Meet Some Of The Creativity At J&R: Introducing Leah

We are proud of our team, partners, clients and businesses that we work with on a daily basis. We always want to showcase the amazing work and results produced and we also want to introduce and showcase the people behind them. In order to do so, we decided to launch a Q&A that includes industry experts, our staff, our clients, and amazing people that we have the pleasure of working with and knowing!

Meet Leah Lacsamana: graphic designer, branding expert, experienced at ‘Disney’.

Leah works on dozens of projects both small and large. She is responsible for a wide range of tasks and is a critical piece in the day to day operations and branding team at J&R Marketing.

Q&A With Leah Lacsamana – February 2018

Q: How did you get started in graphic design?

A: I’ve always been passionate about art, but never thought that I could turn it into a career. At Rhode Island College, I toyed around with the thought of being an art major but the idea of not landing a job out of college freaked me out so much that I went the “easy” route, so the first major I declared was accounting (you can totally laugh, I would,) and I soon realized how much I hated it. I then went on to art education but realized that I wasn’t cut out to be an educator. After that, I FINALLY ended up “trying out” the Graphic Design program at school and fell in love!

Q: Can you describe the responsibilities of the graphic design department as well as those of your specific position?

A: I am in charge of anything and everything art related! We offer a wide range of services at J&R Marketing so my responsibilities are widespread as well. On the digital and marketing side, I design and redesign logos, web page graphics, advertisements, brochures and other print products. On the promotional product side, I create mockups and proofs of custom promotional products for clients and act as a point of contact for them throughout the proofing process for the artwork.

Q: What is your favorite thing about J&R?

A: I love how independent I can be here. My last job didn’t allow for much creativity and was very repetitive, so it was important for me to find a place where I felt like I could express myself and have full creative control. J&R allows me to do just that! The days fly by here because I enjoy what I do so much and never feel like I’m actually “working.” It’s pretty cool!

Q: What do you think makes J&R so different?

A: I think part of what makes us stand out the most is that we are able to offer a full range of services that help businesses succeed. What starts out as a simple logo design could turn into custom promotional products, business cards, websites, you name it! You may come to J&R for “one small thing,” but I think our clients often end up getting so much more because of all that we have to offer! Being a constant point of contact for our clients is important as well. The design process can sometimes be tedious and long, but being responsive and available for our clients is something that helps ease a process that is sometimes painful!

Q: What one branding tip would you recommend to a new business?

A: Consistency is key to a successful brand. Everyone has brands that they’re fiercely loyal to and chances are it’s due to their consistency. Making sure that your brand’s marketing and online presence are aligned is incredibly important, especially in this day and age where social media is king. Your brand is always only a quick Google search away, so if your prospective clients see something that doesn’t make sense with the story you’re trying to tell, they’re most likely going to move onto the next best thing.

It can be hard for people to trust a new business when there are probably hundreds of other options to choose from, so being consistent is key. When people know that they can depend on you, they will trust you and your business! Consistency in their brand, consistency in their service.

Q: Speaking of logo design, any particular do’s or don’ts?

A: When designing a new logo, keep it simple! Some of the worlds most recognizable logos are clean, easy to understand, and often use only a few colors (Think Nike, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola).

In the early stages of a logo design, it’s easy to get carried away with all the possibilities. It’s important to take a step back and simplify your logo when you can. Too many elements can really hurt a logo, so don’t make the mistake of trying to incorporate too many contrasting colors or mismatching fonts.

Q: Speed Round; Name three random facts about yourself:

My hobbies include crocheting, binge-watching tv shows on Netflix, and spending too much money on novelty handbags.
I’m obsessed with Cats, Horror Movies, and Mexican Food.
I visit Disney World and Universal Studios twice a year.

Branding is more than how a company looks, it represents what the company stands for. Click here to learn more about branding and graphic design or stay tuned for more Q&A with J&R!