sarah (pictured left) and some of her work
What is your position/title, group and place of work? How long have you been working there?
I am a designer in Brand Design for Jordan brand, a division of Nike, Inc. I have been here since November 2006.
How did you find your current design position?
I was freelancing in Portland after graduation. I received a call from my current Design Director asking me to interview the next day. It was unexpected. A former PSU teacher of mine who worked in Nike Golf had given my portfolio and contact information to Jordan Brand.
What projects are you working on currently?
Unfortunately, I can't be specific...but I am a part of everything we produce; footwear, apparel, retail, events.
What do you like best about your position or projects?
Large budgets allow more flexibility in design. It's nice to not have to worry so much about cost associated with particular projects. My job changes with the season. In summer it's low-key because of less work in the industry, so I basically only do design. Come fall and winter, the season is busier and I may have to help out with management, production and design.
In what ways (faculty, program, projects, classes, etc) was PSU-GD successful in preparing you for being a professional designer?
Take classes from teachers who are inspiring. Spend as much time with them as you can feeding off of their knowledge. Spend your time going over the top on your projects. You never know what kind of positive attention you can get. In the end, you make happen.
What suggestions to have for PSU-GD to improve upon or information/content that you should have had in school but did not get?
The entire spectrum of printing was left out. There was one class I took on preparing items for print, but now being out here I realize that everything my teacher had taught us was wrong. I feel it would be a benefit for PSU to have a class that is strictly about printing and preparation. It would be great if it was a travel based class that visited several different presses, letter presses and screen-printing studios in Portland. It would truly be a benefit to get correct information from people who are in the field everyday.
What recommendations do you have for any current students and/or students graduating?
Get an internship, work for free just to get projects, read lots of books, keep a scrapbook of photocopies/cutouts of things that inspire you.....AND most importantly, carry your camera everywhere. Oh, and keep a portfolio of assets with you (pics, textures, illustrations) on an external hard drive to pull whenever you need it. Tight deadlines will be your life.
Any other thoughts about being a designer that you would like to share (things you wish you had known or just any thing of interest to you?
Be completely involved in the design community. Networking with the right person could be the lead to your breakaway job. Get an iphone. Keep all of your contacts with you and store your portfolio on it. You never know when someone might ask to see your work. You might impress them by showing it to them that second. Don't burn bridges. You are going to meet a lot of assholes in this business. Keep a good reputation.
Would you share a link to a site or a book or ? that you frequent for inspiration?
Jordan Brand
Design Direction: Jason Herkert
Art Direction: Sarah Runie
Illustration and Design: I Love Dust + Sarah Runie
Sugarboards
Creative Direction: Scott Clum + Hillary Sims
Design and Illustration: Sarah Runie + Deann Miller
Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center
Design Direction: Jason Herkert
Design: Sarah Runie
Photography: Shaun Jarvis
Jordan Brand M4
Design Direction: Jason Herkert
Illustration: I Love Dust
Design: Sarah Runie
FEATURED in Le Creative and SPREAD magazine
Sims Sugarboards
Creative Direction: Scott Clum + Hillary Sims
Design and Illustration: Sarah Runie + Deann Miller
Ladies and Gents...Sarah Runie!
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