Hi there, General Assembly! I'm Emma!

I am a creative with 7 years of experience developing visual systems and campaigns for companies big and small. I have led lectures at the Danish Institute of Study Abroad on way-finding design principles and I am collaborating with FIT to lead a guest lecture series on Fashion Marketing.

Currently, I am a Senior Art Director at VaynerMedia, a social-first digital agency. What does that mean? I solve problems through creation for some of the world's biggest brands including; AXE, Lay's, Dove and Vlasic pickles! My solutions come in many forms. From custom Snapchat filters, to serialized video, ‘thumb-stopping’ animations, or handy micro-sites. And, they all have two things in common: they directly answer a brief, and are visually stimulating.

I achieve those two things by following a few guiding principals:

01: Keep it simple. 

02: Make it beautiful. 

03: Never stop thinking about the end consumer. 

04: Always apply the UI rule of thumb: if you have to explain it, then it doesn't work. 
 

While I stay true to these principals, and the fundamental design theories — I also believe that in this digital age, rule-breaking and experimentation can lead to innovation.

In the last few years of my career, I have found myself collaborating with, mentoring, and managing junior talent. When I think about the best part of my job, those experiences stand out as the most fulfilling.

I would like to bring that energy into the classroom, and share the learnings I've gathered through my education and career with others looking to break into the design field. I find that teaching, at its best, is a truly symbiotic exchange, and I'm eager to see what  your students bring to the classroom!