Doug Jaeger on the Creative Benefits of Playing With Legos

In Chapter 1 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental in Shaping Who You Are Today?" Jaeger shares how playing with Legos shaped his creativity and imagination as a child as well as his relationship with his brother. To Jaeger, building Legos was less about following predefined set instructions and more about imagining something and building it with the blocks. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Learning Work Ethic From a Role Model Father

In Chapter 2 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "Where Did You Learn Your Work Ethic?" Jaeger learns his work ethic from his father, who focuses on finding ways to improve and grow. This inspires Jaeger to try and improve his own surroundings in and out of work. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Cultivating Creative Aspirations to Make a Difference

In Chapter 3 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "How Are Your Aspirations Changing As Your Experience Grows?" Jaeger continues to seek ways he can leave behind a legacy in what he creates. He works strike a balance between experimental projects such as silverware design and other ways to make things, including films, that can change user behavior or culture in meaningful ways. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Improving Teaching by Sharing Knowledge Online

In Chapter 4 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "How Are You Becoming a Better Teacher?" Jaeger finds that the Internet continues to make it easier and easier to share your knowledge and create a virtural mentoring environment with online learners and students. He looks for ways to share his thinking and work to get feedback and give away his knowledge to a larger audience outside the classroom. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Making an Art Gallery for His Community

In Chapter 5 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What Have You Learned From Starting an Art Gallery in New York City?" Jaeger shares what he and his partner, Kristin Sloan, have learned from starting an art gallery in their Lower East Side New York City studio space. From working with artists to curating shows to bringing art to the community, Jaeger seeks ways to make art more approachable in ways that bring people together. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Why Selling Your Work Starts With Selling Yourself

In Chapter 6 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in the Work That You Do?" As a professional, Jaeger shares why having confidence can make or break your ability to sell work. He shares an experience from working in advertising and doing a professional photography look book shoot for a fashion brand. Skilled at photography, he finds indecisiveness working on a set with models leads to not being successful completing the project. He compares this to how having confidence in his branding and marketing work has allowed him to Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Performing Under Pressure in a Creative Career

In Chapter 7 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What Does It Mean to Perform Under Pressure in the Work That You Do?" Jaeger shares how he first learned to perform under pressure working in advertising at TBWA/Chiat Day agency. There he learns what it means to be a creative designer who can stand out by performing under deadline pressure. He compares this skill to an athlete practicing and working up to a big shot in a big game. Jaeger also shares how doing deadline-based work has allowed him to use stress as an ally and motivational tool. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Turning One Project into a Multiyear Client Relationship

In Chapter 8 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What Experiences This Past Year Have Most Influenced the Direction of Your Company?" Jaeger shares how having a client shift from a three-month project commitment to a multiyear commitment has affected his business. It creates a sense of validation in the creative work he and his team is doing and gives him confidence to invest more in business infrastructure and systems to manage small business growth. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Why to Use a Lean Small Business Growth Strategy

In Chapter 9 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What New Challenges Are You Facing as You Grow Your Business?" As his small business grows, Jaeger tries his best to keep the company lean and nimble so it may adapt quickly to new projects and opportunities. For financial growth, Jaeger looks beyond client work to develop products that can scale beyond the services business. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on How to Build Trust and Get Retainer Client Business

In Chapter 10 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" Jaeger shares how consistency and reliability translate into trust and commitment. Building trust working with clients teaches Jaeger the importance of giving away ideas for free and also when to ask to get paid for your work. He shares how giving away ideas in ideation and brainstorming sessions has helped him add structure in how his company works with clients on a retainer consulting basis. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Growing Creative Capacity by Making Brand Films

In Chapter 11 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "How Have Your Client Projects Shaped How You Present Your Skills When Pitching Business?" Jaeger and his team invest in brand film projects to learn new capabilities. As they sell brand film work for clients, the project experiences inform new ways he and his team can evolve brand storytelling beyond film work and into media distribution and commercial filmmaking. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on the Give and Take of Creative Project Work Attribution

In Chapter 12 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What Steps Are You Taking to Get and to Give Credit for the Work That You Do?" An experienced advertising executive now making brand films about companies and their futures, Jaeger shares his perspective on giving credit and taking credit for client project work. He shares when it is and is not appropriate to get attribution for the work you do on a creative project collaboration. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on Managing and Motivating Creative Project Teams

In Chapter 13 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "How Are You Learning to Better Manage and Motivate Teams?" Jaeger finds how he works best in spurts and builds his management style around this on and off approach. He makes sure to check in with his team when taking breaks from his own work and make sure there are no obstacles in their way. He favors this more casual approach over planning regular meetings. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Doug Jaeger on What Makes Some Collaborations Better Than Others

In Chapter 14 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What Have You Found to Be the Keys to Creating Successful Project Collaborations?" Jaeger shares what he has learned about collaboration building film teams for production and post-production. He finds ways to build working relationships with people that have different skills and to bring the right mix of skills together when hiring production crews and project teams. Working in a creative director role, he shares the challenge of getting the skills mix right on a project and how he and his business partner have learned to assess fit take people off teams with the fit is not right. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

Why Study Computer Graphics at Syracuse University - Doug Jaeger

In Chapter 2 of 12 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, designer Doug Jaeger shares the decision inputs that informed his choice to study computer graphics at Syracuse University. He highlights influences across his friends, family, and personal interests. Ultimately Jaeger chooses Syracuse a strong balance between academics - science, history, English - and arts and design. Jaeger is a partner at design firm JaegerSloan - http://jaegersloan.com/ - and is also president of the Art Director's Club - http://www.adcglobal.org/ . Previously he founded thehappycorp and has served in creative director leadership roles at TBWA/Chiat/Day and JWT. Jaeger holds a BFA in Computer Graphics and Art Media Studies from Syracuse University.

Transcription: 

Erik Michielsen: When you were at Syracuse University, what propelled you to focus on computer graphics?

Doug Jaeger:  That's an interesting question. I went to Syracuse because I growing up had a friend, his name was Pete Berthold, and his father was an engineer at BellCorp. BellCorp was the company that defined all the business operating systems for the phone systems, and had the latest Macintosh computer at his house  all the time. In the basement, never being used. It was like the home computer that dad would use when we weren't around as kids, you know, we got home from school, dad wasn't there, we'd play with the computer. I learned about HyperCard and all these computer software way before schools had them, and uh, my friend Pete, my friend Sean, all these guys I was growing up with, were all playing with basic and basicA and all these crazy, geeky things.

Pete was one year older than me. And he was the year ahead of me doing research  he lived, you know, right down the block and he was doing research on what schools to go to, and he built this list of schools, and one was RISD, another one was, University of Arts in Philadelphia had a computer program, there was RIT, Syracuse was one of them - there were very few number of schools on the east coast I was limited because my parents didn't want me to go too far away. And, there was this idea Pete was just like, I'm going to Syracuse. 

And he came back during his break and told me all about you know the technology, and they had this really great SGI lab they were doing 3D modeling in, and he in a sense convinced me that this was a great place to go. Because Pete was a friend of mine, I trusted him.

We were doing a lot of the same things, we were both artists and we were making videos and we were using the computer and so he went there, and then as a result, I went there. And, I wanted to go to RISD because I thought it had greater, you know, creative output  in general it is a more creative school, but my parents felt really strongly, they wanted me to have a basis in academics. You know they wanted me to have science and history classes and English, they thought it was just really important. And so, although RISD has Brown as a sidepiece, they thought I would not do that. And so they felt that it's a school that could control me, put me in this little box where I would do all those things. And so, the city was not an option for me my parents grew up in the city, and they just didn't want me to go there and to learn there, they just thought it would be too corrupting and forced.

And so they wanted me to go somewhere protected, and so Syracuse was that place. And the program was computer graphics, which was half computer science and half art. And the art portion was photography, you know, studio photography, filmmaking, non-linear editing, 3D modeling and interaction design. And I also tried to take classes in conventional design  I had lots of peers that were in design courses as well. And so I was really able to kind of, you know, get experience very early on, on the full palate of what media is and its potential.