Lauren Rascoe is the definition of a Renaissance woman! As an actress, writer, graphic designer, and more, she embodies the quintessential spirit of exploration as a creative. Recently, she has had the pleasure of working on the branding and messaging with the amazing RUNWAY. In this interview, Lauren shares her experiences of finding her creative path and working with bombilla.

Tell us about your creative path.

My creative career path has been literally created along the way due to my curiosity. Growing up in Indiana, where there is a tendency to push young professionals towards careers in STEM, I felt there was a lack of space and access to opportunities that allowed creatives, like myself, to explore and navigate what a successful creative career looked like. Growing up, I was into arts and crafts, jewelry making, fashion, nail art, was a musician (piano/saxophone), dancer, in the color guard, etc. However, I thought I was going to be a doctor because it was the practical career path to choose. Thanks to Grey’s Anatomy and realizing I wasn’t game to hold someone else’s life in my hands during my senior year of high school, I decided to explore my true passion of being a creative.

Thanks to Grey’s Anatomy and realizing I wasn’t game to hold someone else’s life in my hands during my senior year of high school, I decided to explore my true passion of being a creative.

I studied Visual Communication Design and Experience Design in undergrad at the University of Indianapolis and immediately went to get my Master of International Marketing degree from Hult International Business School. After completing that degree, I worked at Eastern Star Church as the Communications Coordinator for three and a half years before moving to Oakland to work at YR Media as the National Network Coordinator. Within that 10 year window that brought me to this present day, I have explored many creative outlets. I am now an author, experience designer, graphic designer, event planner, podcaster, fashionista, fitness junkie, international marketer, model, actress, motivational speaker, poet, world traveler, and then some.

What kind of design projects do you most enjoy working on?

I really enjoy working on branding projects and helping people tell their stories. To me, it’s a happy marriage of flexing my graphic design and marketing skills, but also a chance to explore the best way to communicate the narrative and really lean into the magic of experience design. I love being able to help people get lost in the experience of a brand, the same way we get lost in movies or books. It’s really an exciting thing to do.

What makes bombilla stand out from other creative workplaces?

To me, Bombilla really is a community. It doesn’t feel like a corporate design agency setting, but a movement we all get to choose to be a part of. I think the atmosphere of collaboration, connection, and creativity just pours out of the seams and makes it feel like such a welcoming and powerful environment to be in. I love that I get to work with some of the dopest creators and how we get to use our gifts and talents to help those organizations and clients that are making real change in the world. I love how we all get to rise to the occasion to be lit on purpose and show up as our best, whole selves. It’s restorative and releases the pressures of upholding the “corporate” status quo that is inhumane and inflexible. This environment reminds me of what cool things “I get to do” vs. the heavy feeling of “what I have to do.”

To me, Bombilla really is a community...it’s restorative and releases the pressures of upholding the “corporate” status quo that is inhumane and inflexible. This environment reminds me of what cool things “I get to do” vs. the heavy feeling of “what I have to do.”

Tell me about a memorable experience with any of the different clients bombilla has worked for.

I’ve only had one project so far, but I have LOVED working with RUNWAY in partnership with Ivi and Aaron Joseph from Identafire.  Getting to know this client and their work has been inspirational.  I was extremely nervous working on the messaging guide, because a lot of what they’re doing is innovative and had yet to have words that could completely convey where they are and where they are going.  It was a lot of work to get to the root and then build out a brand story that made sense for RUNWAY, but it came together beautifully and I was so grateful to add my perspective and gifts to this piece of the rebrand.  I’m excited for the way RUNWAY will tell their story and am confident that anyone who has the pleasure to connect with them will buy-in to the movement instantly.

It was a lot of work to get to the root and then build out a brand story that made sense for RUNWAY, but it came together beautifully

What's the last song you played?

Well, Frank by Alina Baraz is currently playing. But prior to it starting, Hi by Erykah Badu

What has the global pandemic taught you?

The pandemic has taught me that I am the most ambitious person I know and that my curiosity and creativity know no bounds. I’ve explored so many different creative interests since we’ve been home.  It has made me really lean into my natural abilities which has been so therapeutic and empowering. To be this young, this talented, and Black has reminded me I have so much to give and I’m excited to see what other realized dreams I can bring to the world.

To be this young, this talented, and Black has reminded me I have so much to give and I’m excited to see what other realized dreams I can bring to the world.

What advice would you give to someone that’s starting a career in the creative field?

You don’t have to choose one path or one medium. A lot of people tried to get me to choose one thing, but I’ve found over the length of my career that my curiosity and ambition led me into some cool opportunities that have helped make me a more well-rounded creative. Don’t be afraid to try new things or to fail. All the endeavors eventually make for good stories and cool flashbacks.

You don’t have to choose one path or one medium...Don’t be afraid to try new things or to fail. All the endeavors eventually make for good stories and cool flashbacks.

Shoutout to our 2020 fall intern Yandia Miñana Pérez for conducting this interview!

Donna Chan is one of bombilla's incredibly talented web designer. bombilla projects she has brought that talent to include PL+US and Caring Across Generations. In this interview, Donna chats about the importance of human connection and empathy while working with clients, her creative process, and the changes in lifestyle and perspective that the pandemic has brought.

What led you to pursue a career related to/in the social sector/creative field?

I've always wanted to do work for social good, so I was actually bioengineering pre-med in college! So it was a long journey of discovering that my affinity, strengths, and love lay primarily in creative pursuits —first with drawing, then acting, and then designing. And now, as a freelancer designer, feel like I have this wonderful balance of working creatively and analytically for clients tackling social issues that I care about.

Where do you get inspiration from? Describe your creative process.

I love getting started with a good foundation of clarifying the goals and a round of exploration with feedback early to make the actual process of designing smoother. With the client, I’ll get detailed on the goals that we’re trying to achieve so that we’re crystal clear. Then, I’ll do some exploration, delving into realms that are the same, related, or a stone’s throw away as inspiration. Pinterest, Dribble, and Google are my best friends! I like to collect anything and everything that sparks something, and then, once compiled, I’ll cut, organize, and refine ideas based on the project goals and present them for feedback. This initial round of feedback just sets up the entire project well so that I can really get a sense of what works for the client before delving into hours of design work.

I love getting started with a good foundation of clarifying the goals and a round of exploration with feedback early to make the actual process of designing smoother.

What makes bombilla stand out from other creative workplaces?

Bombilla has been one of the best environments that I’ve worked in and I’m so grateful to Ivellisse and the team! Everyone, from the team to the clients, are human-centered in the truest sense. We all lead from a place of heart and connection. This only enriches every working moment to be joyful and even more productive, collaborative, and inspiring.

Everyone, from the team to the clients, are human-centered in the truest sense. We all lead from a place of heart and connection. This only enriches every working moment to be joyful and even more productive, collaborative, and inspiring.

Is there an example of a project where you disagreed with the client’s feedback? How did you handle it?

When feedback is centered around form, I always try to get to the root of the feedback — the why, the function. Why do they not like this or why do they want to go a different direction? Oftentimes, this helps reveal an underlying functional reason, from which we can then have a more fruitful conversation around how the form does or doesn’t best serve the function or goals.

When feedback is centered around form, I always try to get to the root of the feedback — the why, the function.

How do you cope with what’s happening all around the country and/or World? (War, discrimination, injustice, exploitation, ecoanxiety, systemic racism, etc.) Any tips?

Unplugging from social media, along with taking focused action, has done wonders for me [last] year. Before I deactivated most of my social media accounts, I did as much research as I could on what issues I wanted to focus on and what would be the most meaningful actions to take for each. That way, I channeled all my energy into actions, like text-banking, calling legislators, and donating to vetted organizations, while keeping my emotional health steady.

How has the pandemic affected/changed you/your life?

It made me realize how much time I used to spend running around and how much of a distraction that was from living more intentionally. So this time has been like a pressure cooker and has really helped me distill what’s truly important in my life. How do I want to be spending my time? How do I want to feel day-to-day or hour-to-hour? How do I want my body to feel? Who do I want to be interacting with? I’m still working through these questions, but bringing a conscious lens to them is an outcome that I’m most grateful for from the pandemic.

It made me realize how much time I used to spend running around and how much of a distraction that was from living more intentionally... How do I want to be spending my time? How do I want to feel day-to-day or hour-to-hour? How do I want my body to feel? Who do I want to be interacting with?

What advice would you give to someone that’s starting a career in the creative field?

Create, create, create! If you don’t know where to start, there are many helpful articles and resources online that I found to help jumpstart my journey. Whether it’s a pro-bono project, paid project, or self-guided project, through the process of creating, you’ll learn so much about yourself and where you’d like to take your career. Like, what type of creative work do you actually like to spend time doing? What parts of the process give you joy and which don’t? Who do you like to create for? What problems do you like solving?

Create, create, create!

Shoutout to our 2020 fall intern Yandia Miñana Pérez for conducting this interview!

Aaron Joseph is the founder of web and graphic design agency Identafire, which specializes in graphic, web, and print design. Identafire and bombilla have co-created brilliant web and design projects, including RUNWAY and PL+US Paid Leave Presidential Scorecard.

What led you to bombilla? Tell us about your creative path.

I was really lucky to attend a high school that had really strong art and theatre programs. I was involved in stage crew and light crew for our high school productions, and eventually became the lighting director until I graduated in 1999. The few students I worked with on light crew were the only people who knew how to run the lights, so we got paid to operate the lighting console for assemblies or when the district rented out the theatre! That was pretty cool.

I also loved to collect all kinds of weird shit I’d find on the street with the intention of making art with it. Maybe 10% of that stuff actually made it into some kind of art piece. My art teacher saw that I really came alive when I made all this weird stuff, and allowed me to work as an AP student in art class. I got to self-direct my artmaking. I won the school’s Artistic Achievement award that year. Interestingly, most of the students I have kept in touch with that were in the theatre or art programs at that school (a public school!) are in some type of creative role today.

So I knew I wanted to pursue something creative with my life. I wasn’t clear what shape that would take and I kind of half-assed my way through GE classes at SF State for a couple years until I eventually dropped out because I just didn’t know what I was doing there. I did take some art classes there and I loved those. Eventually I decided to go to art school. I went to The School Art Institute of Chicago where I studied fiber art and printmaking. I like to say I got a degree in crocheting and screen printing, which is basically true as those were my main mediums. But I did also take some really rigorous art history classes, a green economics class, and a really interesting and INCREDIBLY rigorous class on mixed race identity. I did not take any viscom classes while I was there. I thought I’d be a studio artist, and that’s something that I would love to get back into, but I didn’t feel I could support myself that way right out of college, and I guess I’m not cut out to be a starving artist (and artists should be valued and paid well, but that’s a different conversation).

So I knew I wanted to pursue something creative with my life

I waited tables and made espresso for a number of years while taking some basic design classes at Berkeley City College. My first design job was as a Web Designer, back when there were just “Web Designers” and not UX Designers and UI Designers. If you were a good, productive designer, they rewarded you by putting a phone on your desk and making you take distracting web support calls for the sites we designed. Eventually our department basically shuttered and we all got laid off. 

After waiting some more tables, I got a job as an Ad Designer at the San Francisco Bay Guardian. This was my first experience working on a design team and I LOVED it. I loved the people, I loved the local, feisty, scrappy, independent journalism bent on the work. I loved seeing our work get published every week and distributed to thousands of people in the community. Then the paper got sold and I got laid off. 

Later, I got hired at the same company that bought the SFBG, but working on The SF Examiner. Later, I became Production Manager at the SF Weekly, and finally, Creative Director of the SF Media Company that published all those papers. Then I watched as they closed the SFBG and the work environment became incredibly toxic. My former colleagues were now my direct reports. I had been freelancing on the side. I decided to strike out on my own, and here we are!

What do you think makes you or someone a good designer?

Humility, empathy, and seeking out the experts. Admittedly, I do most of my work alone, but I know my best work is done when I try to take my ego out of it (which is hard for someone who fancies themself an artist as well as a designer) and design from a place of being of service; finding the best solution for the client and end users. I think you have to let go of the reigns sometimes. Something you never thought of will usually arise as the solution when working with others, and you would never get there if you just continued working with blinders on, head down at your computer and not coming up for air or asking for the input, insight, and expertise of others.

I know my best work is done when I try to take my ego out of it... and design from a place of being of service; finding the best solution for the client and end users.

What makes bombilla stand out from other creative workplaces?

They are open to partnering with my company, Identafire, and give me autonomy when I partner with them. They really value finding the perfect fit for a project, even if it’s not them. I know our two companies are aligned on values of social justice, combating anti-Black racism and racism in general, working with and uplifting designers of color, queer designers, valuing our work appropriately, valuing our collaborators appropriately (and showing it!), and acknowledging the challenges and limitations that we all experience as human beings (as opposed to creating a toxic workplace where being stressed out and working while you’re sick and being afraid of your bosses and extreme hierarchies are the norm). Also, for a virtual agency, there’s a pretty good sense of belonging to a community similar to what I experienced working on design teams in an in-person setting.

I know our two companies are aligned on values of social justice, combating anti-Black racism and racism in general, working with and uplifting designers of color, queer designers, valuing our work appropriately, valuing our collaborators appropriately (and showing it!), and acknowledging the challenges and limitations that we all experience as human beings

Why do you think an organization should choose bombilla for its branding and design needs?

I recently worked on a branding project for RUNWAY with Bombilla. The level of service and expertise, the facilitation of a well-thought-out process for getting to the essence of the organization, the inclusion of stakeholders, the space to create and try something new as a designer, and Ivi’s deep understanding of all the moving pieces and essential components and highs and lows and potential pitfalls really blew me away.

What show do you recommend we binge this weekend?

Killing Eve. I slept on this show for so long. It’s so good! I feel like I’m not the best judge of “good” acting, but the actress who plays Villanelle is AMAZING. Oh, and Lovecraft Country.

What has the global pandemic taught you?

That community is so important. And that the U.S. has more problems than I could have imagined. Wear a damn mask, people! I also learned how to bake sourdough bread (focaccia is my specialty) and chocolate cake from scratch.

What advice would you give to someone that’s starting a career in the creative field?

Say yes to new opportunities. Learn everything you can in every role. Be humble. Be humble. Be humble. No one likes an egomaniacal designer, even if they’re talented. Don’t let your work be used for evil if you can help it. Have fun! Always keep learning (it staves off burnout). Schedule time off for yourself!  Stop doing work for free.

Be humble. Be humble. Be humble.

Shoutout to our 2020 fall intern Yandia Miñana Pérez for conducting the interview!

Dear Community,

We’re the creative directors of our shared future on this beautiful blue planet we call home. How are we going to individually and collectively step up to solve the great social, political and environmental crises of our time? We need antiracist players at all levels, in all sectors and in all positions. We need as many people as possible to be #litonpurpose. To be #litonpurpose is to embody the change the world needs by focusing on how our individual creative gifts can collectively make the world brighter. Change starts with you (us). 

What keeps me inspired is the power of creativity, community and collaboration to spark change. In the words of National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman: “There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” 

At bombilla, we’re embodying our light! We’re a small and mighty team with big dreams of a world free of racial, economic and social oppression. Meet the brilliant humans making change happen:

oakland, CA | creative project manager + designer

Specializes in illustration and animation.
Geeks out over sci-fi, fostering kittens, and weekend road trips.

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alameda, CA | admin + biz manager

Specializes in business operations.
Geeks out over Charlotte Mason homeschooling, local foodie eats, and latest tech.

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boston, MA | creative project manager + strategist

Specializes in nonprofit communications strategy.
Geeks out over zoology, science fiction, dinosaurs, and gardening.

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oakland, CA | designer

Specializes in design and packaging.
Geeks out over sneakers, print design, and plants.

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los angeles, CA | graphic designer

Specializes in design, UX, and photography.
Geeks out over word origins, future-forecasting, urban (and non-urban) wildlife, and Rebecca Solnit.

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oakland, CA | founder & CEO

Specializes in ideation, brainstorms and values-driven branding.
Geeks out over creativity, the apocalypse and the power of people to make change.

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mayagüez, PR | fall 2020 brandtern

Recent graduate of University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez.
Specializes in creative strategy and content creation.
Geeks out over environmental justice, eco-friendly hacks, vegan recipes, and cocker spaniels.

oakland, CA | creative project manager + strategist

Specializes in content strategy and storytelling.
Geeks out over the AP Stylebook, underground art shows, and anything sci-fi.

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Shoutout to our 2020 fall intern Yandia Miñana Pérez for facilitating these interviews!