Janet Odgis

What is your background?
I founded Odgis + Co after receiving my MFA from Yale University. Before this, I had been a Special Projects Designer at Random House, Knopf and Vintage. I art directed and designed in the advertising, pharmaceutical and magazine sales promotion industries. I've also taught graphic design for five years at Parsons The New School for Design and for 12 years at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

Why did you decide to become a designer?
I believe good design is essential for human happiness. I want to Make Business Beautiful.
 
What is your sweet spot?
My gift is reinvention: How to make something fresh and beautiful out of what exists, in the most efficient way possible. I seek elegant solutions to solving problems.
 
How do you reinvent your clients?
I am an avid storyteller. Finding the right emotional tone to express the experience I want to convey is a fascinating process for me. I channel the energy and the vision and then bring it to life visually.
 
How do you work with your team?
I have a brilliant creative team of individuals, each of whom has different special gifts and talents. We all like working together, and there is a seamlessness between us when it comes to solving problems. It has to do with trust, with no ego. We all have the goal of continuing to learn, discover and invent, and be excellent at what we do.
 
What do you like to do aside from design?
On weekends I am a passionate abstract expressionist painter. See my personal work here. I love nature and hiking, yoga and pilates. I watch every film that I can. Architecture fascinates me. And I really enjoy comedy, I like to make people laugh. 

Madison Kwon

What is your background?
I received a BFA at the Cooper Union with a focus in graphic design and printmaking. Although my main practice centers on visual identities, motion graphics, and type design, I also delve into other different areas of design, becoming well-rounded in the discipline.

Why did you decide to become a designer?
Throughout my time at the Cooper Union, I understood design to be about telling a story. I have become captivated by this unique characteristic of graphic design, and, consequently, I am incredibly fascinated with communicating a compelling story through visuals and type. As a child, I had a similar fascination with storybooks and fantasy realms, likely contributing to my interest in cultivating narratives and visual experiences. 

How do you get inspired?
I am often inspired by the media I consume on a daily basis. One of my favorite pastimes is watching movies, a visual art that tells a story, conveys ideas, and evokes emotion. The elaborate narratives that unfold in these films align with the stories I hope to communicate in my own work.

What do you like to do aside from design?
Outside of design, I have an extensive printmaking practice. Primarily, I work with woodblock relief printing. Through this analog skill, in which hand-carving wood and printing sheets of paper demands time, I have become a much more patient and detail-oriented person. I have also become a lover of trees through this practice.

Martyn Tipping

What is your background?
I’ve been a brand strategist, writer and namer for over 25 years, and have overseen high-profile branding projects for clients in all major industries, all over the world. My last “corporate” job was as Director of Verbal Strategy at Landor Associates, New York where I led branding programs for a wide array of clients, including Procter & Gamble, Delta Air Lines, Motorola, Xerox, AT&T, and Ford Motor Company. I have also taught brand strategy as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University.
 
Why did you become a strategist and namer?
I have always loved words and writing, but after I graduated from Cambridge University I found myself working on a graduate training program at a major bank. It didn’t take long to realize this was not a great match for me, so I responded to a job ad with the headline “Have you ever wondered how products and companies get their names?” I landed the job, and within two weeks of starting created the name for a multi-billion-dollar global life sciences company. And I was hooked…

What inspires you?
There’s tremendous power in being able to take complicated ideas and distilling them into simple, impactful messages. This is true whether you’re a Fortune 100 company, a tech start-up or a nonprofit. At the end of the day, what I do is help organizations tell stories that make a difference.
 
What do you do besides branding?
I love travel, theater, tennis and spending time with my family.
*Consultant


 

Lily Nguyen

What is your background?
I received my BFA from The Cooper Union. My graphic design practice focuses on visual identities, exhibition design, and printed matter, but I consider myself a multidisciplinary artist at heart. My personal artistic practice manifests as an amalgamation of sculpture, photography, printmaking, and installation. Professionally, I’ve worked as a marketing associate for a non-profit theater in NYC, a designer for The Cooper Union, and currently as the Programs Art Director for KinKa, a botanical company.

Why did you decide to become a designer?
I’ve always been drawn to the multifaceted nature of design and the many forms it can take. Graphic design quickly stood out as the ideal discipline to blend my wide-ranging interests in storytelling, aesthetics, experimentation, and problem-solving. For me, design isn’t just about visuals; it’s about crafting meaningful, memorable experiences that communicate with precision. I love the challenge of making the complex simple and the informative entertaining. 

How do you get inspired?
I feel most inspired when I am throwing ideas around with my friends over a good, nourishing meal. I’m lucky to have a close community who are just as deeply passionate about their craft as I am, whether in design, acting, horticulture, etc. No matter the subject, our conversations always leave me with a new perspective or insight that I can carry into my own creative practice. Not to mention, their unwavering curiosity and drive to keep learning have always been infectious and motivate me to grow. 

What do you like to do aside from design?
When I’m not designing, you’ll usually find me trying new restaurants, taking a hands-on workshop somewhere in the city, or doting on my ever-growing collection of houseplants. I also try to spend time in nature whenever I can—hiking, doing yoga, practicing pilates, or hugging a tree (ideally all in the same day). 

 

Sara Barrack

What is your Background?
I hold a BS Marketing/Management/Communications degree. Previous job experiences include, Media Group Supervisor at Young & Rubicam: NY, Corporate Media Manage at IBM, Associate Planning Director at WIMC; Business Development Manager at Gannett
 
What do you like best about your job?
I enjoy the level of open and direct communication with a diverse group of individuals in a variety of new business segments. This moves things along quickly and elicits an evolved working environment. Focus is always about the project and how to best help prospects solve problems, enhance Design and Branding initiatives, and have fun while doing it.
 
Do prospects appreciate that?
Absolutely, because getting to the point right away makes for the best use of time and energy for everyone involved. I spend the majority of my time pitching Odgis + Co as a valuable and useful resource only if we are a mutually good fit and it makes good business sense for prospects. I worked Account Management positions in the past so I have that perspective as a new business developer and I think that prospects respect me for that. This past experience allows me to understand and “get” what prospects need and want.
 
What do you think is your greatest strength?
I think one of my greatest strengths is as a problem solver. I have the ability to see a situation from different perspectives and I get my goals accomplished even in the face of challenging obstacles. I also feel that my communication skills are top notch. I feel just as comfortable presenting to senior executives as I do when brainstorming with junior team members.
 
How do you feel about the design work that Odgis + Co does?
I believe in it on all levels because the utmost care and consideration is taken into account for all Design projects. Clients say they love our work and a typical response when seeing our Design options for the first time is, “Wow!” I believe in what we do because it is client-centric first and foremost.
 
How do we work together as a team?
The spirit of the team is soulful and engaging. We all feel excited about our work and it shows. All of us are broad thinkers as well as extremely adept to paying attention to every minute detail. As a team, we strive to be the best, are reliable, and engage in seamless interaction. It is no-ego cooperation. Our collective interests are producing the best Design work. Always and in all ways!
*Consultant

John Vondracek

What is your background?
I’ve been designing for film and television for well over the past 2 decades, from my first company (Just 2 Guys) through current day (The String Theory). Specializing in motion graphics, my work has been recognized by the AIGA, Art Director’s Club, Type Director’s Club, among other design annuals. TV shows have won Emmys while films have been featured at festivals like Sundance and Tribeca, earned theatrical releases, a Peabody Award, and most recently, garnered an Academy Award (Best Feature Length Doc: “OJ: Made In America”) The work with Roger Waters (of Pink Floyd fame) and his team was hailed “A Staggering Masterpiece” by Rolling Stone Magazine. (Could anything have made my Dad prouder than that?)

How did you get into Motion Graphics?
Lou Dorfsman, my teacher and mentor at Cooper Union was adamant that I “forget this silly web stuff” I was working on, and that “you need to be in film and television.” I replied that I was about to graduate, and how would I ever learn that now, at this late hour? His reply? “Ahem… I was only the Creative Director for CBS Television for 45 years… if only I knew someone who could help you?” Two weeks later I had my first interview. 1 week after that I had a job. 2 years after that, I started my first company. What a fantastic influence he was on my life!

What inspires you?
Can I say The Muppets? No? How about Errol Morris? Yes? Hitchcock? Yes? Kubrick? Yes? How about Chuck Jones and Loony Tunes? No? David Fincher? Yes. Vampires, Ghosts and UFOs? No? Scratch all that. I’ll go with The Muppets.

What do you do besides motion graphics?
I like to read, I like to write, I like to make people laugh. I love to teach (have been teaching Motion Graphics for the past 20+ years at Cooper Union). Big fan of tacos and craft beer. Even bigger fan of music and live performances. Animals and nature fill my heart.
 

Kate Mrozowski

What is your Background?
I graduated from The Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Graphic Design. Since then I have been working as Motion Graphics designer and animator for film, television, and advertising. Most recently, I have executed projects for MGM, Focus Features, ABC, CBS, Prudential, Bose, Xerox and Target. 

What excites you about your projects/clients?
I am most excited about working in Motion Graphics because it allows me to work on different phases of the entire process. I have the opportunity to design, animate, storyboard and direct live action shoots. One of my favorite parts of the process is hearing from a client after they see the final product.
 
What would you say is your strongest skill?
Working in design and Motion Graphics I have learned the importance of focus and efficiency. This allows me to maintain integrity in clean design and clear message while executing it in a timely manner. View Kate's work here: www.katemro.com
 
How do you get inspired?
I am most inspired by problem-solving. From understanding the parameters of a project, I know where to push and where to pull. I enjoy a good challenge.

What do you like to do aside from design?
When I am not working, I am volunteering for The American Foundation for Tibetan Cultural Preservation and the Tools for Peace organization.
*Consultant

Don Heymann

What is your background?
I’ve been an independent writer and strategist for more than 30 years, serving such leading companies as Pfizer, PepsiCo, Citibank, GE and BASF, as well as major non-profit organizations like Save the Children, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Nature Conversancy, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and the Lupus Research Alliance. I’m also an adjunct faculty member at NYU’s School of Professional Studies where I teach a course in strategic and marketing communications writing. Earlier, I worked in corporate public relations.

Why did you become a writer and strategist?
I’ve always loved words and the intricate human process of communicating. I'm living proof that an idealistic college poet can become a successful business communicator. From language junkie to PR pro to writer/strategist, I like to tap into the power of stories, metaphor and the rhythm of words that add color and depth, while using the spare, direct language of journalism that provides clarity and concision. And I enjoy the challenge of connecting with and influencing business audiences, while dealing with different corporate cultures and finicky CEOs. Ultimately, it's all about connecting, head and heart, person to person.

How has writing influenced your life?
Writing has shaped me as a person since I was a kid. Besides being challenged (and rewarded) by the process of communicating, I’m constantly learning – about clients, the broad array of subjects I write about, and the audiences I’m striving to influence.
 
What do you do besides writing?
I’m sure it’s not surprising that I love to read. I always have two books going at once, fiction and nonfiction. I also love the arts and regularly go to museums, plays, movies, and concerts. Most important, I’m a family man who treasures just hanging out with my wife and two sons.
*Consultant