This week we wanted to take some time to introduce you all to the creative minds behind the signs, the artisans of office signs, the purveyor of creativity …our Arties. While our art department might be spread across our two locations, they are one of the closest knit groups we have. Without further ado, here’s our #FridayFeature – Meet the Arties:
JCK
- Job title: Senior Layout Artist
- If you could switch your job with anyone else at OSC, whose job would you want?: Janine, our accountant, because that would mean I’d be good at numbers and would then have the best handle on my own finances.
- What advice do you have for someone pursuing your career?: I didn’t pursue a career in the sign industry in the beginning. As a designer just out of college, I got an email from a disgruntled print company with the advice for “young designers” to get to know the graphic design trade by working in sign production to “help you learn the trade better.” At the time, I was flippant and arrogant thinking “I’m a designer, I’ll be creative and you do the printing…” but they were partially right: my most valuable, gritty design skills have come from working production at Office Sign Company.
- What has been your favorite project at OSC?: The side projects for marketing, culture events, social media, and other promotions have been a lot of fun to work on. I love that we have a few annual creative projects like the Fargo/Moorhead wooden hearts for Giving Hearts Day, the annual t-shirt design contest, thank you magnet designs, and even product development concepts where we can stretch our skills and ideas.
- People would be surprised if they knew...: I write every morning before work.
- What would be the title of your autobiography?: A Book By a Book Artist (Not Your Average Graphic Novel).
Nick
- Job title: Print Production Specialist
- If you could switch your job with anyone else at OSC, whose job would you want?: Ohhhh thats tough. If I HAD to, I always thought running a laser seemed fun.
- What advice do you have for someone pursuing your career?: Just try to have fun with everything, even the things that seem tedious.
- What has been your favorite project at OSC?: I always like when we have internal design opportunities, like designs for company events or products that go on our Fargo Stuff site.
- People would be surprised if they knew…: I have one attached ear and one ear unattached.
- What would be the title of your autobiography? 200 Pages of Wisdom from Nicholas Robert Bruggeman Sr. (the book will be 7 pages long).
Beth
- Job title: Print Production Specialist
- If you could switch your job with anyone else at OSC, whose job would you want?: Probably Shelbey because she’s got a super cool office or Scott because he wears a visor every day!
- What advice do you have for someone pursuing your career?: Be open to every opportunity that comes your way, even if it isn’t what you had planned for!
- What has been your favorite project at OSC?: I haven’t been at OSC long so I haven’t had many big projects yet, but I would say that it’s cool to be able to do the sign artwork for big name companies like Pepsi, Google, and NASA.
- People would be surprised if they knew…: That I used to show chickens and rabbits in 4-H!
- What would be the title of your autobiography? Probably something like, The Story of a Really Anxious Person LOL
LD
- Job title: Designer for Special Accounts
- If you could switch your job with anyone else at OSC, whose job would you want?: Probably someone in vinyl or engraving – they get to see things “come to life” up close!
- What advice do you have for someone pursuing your career?: Always have a mindset as a learner – always be willing to grow as a designer and as a professional. Don’t be afraid to take a job that might seem “boring” from the outside – if you are willing to be creative, you will find there is great need for solutions and your creative mind. It will be exciting and interesting!
- What has been your favorite project at OSC?: Either the garage door vinyl wrap at Red River Dance, or the menu board for Bernbaum’s (a sandwich and bagel shop). We also once did a plaque for a customer in memory of a young man who had passed away. It involved redrawing a graffiti piece he had created, and they were so excited to receive the final product. It was such an honor to have a hand in something so meaningful – that’s the reason I do what I do!
- People would be surprised if they knew…: I’m the shortest person in my family!
- What would be the title of your autobiography?: Pun Intentional.
Aly
- Job title: Layout Artist
- If you could switch your job with anyone else at OSC, whose job would you want?: Josh, our install coordinator. He is always out and about and gets to work with his hands all day and does absolutely beautiful work. If I could have any of his many skills, that would be awesome!
- What advice do you have for someone pursuing your career?: Do not limit yourself to the possibilities. Take on opportunities that you never anticipated you would. That’s where you will learn very valuable skills that sets you apart from others.
- What has been your favorite project at OSC?: Can’t think of anything specific, we get to do so many fun projects! I love to work on projects involving large-scale dimensional lettering signs or vinyl wraps, and outdoor monument signs!
- People would be surprised if they knew…: I have never broken a bone, I don’t have any allergies, I’ve never been bitten by a bee, I’ve never had a cavity and have never gotten a speeding ticket. *knocks on wood*
- What would be the title of your autobiography?: Aly and the Cat Chronicles.
Mikayla
- Job title: Layout Artist Assistant
- If you could switch your job with anyone else at OSC, whose job would you want?: It’d be really fun to work anywhere in the engraving department. They always seem to be having a great time!
- What advice do you have for someone pursuing your career?: Remember to stay organized. Things can get a bit chaotic if you let your organization and attention to detail slip.
- What has been your favorite project at OSC?: I haven’t done anything big yet, but I’ve done a few orders where the customer send pictures of the sign in its natural habitat. That’s always really cool to see.
- People would be surprised if they knew …: How many hours I’ve put into video games.
- What would be the title of your autobiography?: Sleepy but Woke.
Sandie
- Job title: Art Department Manager
- If you could switch your job with anyone else at OSC, whose job would you want?: I’d love to work in the Vinyl Department mostly because weeding vinyl is very therapeutic and satisfying.
- What advice do you have for someone pursuing your career?: Being adaptable and flexible in your roll will take you far. Find the holes at the company you work for and fill them. Never stop creating bad art. Passion is the biggest motivator. Never lose sight of your WHY.
- What has been your favorite project at OSC?: The Silver Lining Creamery Angel Wings!
- People would be surprised if they knew …: That I can solve the rubix cube.
- What would be the title of your autobiography?: The Last Minute: How passion and emotions got the best of me.
Anna
- Job title: Layout Artist
- If you could switch your job with anyone else at OSC, whose job would you want?: If I had to switch my job to another person’s at OSC I think I would enjoy Addie’s Job as PR Coordinator! I’d love to dive more into the marketing side of things and work more closely within the FM area’s community. It would also be fun to do more photography for the company and come up with ideas for social. Also, my degree is actually in journalism, so it would be fun to do a bit of writing again!
- What advice do you have for someone pursuing your career?: My advice for someone interested in pursuing a career in graphic design is to stay connected within the community and find as many opportunities as you can to use your creativity! There are so many different ways in which you can use graphic design that I wouldn’t have thought of before working here. I also highly recommend working in a production type job – I’ve learned so many things about how to design cleanly that I would have never thought of before working here.
- What has been your favorite project at OSC?: My favorite project that I’ve worked on at OSC was the signage for the Christkindlmarket this year. I love attending community events like this one, so being able to design the signs for it was a dream come true! I also have really enjoyed working on apparel designs for our sister company FargoStuff.
- People would be surprised if they knew…: People would be surprised if they knew I have a food Instagram where I post Fargo favorites!
- What would be the title of your autobiography?: The title of my autobiography would be One Noodle at a Time.
There you have it – the art wizards behind all of our office signs. Whether they are formatting ADA Braille Compliant signs, customizing bathroom signage or working on amazing custom signs – our arties can do it all!
Signing off!
