Jenna Josepher, Freelance Creative Director
💭 Learning new ways of working & being, less stress, and turning chaotic energy into constructive energy.
Thought Enthusiast is an AdHoc Project where we chat with fascinating thought leaders across various facets of music, tech, and culture whose work we admire, simply asking “what’s on your mind?” and “why do you care?” 💭
Jenna Josepher is an award-winning creative director, based in New York City. She has led creative for commercials, campaigns, brand identities, social media, music videos, and branded content. Having spent years at companies like The New York Times and Function of Beauty, she has provided a range of creative and strategic services to clients like Google, Amazon, Samsung, Spotify, Flatbush Cats, Instagram, and Exponents. Jenna’s interests span mental healthcare, color theory, sustainability, eye candy, memes, carnivorous plants, and the Oxford comma.
🐈 Affordable vets & animal care
I just wrapped a creative strategy project for a global B2B company, and I'm currently helping to open an affordable veterinary clinic in Flatbush, Brooklyn — this is an extension of my volunteer work with Flatbush Cats animal rescue. Additionally I'm working with a handful of boutique brands on a range of needs from developing their style guide, to strategic positioning, production, and content partnerships.
🤸♀️ Learning new ways of working and being
I've been working in studio, agency, and brand environments for over 12 years now, and at this phase in my career I'm really interested in using my skill sets to be as helpful to others as possible. Whether that means mentoring or teaching to encourage others to achieve their goals, or broadly working towards something that will contribute to the greater good. I'm also doing what I can to remain flexible and ensure that I'm always open to learning new ways of working and being.
🙈 Less stress
I'm trying to not let other people's stress stress me out.
⚡️ Chaotic energy into constructive energy
A former manager [...] was able to remain grounded, strong, and sympathetic through both professional and personal trials. She was able to turn an unbalanced situation into something constructive and fruitful for everyone around her. When I think about who makes a difference in the day-to-day, it comes back to people like her.
👒 SSENSE
I think their approach to social and editorial content in the last 6 months or so has been really refreshing. Brands hopping on a social trend or creating their own commentary to contribute to topical conversation can often feel feigned or cringe, but at Ssense they are kind of creating their own lane, and I'm here for it.
🦾 Not just a tech flex
So much feels contrived right now; a lot of clients just want the shiny new thing without taking a step back to see if it makes holistic sense for them at that moment. What cut through for me are the campaigns that are cohesive from message, to visual, to platform, to user journey, something that's not just a tech flex. I also love to see when brands are having fun, e.g. the Grimace takeover that McDonald's did earlier this year or all the different approaches that the Heinz team has taken at WK.
Follow Jenna Josepher on Instagram & check out her website here.