Joe Meersman →
There are people you meet in the world and you’re like, “whoa—keep an eye on that one.” Those people look at Joe in awe. He refuses to stop on a tireless pursuit of “better.” Be it at Herman Miller, Motorola, Razorfish, IBM, or one of the other places he’s had a profound impact, Joe charges teams and designers with a passion for all things amazing. I’ve worked with Joe for many years and am honored to still be his partner in The Collective. (Bio by John)
John Howrey →
You know that friend who’s wicked smart and has the pulse on everything from pop culture to the next best thing in…anything. That’s John. Then make it business (work as play, of course) and he’s the go-to for what’s hot and what’s not in communication design. With experience from theatre to SaaS, he’s the graphic designer you didn’t know you needed, then wished you had met sooner. Also he was a professional pianist and makes a mean carrot cake, which are only two of the reasons he’s a great hang. (Bio by Frankie)
Wes Wright →
It’s all about being “with” a person. You feel that immediately with Wes—an immediate and urgent connection. He wants to know you—what drives you—and how to help you get exactly what you want. You’ll be surprised to hear about Finland more than you’re used to. That’s because of his experience building experiences and business with people around the world. From Idean to Frog and many places in between, he’s made innovation happen in truly meaningful ways. Now he’s an Advising Partner in The Collective, too, all while getting to the kids’ soccer games on time. (Bio by John)
Frankie Francis →
Some people simply don’t have the word ‘can’t’ in their vocabulary. She happens to be one of them, but not in an annoying way. Just enough youth and Los Angeles determination with the ability to write, rewrite, edit, and refine with a side of smartass. She can tell you more about it, as she is far better with the nouns and verbs than most of us. (Bio by Joe)
Raden Tonev
You know how in heist movies with ensemble casts, there is always a quiet guy who totally kicks ass? That’s Raden. Quiet confidence. Fluent in five languages. Mysterious, with a smirk. When he’s not knocking back Sangria with the locals in Barcelona, he delivers enterprise design at startup speed. (Bio by Joe)
Allison Fonder
Allison impressed me immediately with the way she listens and takes everything in. Her thoughtful responses are exactly what makes for a great content and UX designer. She is a producer, writer, designer, and everything in between. In workshop-action, she comes alive with energy and inspires everyone in the room. If you’re looking for a shining spirit who inspires collaboration, Allison is the one! (Bio by John)