IN THIS EPISODE…
Digital design and marketing fluctuate constantly, so brands and agencies must refine their messaging and creative strategies to stay abreast of industry changes.
Welcome to this episode of Matters of Creative, where Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews Jenny Ridenour, the Creative Director at M Agency, about adapting to the changing landscape of design and marketing. Jenny reflects on the challenges and learning curves designers face, including the intense pace of change within the industry and the struggle for continuous innovation.
Having started her creative career using physical mediums like film, marketer and designer Jenny Ridenour had to adjust to the digital realm by remaining agile and embracing continuous learning. In a digital-first environment, she recommends refining visual storytelling methods to capture consumers’ limited attention spans. With any digital creative campaign, the storytelling must be authentic and consistent across all platforms to connect and resonate with diverse audiences and create a unified brand experience.
Listen today to learn how to combine the most innovative design, marketing, and creative strategies to elevate your branding.
About our guest:
Jenny Ridenour is the Creative Director of M Agency, a full-service creative agency in Tacoma, Washington. In her role, she develops creative campaign strategies, ensuring alignment between visual storytelling, marketing, and branding. With nearly two decades of design and branding experience, Jenny co-founded and helped grow a seven-figure business and then sold it to continue her creative journey.
Learn more about Jenny:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-ridenour/
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [1:22] Jenny Ridenour describes her role as the Creative Director at M Agency
- [2:29] Jenny’s inspiration behind her lifelong pursuit of creativity
- [6:10] Why a solid marketing strategy is essential for creative campaigns
- [7:50] The significance of visual storytelling in audience engagement
- [9:18] How authenticity impacts brand development
- [14:53] Adaptability: the key to an ever-changing design landscape
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Quotable Moments:
- “I’ve always just loved art and been passionate about it… it just seemed really natural for me to kind of transition [into a design career].”
- “Design work is a lot of problem-solving… whereas drawing and painting are so much more creative and free-flowing.”
- “The visuals are what captures them, and then the messaging is what keeps them.”
- “People are looking for authenticity in images… they want to connect.”
- “Everything’s Google-able.”
Action Steps:
- Dive into strategic research to understand the overlap between a brand’s passions and its audience’s needs: Understanding both parts is crucial for crafting branding that hits the sweet spot.
- Embrace the digital transformation while maintaining an authentic brand identity: Authenticity resonates with today’s consumers, making this strategy more relevant than ever.
- Incorporate painting or drawing to supplement digital design work and refresh creative energy: Engaging in different art forms can reignite creativity for digital tasks, offering designers a rejuvenating outlet.
- Consider cautiously integrating AI into marketing strategies while preserving a human touch: Leveraging AI effectively can boost efficiency without sacrificing the human authenticity that connects with audiences.
- Pursue continuous learning and adaptability in the face of an evolving design industry: Jenny Ridenour’s career evolution showcases the importance of staying current with trends and technology to keep up with the rapid pace of change.
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by M Agency, a full-service creative marketing agency in Tacoma, Washington.
We are a strategic partner for companies wanting to build memorable brands, websites, and marketing campaigns.
Our team of creative professionals leverages their unique talents and skills to provide various branding, design and development, marketing, and creative services.
If you’re ready to take action with your marketing, visit https://whatisyourm.com/.