AIGA ATL Insider

Andy Epstein began his career as a freelance illustrator and designer before transitioning to in-house creative services - establishing and leading creative teams and actualizing operational and organizational infrastructure. His professional expertise includes creating, documenting, and implementing creative services and general business best practices. With a passion for professional development, leadership and team coaching, and creative team business strategy, Andy has supported dozens of in-house agencies. In addition to his professional pursuits, Andy has contributed to the creative services community, having written the book “The Corporate Creative.” He has also contributed extensively to industry online and print publications, delivered training through workshops and presentations for industry organizations, and led outreach and support initiatives for groups including AIGA and HOW. Andy Epstein firmly believes in the potential of in-house creative teams to drive substantial positive change within their host organizations. He sees their impact extending beyond the creative they deliver to clients. Andy is dedicated to advancing this positive impact by consistently establishing and supporting in-house creative agencies. He believes that business can change the world and that creatives can change business.

This month we have a special episode of Insider where we will interview three members of the UPS Global Communications Creative Studio. They’re expert storytellers, strategists, creatives…who know there audiences and craft remarkable and memorable messages that move them. They know where and how to reach them, and the voices influencing them. And above all, they protect and deliver UPS’s world-class brand in all they do. Each member that we are speaking to today have distinct roles that balance their team. There is Ben Rivers, Vice President of Creative Studio; Neil Secretario, Creative Director, and Kelli Stoudenmire, Manager and Senior Graphic Designer. 

Kevyn Faulkenberry is the Creative Director at The Brand Studio, an agency within Cox Communications. In late 2019, Kevyn came on board as one of two employees. One pandemic, forty-five employees, and 286,372 Teams meetings later, Kevyn can tell you a thing or two about building an agency from the ground up, leading through change, and always striving to do the best creative. Under his leadership, The Brand Studio went from a “what if” to a full-service creative powerhouse supporting America’s largest private broadband company.  Before coming to Cox, Kevyn worked with brands like McDonald’s, American Heart Association, Winn-Dixie, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, and more. Kevyn is a self-described pop culture addict. He lives with his beautiful wife, two daughters, and one celebrity, his dog, Phoebe Buffay.

Jermaine Barnwell is a Creative Director at RR Donnelley working onsite at The Home Depot. He leads and manages a team of more than thirty Creatives responsible for brand and creative strategy for The Home Depot’s In-Store Environment.   As a leader, problem solver and designer, Jermaine believes that with passion, pencil sketches and a “go for it” attitude you can achieve truly amazing things. In fact, earlier in his career while working a day job as a graphic design team lead for the Michigan-based retailer Meijer starting in 2005, he simultaneously explored a lifelong interest in fashion and design, essentially building a leather goods brand from the ground up on lunch breaks and at night. Sketches soon evolved into footwear, luggage, outerwear and accessories that were shown on runways and sold at stores in Chicago. Although he’s turned a chapter on fashion and product design, that determination and commitment to creativity have led directly to the leadership and mentoring roles he holds today.

Karolina Akimov is the Creative Services Manager at Mellow Mushroom. Her responsibilities include managing and creating brand campaign assets, working with freelance artists and directing photoshoots for food imagery. In addition, Karolina also is responsible for the holistic creative direction of the Yellow Room, Mellow Mushroom’s lifestyle brand. On the side, Karolina also enjoys illustrating private commissions and selling her own art prints and merchandise.

Darnell Baker is an award-winning, multi-disciplined visual designer and creative leader. Recently working as an Art Director supporting Chick-Fil-A's in-house agency, Darnell led a team of creatives while spearheading ideation and execution of compelling deliverables including assets for POP ad campaigns, key partnerships, internal presentations, and more.  His most highlighted projects during his tenure were for Chick-Fil-A's partnerships with professional sports franchises such as the Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Yankees. He and his team's work with the renowned fast-food brand can be seen today in sports arenas and Chick-Fil-A locations around the U.S.  Based in Atlanta, Darnell's passion for leadership and solution-driven design has allowed him to work with brands such as Honeywell, ADP, Twitter, Toshiba, and more. He attributes his growth and success to "always remaining a student." 

Ellen Westing is a Creative Service Manager at WestRock. Since becoming part of the team in 2020, Ellen has helped push the brand’s creative direction, developed a visual strategy for their social media, and has designed various collateral such as tradeshows, animations, and Sustainability Reports. She has also helped grow the design team to support both external and internal communications, social media, and website design. Prior to joining WestRock, Ellen enjoyed working in several different industries such as experiential design with 160/90, working as an Art Director at N+A Advertising and as a Graphic Designer at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Ellen grew up in the Midwest receiving her Bachelor’s in Biology from Bradley University and attending the Portfolio Center, completing their Graphic Design program.

Andrés Prieto is a Sr. UX Designer for Primerica Financial Services. Andrés joined Primerica in 2017 as part of an initiative to kickstart a brand new UX team. Since then he’s helped grow the company’s UX-Maturity Model and establish a UX CoE within the organization. He is responsible for leading the experience for all client facing products and tools. Before Primerica, has enjoyed working in product development and user-centered design across different digital multimedia agencies and companies, within and outside the US, like Univision, Goal.com and SunTrust.

For the past 8 years, Christopher Lapides has been the Creative Services Production Manager for Acuity Brands. In this position, he leads a team of production artists that work on a variety of marketing and product collateral to help improve brand equity, increase product sales, and drive market innovation. In addition, he manages the company’s Digital Asset Management System, develops multiple standard work and brand identity guidelines, and provides support for interdepartmental software and hardware launches. When he has free time, he enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and writing fantasy novels. So far, he has self-published twelve and is currently working on his thirteenth and fourteenth books.

I consider myself a lucky creative. Lucky that I’ve been working hard designing and leading creative for over 20 years. Lucky to work tackling design projects independently or alongside amazing designers and mentors. Lucky to use my skills in branding, art direction and concepting to tell a story or solve a problem in a creative and impactful way. Lucky that I’ve continually enhanced my skills and leadership in all kinds of print and digital creative within several in-house Atlanta companies, nonprofits and agencies. Lucky that my current role as Creative Lead is both challenging and rewarding as I build branding and creative solutions for merchandising, marketing, communications and more. Lucky that I still wake up every day excited to bring creative solutions and showcase why it’s good fortune to have me on board.