get to know senior designer erica
july 13, 2022
Category: business
get to know our senior designer erica
Dog mom and BIG Green Bay Packers fan — come meet our senior designer, Erica Gloeckler.
If you’re here then chances are you already know me, but did you know behind the scenes, I have a small but mighty team? They’re working their magic to give you the absolute best branding experience possible and I’d be lost without them!
Soooo, in this fun little Q&A series, you’ll get a chance to get to know each of the Brighten Made team members and might even get to learn something new about me, too!
First, you got to know more about Lauren, our project manager (literal doer of #allthethings) and copy guru. Then you got to meet Rachel, one of our two senior designers, avid runner and kombucha enthusiast. Now meet our senior designer, Erica.
What’s your enneagram?
I’m a 9 — peacemaker. I just want everyone to get along and I absolutely can’t stand conflict! I also score pretty highly as a 4, the individualist (emotionally honest, creative and personal), which makes sense as a creative human.
What does your morning routine look like?
I try to begin the day with yoga, walking my dog, Wilder, or just sitting outside on the patio for a minute. Being active or stepping outside helps me start the day off in a positive mindset! Then, I make my coffee (typically with a french press) and maybe some oatmeal. Since beginning my work-from-home journey I have realllly been slacking on my outfit game and you can usually catch me in a comfy set. I settle in with my computer and a podcast or playlist and get to work!
what inspires you?
My family and friends, the great outdoors, travel, restaurants, food packaging, vintage prints and clothing — the list goes on! I think part of being a designer is that you innately notice color and pattern and other design choices everywhere you look. If I am ever in a rut creatively, it helps to just go for a walk or somewhere completely new to get my wheels turning. On a larger scale, if I travel across the country or abroad I always come home with new ideas and a passion for design and illustration. My family and friends inspire me because they are amazing! Plus, I’m just inspired by positive people who keep me going with endless support and by going after their own dreams.
what’s a day in your role look like?
I spend most of my time on my computer or iPad working on brands, illustrations and collateral projects. I work closely with our incredible project manager to ensure I am completing projects on time (time management doesn’t come suuuper naturally to me, haha, so it’s so great to have someone on our team who is a pro at navigating this side of things and keeps me on track… love you, Lauren!) I would say I spend most of my time illustrating for many of the amazing brands we work with and I love it!
What do you like to do outside of work?
Summer is my absolute favorite season — so I’m thriving right now! I love to be outside, whether I’m hiking, camping, boating, posting up on a patio and watching live music, or walking our Australian Shepherd-mix, Wilder. My husband and I love to travel and spend time with family and friends. We love any and all Mexican restaurants (chips and guac forever <3). Also, we live in Green Bay and are inevitably big Packer fans so we love to go to games.
What’s your favorite design trend right now?
I don’t have a specific trend I am obsessed with but I am loving the freedom of the design world right now. I feel like lots of people are breaking rules, using lots of color and patterns (hello, checker pattern everywhere!) and experimenting with motion and typefaces. I love taking it all in and I think brands are being empowered to be unique, fun and themselves.
If you weren’t a designer what would you be doing?
I think I would be a mail carrier or florist — both jobs that I envy. I think it would be fun to walk through neighborhoods and deliver letters with a big sun hat on, listening to a podcast, giving dogs a treat (this is at least exactly what my mailman’s daily life looks like, and as an introvert, it seems nice.) And as a florist, I would love to design bouquets and share the joy with people. I love flowers but I don’t think I could master the technical skills (I kill most plants).
What’s your drink of choice?
As far as coffee goes, I love lavender lattes or just coffee with a bit of cream. If we’re talking cocktails, I love margaritas or ranch waters (one trip to Austin, and I was hooked!) I also enjoy beer and am currently very into the Indeed Brewing Pistachio Cream Ale (weird but addicting).
if you had to pick, what’s your favorite movie?
It Takes Two, You’ve Got Mail, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days — clearly, I can’t just pick a favorite there are too many good ones!
Do you have a favorite music genre or artist?
My favorite bands are the Lumineers and Caamp! I love all indie, acoustic, folk music, but I listen to anything… like Harry’s House (wow! So good!!) :)
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I hope you enjoyed getting to learn more about Erica! Last but not least, Lauren will be taking over to do a fun little Q and A with me!
