Stephanie Francis

I’ve been sharing some insights and answering some questions about a Brand Designer position we’ve been recruiting for at Parisleaf. I hope it’s being seen as less of a flex and more of an attempt at some transparency. It also could be that I’m just trying to figure some things out in the open. Some questions: * How is technology helping or hindering the process? * Why have there been so many applicants? * What portfolio trends are bubbling up? * Who is or isn’t reading the full job description before applying? * What are underqualified and overqualified people hoping we’ll see when they apply? * What should the interview process look like in the mid-2020s? * What might we learn from this that we can apply to our next job listing? That’s just a sampling. Now some stats: Total applicants: 1068 Completed questionnaires: 394 Initial screens: 7 1st interviews: 2 2nd interviews: 0 Where people are applying from: LinkedIn: 65% Indeed: 16% Parisleaf.com: 7% Other: 6% remotive: 3% Career Portal: 3% As of this posting, we are beginning the interview process while still taking applicants. And, we also have a Sr. Project Manager opening. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eKRwREd7

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Buckminster Fuller once said, "A designer is an emerging synthesis of artist, inventor, mechanic, objective economist, and evolutionary strategist.'" Designers aren't just creators of beauty; they're bridges between art and reality. Think about it. Every product revolution, customer experience enhancement, started as a design challenge. Designers are key to navigating these ⚙️ merging varied fields, creating aesthetically pleasing 👁️, economically viable 💰, and strategic solutions 💼. The future of design? A horizon full of opportunities. It's not just about crafting objects but integrates complex systems and strategic foresight that molds the future 🔮.

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Satire is such an effective tool for story telling. The trick is how do we turn laughs and discomfort into action and positive behavior change for consumers. Furthermore, it really can't only be about consumers being conscious, industry and government need to play a key role to have an impact on systemic-level issues like this one. It's the same issue with recycling plastics and single use items, it all falls on the consumer's shoulders when in fact, the real problem is the impunity that the plastics industry has, and the total lack of governmental policy to make them responsible for the materials they put out in the world.

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Our client, Campbell's, faced the challenge of translating a brand’s promise to product requirements. The brand required a solution to rapidly and cost-effectively develop concepts that consumers recognize as meeting the brand promise. See how we used our unique moments-based behavioral approach to solve this problem. https://lnkd.in/da-DCj8b #BrandGrowth #BehavioralInsights #Insights #MRX

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The boundaries that once neatly separated the worlds of health, beauty and wellness are blurring. A growing awareness of interconnected health combined with a shift in consumer perspectives and priorities is driving significant growth in this space. Personal longevity is showing up as more than just a trend, it's a profound transformation in the way consumers perceive & prioritise their health. HMc have developed an inspiring presentation looking at how brands in this space can stand out, where the white spaces are, and how to innovate and activate your brands within them. For a free presentation drop me a comment in the box below. #beautybrands #brandinnovation #beautyandwellbeing

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Prize pools on sweepstakes are big draws for consumers. The bigger the prize the greater the draw. So when defining your Estimated Retail Value (or ERV) for each prize keep in mind there are other costs associated with those prizes, one of which is, in the US, anything with an ERV over $600 will require a 1099 to be issued to the winner. This means more work to administer the sweeps and more money to mail those forms. Making sure you factor those costs into your total budget will lessen any surprises later on. #yesterlearnings #sweepstakes #promotions #design

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🚀 Are you ready for the design talent surge? 🌟 In the ever-evolving digital landscape, the demand for top-notch design talent is like the ebb and flow of the ocean. It's not about *if* the need will pick up again—it's about *when*. And let me tell you, the tide is turning! As businesses continue to realize that exceptional design isn't just a luxury but a pivotal aspect of their success, the hunt for skilled designers is heating up. With brands striving to stand out in a crowded marketplace, the value of a designer who can create engaging, user-friendly experiences is skyrocketing. Here's the scoop: companies are ramping up their efforts to captivate audiences with stunning visuals and seamless interfaces. This means they're on the lookout for creatives who can bring fresh ideas to the table and transform the user experience from ordinary to extraordinary. If you're a designer, now's the time to polish your portfolio and showcase your skills. If you're a business, it's time to invest in talent that will propel your brand to new heights. The resurgence is on the horizon, and those who are prepared will ride the wave of opportunity. Drop a comment below or connect with us at https://lnkd.in/eFc6uVED #DesignTalent #CreativeCareers #DigitalFuture

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You've likely heard "pets are the new kids." But it's more nuanced than that, says Senior Creative Director Meredith Post: "We're noticing how pets are treated differently than children: they are an idyllic extension of a person's identity. We treat them better than we treat ourselves and use them as a signal of who we are and want to be.” It means pet CPG is extending into realms like personalized nutrition and luxurious self-care. For more insights from Meredith Post, Carina Sandoval and Kyle Schutte, head here: https://okt.to/fA9oNI #petbrands #petcpg #consumerstrategy #petcare

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Gen Z's obsession with routine and perfection has led to an explosion in GRWM beauty content. With so much similar content out there, it begs the question, how can beauty brands stand out? Craft's report, The Oversimplification of Gen Z, digs into the data and has recommendations for what beauty brands can do to demand attention in this crowded space. To understand more download our report The Oversimplification of Gen Z here: https://lnkd.in/embZQTNb

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Diversity in the workplace is essential for fostering a happier, healthier environment where creativity and productivity can thrive. This article from Birchbox explores seven key benefits of diversity, including enhanced creativity, better cultural sensitivity, increased profits, and a safer, more inclusive atmosphere for all employees. #InclusiveWorkplace #CreativeWorkEnvironment #LearnAndGrow

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Rather... "Rather than the usual 150 to 200 components of a running shoe, the Cloudboom Strike LS has only seven. Rather than being touched by about 100 people on an assembly line, it is touched, on average, by one. Rather than being put together by patternmakers, it is created using parametric design principles, and computational engineering. Rather than the fabric being dyed, color is added via inkjet. Rather than the production being outsourced to factories in Asia — in On’s case, in Indonesia and Vietnam — and then shipped around the world, the Cloudboom Strike LS will be made by new “production cells” in Zurich and in On’s other markets. That means that the time between production and delivery is much shorter. (The Cloudboom Strike LS goes from midsole to finished product in three minutes.) It also means that there is no waste on the cutting-room floor — no leftover materials or toxic glue to be thrown away — and significantly fewer carbon emissions. There should also be less stock left at the end of every season because the shoe is made closer to demand. And because the filament is a thermoplastic, the upper can be melted down and reused at the end of a shoe’s life cycle." #innovation #sustainable #design #top to #bottom

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My personal view of career progression for designers and creatives: Junior: Learn the tools Mid: Learn the tools some more, learn agency process Senior: Learn how to manage/lead 1 project while working on it ACD: Manage multiple projects (while working on them) CD: Manage multiple projects and a few people (still hands on) SCD/Deputy ECD: Manage lots of people and projects (much less hands on) ECD: Mainly managing people, processes and project setups (hands off) Top Tips: - Work under at least 5 CD's before you become a CD, learn what you do and don't like about the CD's you work under, taking what you like, ditching what you don't, before becoming one yourself. - Give yourself at least 15 years to get to CD level, you need that time to experience and master all the good and bad situations, so you always have a solution for your team when the tough times come.

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Exciting insights at the CEW event on Gen Z behavior! PIMS joined beauty industry leaders to explore the latest trends in engaging the Zoomer generation. At this event, our team learned more about: -Gen Z's paradox-driven demands reshaping consumerism, fostering interactive, real-time engagement with brands for personalized experiences and feedback -Gen Z's openness to trying new products poses a threat to brand loyalty and creates avenues for devising new strategies to redefine loyalty for future generations -Understanding the motivations of the fluid consumer and the power of leveraging UGC for Gen Z engagement -Much more Thank you to CEW for having us at this exclusive event and thank you to Anna Araman, Erin Cast, Shai Eisenman, Teresa Lopez, Joon Park, Ajay Salpekar, & Andrea Nagel for sharing your knowledge and findings with us all! We're completely ready to adapt and guide beauty brands focusing on this dynamic consumer group! Ayla Anaya Jumana Mordaga Alexandra (Ally) Grunstein Jillian Moran #influencermarketing #pims #warehousing #fulfillment #beauty #branding #marketing

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Brand Identity concept for a new CPG/DTC product. Can't share too much yet but it's coming along nicely! #cpgbranding #dtcbranding #brandidentity #branddesign #logodesign

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As responsible marketers, do we have a duty to address climate change? Many brands are now aware and are making significant efforts to benefit not only themselves but also the planet. In addition to sustainability, does this approach prove effective in marketing? Read the blog to know more. Link: https://rb.gy/hh4k44 #blog #goodread #marketing #branding #brands #brandbuilding #zerotoinfinity #gr8brews Manohar Bethapudi Kamalika Guha

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Where caring is a rainbow, and friendship shines bright. Care Bears, spreading love day and night #Bioswiss #Carebears #wellnessforeveryone #shapedbandages #bandages #health #branding #branddesign #packagingdesign #logodesign #productdesign #Bioswiss #wellness #firstaid #characterdesign #packaging #kidstoys #bandages https://lnkd.in/dbiGtXBp

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With inflation on the rise, consumers are turning to "dupes", or low-cost alternatives to big brands sparking a movement away from brand loyalty to trial of PVL and other second-tier brands.  NBC News highlights this trend, showcasing how consumers are actively seeking out and sharing successful dupes on social media. This represents a very opportune moment for Private Label brands to seize the day and capture loyal consumers seeking to switch from marquee brands to something “as good, only costs less” – with a brand refresh that elevates PVL products to their rightful place – dupe alternatives worthy of consumers love. #SustainableShopping #ConsumerTrends #EnvironmentalAwareness #ReduceWaste https://lnkd.in/g5CWdQZS

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I’m actually starting to believe that it’s not the market that’s the problem - it’s the recruiters. Just today, I see a “recruiter” who claims to advocate for his candidates, commenting on a thread where they were trying to say the big % of unqualified applicants is actually from unemployed folks who are just trying to show they applied to jobs - in other words, breaking the law to work over the system. There is zero data to back this claim. This is an opinion masked as facts. When I pointed this out, they double down by adding “10% of the people who apply for my jobs are unqualified” (confirmation bias) and that I couldn’t possibly know what I am talking about because I’m not a recruiter (again, confirmation bias). How can someone make such a large assumption jump with no data to back it up? Because it’s social media and all these recruiters are trying to “prove” their worth. Don’t fall for the lies and biased data. Recruiters: Do better than this guy. There are a million reasons why the wrong talent is applying for your job and most of those reasons are due to you, your job description, and where you post the job. Don’t make wild claims that the majority of applicants are breaking the law. Your opinion is not fact, and it’s harmful to claim they are facts. You’re allowed to have an opinion, but it needs to be stated as an opinion.

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In today's fast-paced world, it feels like we're hyper-consuming so much that we're essentially lapping ourselves. The sheer number of microtrends that have emerged and faded has made it nearly impossible to distinguish one from another. This phenomenon is challenging the traditional concept of the trend cycle. Amidst this whirlwind of fleeting fashions, Claire Hoe, Design Director at Sun Branding and a speaker at London Packaging Week 2024, provides valuable insight into navigating and leveraging these trends to create impactful and enduring packaging design. Easyfairs #sustainablepackaging #recyclability #packaging #sustainability #circulareconomy #recycledmaterials #resourceefficiency #womeninbusiness

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