I’m Josephine

Hi there!

A creative leader with a mind for consumers.

I provide breakthrough ideas and strategic execution for brands, coupled with a mastery of trend forecasting, art and design for consumer products.

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I’ve worked in-house for

Here are ways

I contribute to COMPANIES

Leadership

I lead through vision, integrity, influence & candor with my approachable and down-to-earth style. My aim is to create an aspirational yet actionable vision that grows and stretches teams towards becoming our best. On a broader leadership team, I aim to listen, collaborate, provide a POV, and ask “what if” and “why” to challenge the status quo.

Creative Direction

I believe creative teams must align their work to company goals and objectives. I create and communicate creative direction through vision of the big-picture, concepts, and a strategy. I review and provide feedback to multiple types of creative work to ensure alignment to our strategy and achievement of our goals.

Trend Forecasting

I believe identifying North Star’s are integral to a company’s success. Knowing what drives consumers, what they want now and next is imperative for brand, marketing, and product positioning. I thrive on identifying what’s new and next and providing those North Stars for teams to inspire, inform, and align their work – and I’ve never seen a trend I couldn’t get my mind around.

Brand Strategy

A brand that shows up to the market clearly, consistently, strategically, and with purpose can establish trust and loyalty with not just consumers, but employees as well. Whether it’s creating strategy for how and where a brand shows-up in the market or defining a brand’s values, visuals and voice through a brand book – I enjoy creating clarity for a brands success.

Art Direction

Being an illustrator and designer for the majority of my career, I understand how to speak to designers about the work and sharpen it. I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get into the details. I also make decisions on feedback by weighing excellence against a designers level of experience and endurance, as well as company resources, timelines, and dollars. I strive for excellence not perfection.

Team Building

I have a knack for identifying, attracting and retaining talent, building multi-disciplinary teams, and creating space for individuals to grow, deepen and stretch their talents, which greatly impacts their contributions to a company. I believe collaboration and communication is key on creative teams to strengthen and push concepts and solutions.

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My Career

I’ve spent 20 years working for brands, creating products for consumers and how a brand shows up in the market through multiple customer touch points. My experience spanning many industries – fashion, stationery, gift wrap, home decor, wall decor and gift products, has strengthened my understanding of consumer mindsets and what does and doesn’t work in the market. Coupled with my trend background, I’m always pushing for new and next to keep a companies offerings fresh and relevant.

Currently - 5 years at Lantern Press in Seattle, starting out as a Creative Director and quickly promoted to VP of Creative. I serve on and collaborate with the executive team. I develop creative strategy while leading an amazing and diverse creative team with key leaders in Brand, Illustration, Production Design & Product Development. I’m inspired by them every day!

Side hustle: 1 year interviewing creatives for my podcast, Highlight REAL
Side hustle: I took a weekend life coaching intensive course which greatly impacted my life in a positive way. I then pursued further education and now have my Executive & Life Coaching certification
3 years in the Starbucks Creative Studio with most of my time as an Associate Creative Director – Trend & Concept and CMFP (color/material/finish/pattern) trend forecasting within the Creative Studio and macro trend forecasting within data and analytics for the company. I started out at Starbucks as a designer and illustrator creating art collections for their merchandise for a variety of global markets
5 years as a solo-preneur, licensing my artwork and designing for a wide variety of companies all over the world, exhibiting at Surtex, and working with 2 agents for global reach
2 years at Hallmark cards designing stationery and gift wrap collections
10 years at Nordstrom in multiple roles over the years including textile design, color and pattern trend forecasting for a variety of brands and customer segments, and managed their Print Studio of textile designers