Suzi Jones began her art direction career at Giorgio Armani in 1999. From there she moved to Barneys New York where she spent nine highly creative years working with Simon Doonan as the VP of Advertising. In 2008 Suzi left Barneys to pursue a freelance career, garnering clients such as Cole Haan, IWC, Jonathan Adler, J Crew, Laird+Partners and T the New York Times Style Magazine. Since 2013 she has served as a creative consultant at Warby Parker and has held Creative Director positions at Gap and Bergdorf Goodman. She recently joined Warby Parker full time as Head of Brand Design. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, a best-selling author, two daughters and a King Charles Spaniel.
questionnaire
What was your very first job?
Working with a jewelry designer.
Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails.
Overseeing the creative for Warby Parker including photography, visual and design.
How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? What was there train of events that brought you to where you are today?
A elementary school teacher told my parents I had artistic talent. They encouraged artistic pursuits throughout my life. When I moved to New York after college I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or how to fit art into my life. In the need to pay rent, I fell into talent negotiation at an advertising agency. I hated it so much that I begged my way into a job as an art buyer and I went to Parsons at night.
In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?
I find New York City to be endlessly inspiring. I also find inspiration from collaboration with other creative people.
If you had to pick one piece of work or project that you are most proud of, more for the creative work and innovation it required, rather than its recognition or industry “success,” what would it be?
I'm incredibly proud of the work I did at Bergdorf Goodman bringing new life to the creative for the magazine and digital experience.