Apprenticeship Recap: Sarah Tanaka

Apprenticeship Recap

Recap via Sarah Tanaka:

What a way to spend a summer. Working at BBG has been a whirlwind of activity, travel, and being thrown into the fire… and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jason, Christian, Dan, and Lyndsey for making this apprenticeship the most valuable experience I have ever had as a designer.

This summer I had the opportunity to work in a hybrid setting, spending four weeks in Chicago (in the magical presence of the last Mariah Carey Butterfly Water in existence). The rest of the time I worked remotely from Georgia. I have been able to witness first hand the significance of in-person collaboration alongside the importance of intentionality and clear communication while working remotely. I have learned that showing up for clients and being attentive to their needs beyond what they ask for is what sets BBG apart.

One thing about BBG is that learning on the job is the name of the game. As a young designer, the opportunity to get my hands dirty and dive into the nitty-gritty of design work is of utmost importance to me. In client meetings I learned to have confidence in my ideas and knowledge. I was inspired by the BBG team’s ability to approach a common goal from different angles and use that to their benefit. No voice is lost in the weeds, creating a design environment where no idea is too wild. In fact, wild ideas are encouraged.

Sarah Tanaka @ Portillo’s (Top Secret Mission)

Coming into this apprenticeship, I had very little experience in the digital design world. Over the past few months I feel as if I have evolved tremendously while working on client projects and diving head first into all things digital. I am now able to take what I’ve learned and apply it to my own work. I now feel like I have a sharper eye for digital design and know what to look for and adjust in my own professional portfolio.

Above all, I have learned the merit of a great team. I’m grateful that I was able to work alongside mentors that genuinely wanted me to learn. I was challenged to push the boundaries of my design knowledge and have learned something every single day. One of the first times I spoke with Jason he told me that in order to make this apprenticeship successful, he would need 110% from me. To me that meant trying my best to put full effort into every task, say yes to every opportunity (even if it seems scary), and show up every day with an eagerness to learn. Looking back at the past few months I can say that I am proud of the work we have accomplished and thankful for all the incredible adventures we have had during this apprenticeship.

Thank you BBG!

Sarah Tanaka is amazing. She showed up every day not only ready to go, but to learn and help with everything from important large asks to small production with a quick turnaround.

The biggest compliment I can share about Sarah is that she was helpful every single day, which is the most important trait I look for in an apprentice. It’s time to learn, but being able to plug in and push things forward is critical.

Jason Schwartz, Creative Director, Partner