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May 16, 2018

Apprenticeship Recap: Kara Shim

Tiffany Stoik and Kara Shim

What is the most important thing you learned during your apprenticeship?

The most important skill I learned at BBG was definitely client interactions.

Knowing how to present and explain design work to clients was a huge learning curve and was something that I really appreciated about my apprenticeship. I had to jump straight into into meetings and presentations, and that hands-on approach was super helpful for me – I have so much more confidence now when it comes to interacting with clients.

“You won’t be spoon-fed. You will be thrust right into projects and will learn by doing.”

What is the best part of working at BBG?

Honestly, the people that work here are amazing. The team is so much fun and everyone works together really well. Aside from the work itself, who you work with is so, so important and learning from and alongside these talented humans has been wonderful.

What should someone know before applying for a BBG apprenticeship?

You won’t be spoon-fed. You will be thrust right into projects and will learn by doing, so be ready for that.

Posted By
Jason Schwartz
May 16, 2018

Apprenticeship Recap: Ken Barrios

What is the most important thing you learned during your apprenticeship.

On the technical side: I feel like the most important things I learned were both how to work on WordPress sites, particularly with the aid of Vue.js, Carbon Fields, and an “atomic” approach to CSS.

On the cultural side: the crew opened my eyes to Beyonce, Frank Ocean, and SZA. What an empty life I lived before this.

“Anticipating what gaps need to be filled in a design, and being conscious of what engineering steps I’ve overlooked, have been some of my biggest lessons. These are things that I continue to work on. But also: salads.”

What is the best part of working at BBG?

This is firm that is predominantly femme and it comes across in the energy of the office.

Everyone is warm, supportive, energetic, and hardworking. The office lacks the egos and posturing of predominantly-dude offices where everyone is in competition with each other instead of being in sync.

What should someone know before applying for a BBG apprenticeship?

This place is full of people that enthusiastically support each other, work hard, and thrive on positive energy. If you’d like to be part of that, then this is the place for you. But beware: there are no easily accessible coffee shops…

Posted By
Jason Schwartz
Sep 08, 2017

Bright Bright Great Welcomes Timberlene Gilliam as Design Apprentice

Bright Bright Great would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Design Apprentice Timberlene Gilliam. Timberlene will be assisting BBG with Design and branding as well as with BBG’s Avondale Type Co. type and Mlmtr photography teams.

Timberlene Gilliam

What is your official title at BBG?

Timberlene Gilliam, Design Apprentice

What got you interested in (your role)?

I took design as an elective in high school and was hooked immediately. I haven’t looked back since.

What interested you in working at BBG?

The remarkable amount of thought and expertise that’s clear in each of BBG’s projects is what really attracted me. As a young designer, I want to be learning from and growing alongside the best. I know that’s what I’m getting here at BBG.

What skills are you excited to polish, or learn in the next few years?

I’m most excited to learn about web design and the processes that go into creating effective websites. Up until now, I’ve only had experience with print design, so I’m ready to dive headfirst into digital design.

What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

I spend most of my downtime learning Japanese and buying new stationery. I also like to make short animations for fun.

Who is currently inspiring you the most creatively in design?

Risotto Studio, Fabian Fohrer, Studio Feixen, and Alex Proba.

Who is currently inspiring you the most creatively in a field outside of graphic design?

The Madbury Club, Hannah Waldron, Cold Picnic, and Elevator Teeth.

What is your favorite fast food menu item?

French fries. Preferably in waffle or crinkly form, with a side of ranch.

What’s something people are surprised to learn about you?

No movie or tv show has ever made me cry. Even the most famous tear jerkers get nothing out of me.

Were you Prom Queen?

Thankfully, no. However, a handsome stranger professed his love for me and “proposed” at my post-prom dinner. That’s almost as good, I think.

–

Be sure to follow Timberlene:
Timberlene Gilliam Instagram
Timberlene Gilliam LinkedIn
Timberlene Gilliam Twitter

Posted By
Jason Schwartz
Jul 12, 2017

Bright Bright Great Is Looking For A Design/Photography Apprentice – BBG/MLMTR Apprenticeship

Bright Bright Great Apprenticeship

Applications Due By: 8/1
Apprentice to Start: 8/1, or ASAP

Bright Bright Great is looking to give a young designer (with incredible love of design and photography, pushing creative boundaries and the beginnings of a stellar portfolio) their first shot at working with an amazing team of designers, developers and artists.

This is a unique apprenticeship that will have daily responsibilities for Bright Bright Great, and our photography house Mlmtr (including assisting all photo shoots, helping with post processing and social media.)

We’re interested in hiring well-rounded people with hobbies and side projects who are curious about learning new things and contributing to our culture in unexpected ways. We are committed to diversity and especially encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply.

This is a 9 month paid Apprenticeship in our Chicago office with evaluation for hire/extension.

Important Note:

You should have basic photography chops under your belt to apply for this role.

About You:

  • You are passionate about design, including digital (UX and apps).
  • You are passionate about photography and want to learn more.
  • You are detail oriented and feel comfortable sending business related emails.
  • You know where to look to be inspired.
  • You are interested in continuing to push your skills forward.
  • You are interested in working with a small design agency in the photography space to learn and sharpen your skills.
  • You are up for the challenge of being utilized on complex and interesting problems every day.

Personality Traits That Are Important To Us:

  • Clear Communicator
  • Detail Oriented
  • Thoughtful
  • Personable
  • Optimistic
  • Problem Solver

About BBG:

BBG is a small, enthusiastic team of incredibly talented individuals located in Chicago, IL & Las Vegas, NV. BBG has a focus on User Experiences, UI Design, Art Direction, Branding and Typography. Having digital and photography in your portfolio is important to us (social media, websites, mobile design, app design.) Our balance of digital to print is probably 70/30.

BBG also runs Avondale Type Co., our internal custom type foundry, and MLMTR, a photography studio.

We love what we do, period. We’re looking for new people with the same passion to make amazing things with us.

Wonder what it’s like to work at BBG?

Apprenticeship Recap – Maayan Brown
Apprenticeship Recap – Quan Ika Vu
Apprenticeship Recap – Dayan D’Aniello
Apprenticeship Recap – Margaux Delapierre

How To Apply:

To apply, please send a link to your online portfolio and resume to sayhello@brightbrightgreat.com Attention Amy Schwartz. Please note in the subject line that you are applying to the BBG/MLMTR 2017 Apprenticeship.

Do not attach PDFs in your response.

We will only respond to those who we are interested in pursuing the conversation with.

–

* BBG is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity in the workplace.

** NO RECRUITERS

Update 2017 8/1 This position has been filled.

 

Posted By
Jason Schwartz
Apr 20, 2017

Bright Bright Great Is Looking For A Front-End Development Apprentice (WordPress, Front-End Development & UX)

BBG Apprentice

Applications Due By: 5/15
Apprentice to Start: 6/1, or ASAP

(Update 6/1, this Apprenticeship has been filled.)

We’re looking to groom and educate a beginner Front-End Developer who’s passionate about interfaces, user-friendly interactions AND clean, bug free code. You’ll be working closely with our design team, development team, and clients to solve problems and create effective solutions to meet both user experience and business goals.

This is a 6 month paid Apprenticeship in our Chicago office with evaluation for hire/extension.

Things You Will Learn About:

  • WordPress
  • Proper HTML & CSS standards and tools
  • Javascript
  • Interaction Design
  • Responsive Email Development
  • Fixing Bugs
  • APIs and Integration
  • Working with designers and developers
  • Working with clients
  • UX Development
  • Working with a small team to grow your skills
  • Walking clients through identifying helpful debugging information
  • Working within existing codebase
  • Planning out a content management strategy for complex content-heavy sites
  • Using apps such as Slack, Trello, Basecamp, Google Apps, Hangouts, etc.
  • Collaboration
  • Organization and time management to hit deadlines
  • Git/GitHub
  • Discussion around process, strategy, and the story behind coding decisions

Additional Skills You Will Learn:

  • Salesforce
  • Pardot
  • Hubspot
  • Shopify

Personality Traits That Are Important To Us:

  • Clear Communicator
  • Detail Oriented
  • Thoughtful
  • Personable
  • Optimistic
  • Problem Solver

Wonder what it’s like to work at BBG?

Apprenticeship Recap – Maayan Brown
Apprenticeship Recap – Quan Ika Vu
Apprenticeship Recap – Dayan D’Aniello
Apprenticeship Recap – Margaux Delapierre

How To Apply:

To apply, please send a link to your online portfolio to sayhello@brightbrightgreat.com Attention Jason Schwartz. Please note in the subject line that you are applying to the BBG/Dev 2017 Apprenticeship.

We will only respond to those who we are interested in pursuing the conversation with.

 

* BBG is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity in the workplace.

** NO RECRUITERS

 

(Update 6/1, this Apprenticeship has been filled.)

Posted By
Jason Schwartz
Apr 18, 2017

Apprenticeship Recap – Maayan Brown

Maayan Brown BBG

I discovered BBG while still in Portfolio School after an instructor recommended them, and knew that an apprenticeship there would be more valuable than finishing the school year. Their fine work and forward-thinking in the design and digital space drew me in, and after my interview with Jason Schwartz, the Creative Director, I knew working at BBG would really propel me forward as a designer. Nobody else I had met had been as critical of my work as he was.

“Your best work is what I’ll expect from you, and your worst work is what I’ll judge you on.”

It was both scary and exciting to be held to such high standards.

The team at BBG knows how to take things from mundane to visually engaging. I hadn’t worked in digital before, and I learned a tremendous amount about how a small but successful digital agency works by designing for web and mobile, helping to lead projects, and corresponding with clients. As a result of all this experience, my layout skills and eye for typography have improved significantly. I enjoy looking back at past projects and not only noticing problematic design aspects but also recognizing how they could be improved.

Working at a small company means that you’re more than just a designer; you’re involved in all facets of project management.

This diversity of responsibility can be challenging, but it also means that you get more valuable experience, which makes you more versatile and skilled.

Additionally, working for a small company allows you to take greater creative control of a project and have more of a say in its artistic direction. I produced work at BBG that I can proudly represent as my own.

Being a slightly shy person, I struggled with nerves when it came to communicating with clients, but I definitely felt that I had more confidence by the end of the apprenticeship. The experience was certainly challenging, but it also enabled me to develop professionally. I constantly exerted myself mentally and creatively, occasionally working on weekends and late nights to get the results needed. It was definitely worth it, though!

The best part of the apprenticeship was being able to work as part of BBG’s awesome crew. I appreciated receiving feedback from unquestionably qualified and talented creatives (although some things in design are subjective, of course).

Lastly, the apprenticeship was a lot of fun. I have plenty of fond memories—going out to lunch, photoshoots, and even riding roller coasters at Cedar Point (though I actually hate roller coasters…).

My co-workers were great, and we always had the attitude of “we’re all in this together.”

Looking for an apprenticeship @ BBG. Click here!

Posted By
Jason Schwartz
Sep 02, 2016

Apprenticeship Recap – Margaux Delapierre

Our Apprentice, Margaux Delapierre, recently returned to Paris after completing her Brand Strategy Apprenticeship with BBG. After spending 6 months with the team in our Chicago-office, we asked her to recap her time with us.
Working for the BBG crew (and in the USA) was a very new experience for me. I didn’t know what to expect in flying to Chicago but I’m not disappointed. From day 1, BBG considered me a full-fledged member of the team, not only as an intern, but as a part of the family.
Mags2
Through my 6 months, I struggled, learned, improved skills and more. Below are three incredibly important aspects I learned to succeed!
Pay Attention to Details
Not working in my native language has been a great experience for me. Every day, creating content for news and events, writing blogs for BBG’s internal brands and handling social media in English pushed me to understand tone and always watch for the small details.
Communicate
Being a part of a small agency like BBG was also a first for me. I like the fact that everybody communicates daily with everyone else. The lines of communication are always open.
One thing I find particularly valuable at BBG is that we debrief on every active and upcoming project each morning. This is the great way to receive an overview of all projects and for sharing ideas as they come up.
Communication is the success key for agencies and BBG understands this very well.
Ask Questions
If you need advice, ask for it. Everyone is here to help you succeed. In the end, asking will save time and keep you on a stronger path, so don’t wait if something is unclear, just ask.
These past 6 months helped me to learn more about myself, my career goals and taught me to never stop learning. Thanks again BBG!
–
You can find Margaux Delapierre on LinkedIn!
Looking for information on careers and open or upcoming apprenticeships at BBG? Check that information out here.
Posted By
Jason Schwartz
Mar 03, 2016

BBG Adds Margaux Delapierre to Chicago Office as Brand Strategist

Bright Bright Great is pleased to announce the addition of Margaux Delapierre from Paris, France to our Chicago office for a brand-strategy apprenticeship.

Margaux Delapierre

Margaux will be primarily working with our Research & Strategy team coordinating social media and working with the Avondale Type Co. Artist Series.

“We’re thrilled to have Margaux in the office, having her to help with branding strategy with our brands like Avondale Type Co. and Mlmtr will be a huge help. I look forward to seeing what she can do!”

Nick Lush, Director of Marketing

Margaux loves to travel, having been to Australia, Thailand and Europe during the last year, and we’re happy to have her here in Chicago. Her other interests include skiing, art, indie/folk music and, most of all, her cat Vanille. Welcome her to the team and say hi on Twitter at @margauxdelap.

Posted By
Jason Schwartz
Feb 22, 2016

Apprenticeship Recap – Quan Ika Vu

Quan Ika Vu joined Bright Bright Great for 9 months upon graduating from Columbia College with a degree in Graphic Design. His portfolio stuck out to Bright Bright Great as one of exploration, modernism and we knew he would fit in well with the design team.

Thanks again to Quan for his hard work while at BBG.

“I’ll definitely miss Quan’s humor in team chat. Never change a thing. Let the true Quan shine. 🔥”

Jason Schwartz, Creative Director

Quan Vu

By: Quan Ika Vu

I knew of Bright Bright Great and the highly anticipated conferences they co-hosted. I knew that if I could join them I would be doing killer work.

Working with the team at BBG was truly transforming. I did not expect the experience I gathered after 9 months with their team would surpass my 4 years of college education.

There was no time to slack. Every day was incredibly fast-paced.

It’s one of the things I love about a small agency like BBG. You will learn to output lots of amazing work quickly, while being self guided. Each team member is expected to carry his or her own load from start to finish. At any given time, I had 3 clients/projects, which demands a lot from a designer, but that’s how you grow! Not a lot of agencies out there offer what BBG does. From the get-go, I was in client meetings, conference calls, and working alongside the entire team and leaders in the community. I also successfully designed 2 retail typefaces, which totally boosted my skill set to a new level.

You’ll never feel left out at BBG and are expected to be a one-person army from the first day.

In school and at bigger agencies, they won’t teach you how to interact with clients, let alone deal with sticky situations; a skill entirely missing from what you learn at school. I’ve come to learn that if you’re not able to sell your design through client communication and persuasion, you’re not a good designer. Clients are tough; not like your teachers or parents who always tell you’re the best. Out in the real world, you really have to make a stand for yourself and earn it.

My takeaway post-BBG is to be versatile. A saying by Nick Lush that I would always remember, it goes something like this: “All designers can be great and happy at what they do, but a versatile designer can afford longer vacations than a niche one.” That saying is self-explanatory. Being versatile not only with your skill set, but also with the ability to pitch yourself and your work. I can now design websites, typefaces, and make presentations look sexy, none of which was taught at my print-based degree in school.

The BBG gang is my family, and I’m honored to have them in my professional career. I will never forget how much fun we had, all the mini road trips and goofy team chats, and most importantly the knowledge they gave me.

Catch me on Behance and Dribbble. I can also be easily found in the Chicago design scene and am always down for a coffee!

Posted By
Jason Schwartz
Aug 25, 2015

Apprenticeship Recap – Dayan D’Aniello

Our intern, Dayan, recently returned to school after spending the summer with us. Before he left, we asked him to tell us what he learned during his time in our office.

My name is Dayan D’Aniello and I spent this past summer as a design intern at Bright Bright Great before going back to the University of Florida to finish out my senior year. During my time in the office, I was able to contribute to 5 projects and work on designing a typeface (a little better than just getting coffee, right?).

Dayan

The important thing with any internship is to pick up new lessons and skills that will help you once you start a full-time job and I definitely learned a lot that will help me as I get started in my career. With that in mind, here are my three biggest takeaways from my time at BBG:

Write everything down.

I mean everything. I took 77 pages of notes from various morning meetings. Client interactions, art direction presentations, art direction feedback, et cetera. While I stopped taking notes in my classes, it was definitely necessary to keep track of all the things you’re asked to do: write it down!

Ask questions, but not too many.

Don’t be afraid to shoot someone a message if you’re in need of some help. There is a limit to this, though. Everyone else is busy most of the time, so try to figure it out on your own first instead of making someone feel like you’re trying to source your answers from them.

Everything moves quickly, be ready to hustle.

This one speaks for itself. There were times I was in the office until 2 AM. On a Saturday. You have to put in the work to enjoy the rewards.

And that’s that! Keep track of what I’m up to during my senior year on my Behance page. Keep an eye out for open apprenticeships here.

Posted By
Jason Schwartz