new hire Archives — Bright Bright Great — Web Design, Development, Brand Strategy

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Sep 08, 2017

Bright Bright Great Welcomes Jeanne Henry as Director of Projects

Bright Bright Great would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Director of Projects, Jeanne Henry. Jeanne will be assisting BBG with all BBG accounts and sales.

What is your name and official title at BBG?

Jeanne Henry, Director of Projects. Hello, Hello. I am excited to be here.

What got you interested in (your role)?

I’ve always been interested in communication (the heart of project management), first through my writing background, but that skill set grew when I was working for a book publisher, and I really got to understand the power of design in communication and how important it is to elevate messages. From there, which was many years ago, I got the chance to work in the creative agency space and loved how project management combined so many things that I love from organizing to getting to talk to people across many different industries and fields of expertise. I haven’t looked back since! Project management has really felt like a natural fit for my interdisciplinary background.

What interested you in working at BBG?

I was really drawn to the broad range of digital projects and the high-energy and excitement of the BBG team.

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

I’m always really excited to learn more about the development process and grow my knowledge base as technology is always changing—it’s important to stay up-to-date and always be looking for different ways to innovate, and to keep knowledge fresh. Outside of that, I’m always interested in trying new ways to run projects and expand on some of the strategy skills that I use as a project manager. I’m always a student.

What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

I’m an essay and poetry writer. I love wandering through independent bookstores and finding an author that I’ve never heard of. I like trying to surprise myself by new adventures. Coffee shops, running, and board games with my partner, Edmund, is also pretty high up there in interests.

Who is currently inspiring you the most creatively in design?

Outside of Amy Schwartz and all the lovely work of my colleagues, I really enjoy the human and hand-drawn data visualizations of illustrator Mona Chalabi. I love Claire Wasserman and the whole, supportive and dope community of Ladies Get Paid.

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

There are really lovely writers and advocates for social change that inspire me and urge me through their work to take as much action as possible for positive, progressive social change and to write better poetry. Those people include Clint Smith, Eve Ewing, and Tarfia Faizulla. Among others. I’m also really inspired by the Blood Orange album ‘Freetown Sound’ from 2016. It’s amazing and never gets old.

What’s the closest thing to real magic?

Love. Love is magic. Does everyone say that? Well, it’s true.

If you were given a one-minute ad slot during the Super Bowl that you couldn’t sell, what would you fill it with?

Poetry, yo. The poetry ads in New York City and here in Chicago show mostly stale poetry from dead white men. I’d love to have a dope ad the represents the real and current freshness of poetry.

Would you rather always be 10 minutes late or always be 20 minutes early?

20 minutes early, for sure. I’m the person that walks around the block because they got to a meeting too early.

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Be sure to follow Jeanne:
Jeanne Henry LinkedIn
Jeanne Henry Twitter

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.

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.

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

Posted By

Jason Schwartz

Sep 07, 2017

Bright Bright Great Welcomes Kara Shim as Designer

Bright Bright Great would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Designer, Kara Shim to the team. Kara will be assisting BBG on our Design team as well as our Avondale Type Co. type and Mlmtr photography teams.

Name & Role

Kara Shim, Design Apprentice

What got you interested in (your role)?

I had heard about BBG and was snooping around the website for job opportunities. I saw the position for the role the day AFTER applications were due and applied with my fingers crossed – and here I am. Thankful I made it.

What interested you in working at BBG?

I knew BBG would be a place that would push me as a designer. They had the small studio vibe I was looking for but they still strived for excellence and made great work. I heard they were very hands on and collaborative as well and these were all aspects I was looking for in a job.

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

Definitely looking forward to developing my UI/UX skills. I had a strong fine arts background before diving into design and there’s a lot of aspects to web that I’m looking forward to learning and practicing.

What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

I like being around people so I’m usually hanging out with friends. I love good food so I enjoy finding new, cool places to eat (especially ramen places, I’m a sucker for good ramen). Aside from that I draw and I daydream a lot more than I should – I also adore funky jewelry and will go great lengths for some sweet earrings or rings.

Who is currently inspiring you the most creatively in design?

Currently design crushing on Leta Sobierajski. But also really inspired by a lot of Korean and Japanese designers as well.

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

Matisse has always been an influence for me.

What is your favorite fast food menu item?

Fries, duh. Always get BBQ sauce with them too. Always.

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

I spent most of my life growing up overseas – I was born and raised in Illinois and before moving with my family. I primarily lived in Kyrgyzstan and Thailand for 10 years of my life and came back to Illinois for college.

But the real shocker to people is that I was homeschooled for a few years in elementary to middle school. People are always shocked by that because they expect me to be weirder than I am. Little do they know I’m actually super weird I can just hide it really well.

Also I’m left-handed. For some reason people who have known me always lose it when they hear that.

Were you Prom Queen?

My school was tiny so I feel like this doesn’t mean much – but yes I was my junior year. Wasn’t that great.

What would you name your boat if you had one?

The Yellow Duck.

What’s a body part that you wouldn’t mind losing?

I feel like I could live without one of my toes. Do you need all of your toes?

Would you rather always be 10 minutes late or always be 20 minutes early?

20 minutes early – because I’m already usually 10 minutes late.

–

Be sure to follow Kara:
Kara Shim Instagram
Kara Shim LinkedIn

Posted By

Jason Schwartz

Jul 15, 2017

Bright Bright Great Welcomes Ken Barrios as Front-End Developer

Bright Bright Great would like to extend a warm welcome our new Front-End Developer, Ken Barrios, to the team. Ken will be assisting BBG on our Technology team.

What is your official title at BBG?

Ken Barrios, Front-End Developer

What got you interested in development?

Three years ago, I came across an online ad for toys that were intended to teach toddlers the basic principles of programming. Seeing that made me realize that it was just a matter of time before coding would become a standard part of learning: just like reading, writing, and arithmetic. I decided I needed to get ahead of curve and dive into coding.

What interested you in working at BBG?

A friend forwarded me the link to the apprenticeship program at BBG. After doing some research about the firm it became clear that this is a design studio that is generating a lot of buzz, winning acclaim, and getting tapped for exciting projects. As someone new to web development and design, I knew that this would be an amazing opportunity to learn from the best.

What is your favorite fast food menu item?

The Wendy’s Baconator. If I have an opportunity to Baconate, I Baconate.

What do you hope to learn during your time at BBG?

Regarding web development: I’m hoping to get a better handle on the thought process needed to see a website through from start to finish, and learning to how efficiently organize my code by keeping everything as modularized as possible. Regarding design: I’m hoping to learn to think through a website with the user in mind, while also picking up lessons about how to choose appropriate color palettes, typefaces, and spacing.

What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

When I’m not at work I’m either: running for an hour or two along the Lake Front Path, riding around the city on my fixed gear bike, or seeing the latest films at The Music Box. I also like follow political and architectural magazines like Jacobin and Metropolis.

Do you have any pets?

Nay. I like other people’s pets, but I don’t want to take care of my own.

What is your favorite place that you have ever visited, US-based, or international?

I’ve been lucky enough to visit a few spots in Central and South America, and I went to France once. But I think that my favorite place was India. I spent a month touring India from Hyderabad, to Bangaluru, to Puducherry. I need to go back to finally see Mumbai and New Delhi.

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

During my college years, my comrades and I successfully stopped the military from recruiting on our college campus. I’m also 99% positive that I coined the slogan “Undocumented Unafraid” in 2009.

Posted By

Jason Schwartz

Jun 16, 2017

Bright Bright Great Welcomes Mackenzie Freemire as Art Director

Bright Bright Great is delighted to welcome our new Art Director/Designer, Mackenzie Freemire, to the team. Mack will be assisting with Art Direction.

What is your official title at BBG?

Mackenzie Freemire, Art Director

What got you interested in design?

I went into college thinking I wanted to be a photojournalist. When I went in to register for classes, my advisor urged me to take some graphic design classes—and here we are.

What interested you in working at BBG?

As a young designer, I’m constantly hungry to learn and grow and never become stagnant in my practice. The best way I can do this is by observing people and studios that are at the top, pushing limits and taking on innovative design projects regularly. I have so much to learn from BBG—at that challenge was immediately enticing to me.

What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on to this point?

I created a magazine 2 years about called Hush Magazine, which was a passion project for me. Hush focuses on the subject of Time, and how we use it, waste it, feel it, etc. I created about 2-3 original sets of work and design for each of the first three issues, and for the rest of the content I curated photos, poetry, painting, and other mediums that I have artists from all over the country submit to be in the magazine. Not only did I get to collaborate with other artists, but I got to create a piece of art that people can hold and experience and feel in their hands.

What is your favorite Taco Bell menu item?

Chicken Quesadilla, hands down. Who knows what that sauce is, but I’m into it.

What do you hope to learn during your time at BBG?

I hope to dive into the world of digital design and learn as much as I can about UI, UX, and pushing the limits on the way we interact with design digitally for the best experience possible.

What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

I shoot photography for fun almost every weekend as a way to get off my computer and work with other creatives and friends. I also enjoy decorating my apartment, getting brunch, and dreaming things with friends.

Who are some designers/agencies/artists that are inspiring you right now?
Hey Studio, Instrument, Sagmeister & Walsh, Jimmy Marble, and all my friends.

Do you have any pets?

I’m not exactly an animal person (don’t tell anyone).

What is your favorite place that you have ever visited, US-based, or international?

I have been to Paris multiple times, and it is always as magical as I remember. I think the French language is amazing—the buildings, the art, the shops, and of course the chocolate croissants.

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

I have a weird love for strawberry jell-o. It has always been my favorite food, it’s just a weird comforting thing from my childhood. Fun fact: every job I have ever applied to (including BBG) the subject line has been Strawberry Jello.

Follow Mack on Instagram.

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 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

Aug 31, 2015

Vince DeSantiago Added To Our Chicago Office

Bright Bright Great is excited to announce the addition of Vince DeSantiago as Art Director to our Chicago-office.

Vince will be adding on as Art Director, Photographer and Illustrator in our Chicago office.

Vince comes to Bright Bright Great from Walton Isaacson and has previously worked at Delicious Design League & FCB/Chicago. Vince focuses on design with purpose and is an avid fan of all things strange/invigorating and enjoys custom typography.

Follow Vince DeSantiago on Social:

Instagram – Creative Bloq Top 12 Art Directors to follow on Instagram!
LinkedIn
Twitter

Posted By

Jason Schwartz