, pin, retweet, share, like, and screenshot anything that inspires you. It can be anything from a website banner, to the label on a bottle of wine, or hilarious meme. Ideas and inspiration can come from anywhere and anything. And the next time you are in a creative lulu, scroll through your art collection. You will be surprised how fast that creative spark comes back and you will be thanking yourself for saving it.
And don’t let your own skill level kill a great idea… we can’t be skilled at everything… it’s okay to ask for help and partner with other artists.
