Climbing at Rockville Center

Photo Credit: Kurt Matthews

Hillsborough, N.J., April 24, 2012 – JK Design, a leading creative services agency with offices in New York and New Jersey, has hired an account coordinator for its Manhattan office.

Valerie Buccino serves as the liaison between the agency’s design team and its NYC-area clients, working closely with project managers to confirm that all project requirements are met, oversee quality control procedures, and ensure that clients receive the highest level of service.

Valerie brings a diverse background in sales, marketing, PR, and event planning to her new role at the agency. Prior to joining JK Design, she worked at several major media and entertainment outlets, including “The Late Show with David Letterman,” CNBC, New Jersey Network (NJN) News, and WMGQ FM/WCTC AM. She also provided support for corporate partnerships with the New York Jets. She holds degrees in journalism and public relations from Rowan University.

“Valerie is a great addition to our team who is helping us deliver superior service to our rapidly expanding client base,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “Since opening our Manhattan branch in 2009, we’ve developed important new relationships with major clients based in the city and throughout the metropolitan area. With Valerie on board, we’re better positioned than ever to help them reach their goals – and exceed their expectations.”

JK Design’s New York office is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station. The agency’s headquarters is in the historic Staats House in Hillsborough, NJ.

About JK Design
In business for over 25 years, JK Design is a creative services agency specializing in strategy and branding, print, web, mobile, interactive, and video projects. Recent honors include two Telly awards, a Communicator award, several MarCom Awards, and a Gold Hermes Creative Award. The agency provides a wide range of innovative design, advertising, and marketing services, including: web design and development, iPad and mobile app development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging, and online virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com.

As JK Design continues to grow as a full-service agency, we have been spending more time and dedicating resources to expanding our capabilities so that we can better serve our clients.

Recently, this expansion has included adding several talented individuals to our team. In this installment of our ongoing series, we’re featuring Katherine Armstrong, our VP of Video Production since 2011. Katherine took a few minutes to talk about how she’s taking our video department to the next level.

Omar Joseph (OJ): You were hired last year in 2011, but we worked with you on a number of projects before you got here. Tell me about how your relationship with JK Design began.

Katherine Armstrong (KA): The VP of New Business Development, Andrea Wolkofsky, called me to work as a freelance producer and director for a project she had coming up. We got along really well and the video was such a success that she went back to the team and pitched me for the full-time job.

After doing some wonderful work with JK Design’s president, Jerry Kaulius, we sealed the deal.

OJ: I’ve read your bio and noticed that you have an intriguing work history. Can you talk a bit about your career path?

KA: I began my career in the entertainment business, moving to Los Angeles from Detroit while not quite out of my teens. My first love and passion was acting, and I enjoyed success in the television and film industry, but always had a hand in producing theater. I was involved in friends’ projects as everything from production assistant to casting director to production management to – finally – field directing and producing.

When I decided to jump into producing full time, I was blessed with great connections and mentored by really amazing people. I left LA after my daughter was born and continued as a freelance production coordinator, manager, producer, and director in New York and New Jersey.

OJ: We’ve been doing some wonderful work since you arrived. You’ve started to build your team and our video department is growing fast. Can you tell me about your vision for the department?

KA: Video is such an incredible way for clients to get their message across. When I came on board I really wanted my creative passion for the medium to shine through in every area. I absolutely love what I do and I wanted to build a sense of excitement for everyone.

My goal has been to merge an out-of-the-box creative vision with the structure of the corporate world. It has also been amazing to be surrounded by a team of artists working hard to support our clients’ desires and bottom lines while giving them a new vision of what’s possible in video.

OJ: Can you tell me about how the creative process has changed?

KA: One of the shifts I’ve seen is in the area of collaboration with our graphic designers on ‘hybrid’ videos. These are video productions combining live action and motion graphics.

We collaborate on each script with the writer, brainstorm all the possibilities for the video, and storyboard it out as usual – but now we are all involved in generating creative ideas for all modes of video, from After Effects animations to live action to combinations of both.

Recently, we’ve rented green screen sound stages and combined on-screen talent with the virtual worlds we’ve created. It’s got everyone really inspired.

OJ: You recently traveled with your team to Paris for a few video shoots. Tell me about that experience.

KA: Oui! We did. It was amazing. We are thrilled to have a wide variety of global clientele that we collaborate with. To be asked to travel to Paris to produce and direct is really a testament to the relationships that our sales representatives and account managers have created.

OJ: I’ve noticed that our clients are starting to dedicate more resources to video projects. Have you noticed this trend? What do you attribute that shift to?

KA: I’m hopeful that the energy and excitement our department feels for the work we do has supported the promotion of video to our team internally as well as to the client.

But to answer your question more specifically, I think we live in a ‘YouTube world.’ People are spending more time on sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo, and because of that our clients are looking for new ways to connect with them using messaging that is unique, entertaining, and visually stimulating.

Video is the perfect way to meet all of their needs and stay up to date with social networking trends. I see us doing more and more video for everything from standard websites to iPad apps and QR code-enabled videos accessible on the back of a client’s business card. The possibilities are endless! It’s exciting to see that our clients are serious about taking advantage of these opportunities.

OJ: You’re still in the early stages of building your team. How do you balance creating quality work with tight timeframes and resources?

KA: It really is exciting to see things growing so quickly. The department has been thriving for a long time, but now it feels like we’re in the middle of a serious renaissance.

I’ve got a group of talent around me that steps up when things really start to ramp up. It takes a lot of choreography to keep it all moving. It comes down to scheduling, more scheduling, and re-scheduling. I just keep the plates spinning.

Maybe that’s how I taught yoga for so many years – did I mention that I teach yoga?  I enjoy learning, practicing, and maintaining balance.

OJ: What do you enjoy most about your job?

KA: I’m so proud of the work everyone in this company does. I’m so impressed by the work ethic, the level of quality, and the people I see standing for the excellence they believe in. I see it in the developers, designers, writers, artists, and the sales and executive teams, and it is really a reflection of the kind of environment that Jerry has created. It’s the people, passion, and projects that keep flying in that make this an incredible place to be. And I’m incredibly lucky to be a part of it.

Hillsborough, N.J., February 28, 2012 – JK Design, a leading creative services agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, announced that the company has promoted Joe Jordan to the position of interactive creative director.

Since joining JK Design in 2005, Joe has brought his uniquely modern design style, technical expertise, and knowledge of advanced software packages to client projects including print initiatives, websites, smartphone and tablet apps, and motion graphic videos. In 2007 he became the agency’s interactive art director, providing creative direction on a broad range of multimedia projects.

In his new role, Joe will lead JK Design’s team of interactive designers and animators during the graphic design and animation process for interactive projects. He will also work closely with the director of creative and marketing services to develop marketing strategies for the agency’s major clients.

“Joe’s creative contributions have helped to fuel our growth and drive our clients’ success,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “Both our clients and staff have come to rely on his artistic talent and confident creative direction. In this new position, he will help us deliver an even higher level of quality, innovation, and excitement in every interactive project.”

JK Design’s headquarters is located in the historic Staats House in Hillsborough, NJ. The agency also has an office in the Chelsea neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station.

About JK Design
In business for over 25 years, JK Design is a creative services agency specializing in strategy and branding, print, web, mobile, interactive, and video projects. Recent honors include two Telly awards, a Communicator award, several MarCom Awards, and a Gold Hermes Creative Award. The agency provides a wide range of innovative design, advertising, and marketing services, including: web design and development, iPad and mobile app development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging, and online virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com.

Contact: Jerry Kaulius, JK Design, jerry@jkdesign.com

Corporate Headquarters
JK Design
465 Amwell Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
908-428-4700
908-428-4701 (fax)

New York Office
JK Design
44 W 28th Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10001
646-794-4180
646-794-4184 (fax)

Hillsborough, N.J., February 14, 2012 – For the third year in a row, leading New Jersey/New York City creative services firm JK Design has received multiple MarCom Awards from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). The annual awards are presented to print, visual, and audio entries judged to be outstanding in quality, creativity, and resourcefulness.

The agency’s three winning 2011 entries were created for two corporate clients and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

JK Design received a Platinum Award, the competition’s highest honor, for a brochure entitled “For the Love of Horses.” Featuring beautiful imagery, creative text treatments, and a sleek look, the 12-page piece was designed as a fundraising tool for the Rutgers Equine Science Center, a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station dedicated to better horse care through research and education to advance the well-being and performance of horses and the equine industry.

Another brochure, featuring the AZUR Peripheral HydroCoil Embolization System, won a Gold Award in the competition. The visually striking design creatively illustrates the device’s larger-size offerings in embolization coils and provides technical product information. It was created as a versatile sales tool for Terumo Interventional Systems, a strategic business unit of Terumo Medical Corporation, a worldwide leader in medical device manufacturing.

The third 2011 MarCom winner, the “Vital Update Campaign,” is a redesign of a multifaceted internal marketing campaign produced for Tyco International. Campaign collateral was updated with a fresh look and feel, highlighting new enterprise-wide initiatives and recent changes in organizational structure. A longtime JK Design client, Tyco is a leading global provider of electronic security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, and valves and controls.

JK Design also received two honorable mentions in the competition: one for a brochure featuring Terumo’s Glidesheath product and another for “ourQuest” magazine, designed for Quest Diagnostics, a leading provider of diagnostic testing, information, and services.

“These awards mark a strong finish to a very successful year,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “As we begin 2012 with our largest staff and most diverse range of capabilities in the history of our company, I’m very proud that our talented creative team has once again been recognized for the skill and artistic vision they bring to every client project.”

JK Design’s winning MarCom entries were chosen from about 6,000 entries from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies, and freelancers around the world.

Hillsborough, N.J., February 8, 2012 – JK Design, a leading creative services agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, has enhanced the capabilities of its video and interactive division with the addition of a new motion graphics animator.

Gary Looft has nearly 20 years of experience in the video and broadcast media industries. Prior to joining JK Design, he worked as a freelance editor and animator of motion graphics for television commercials, corporate videos, and various broadcast productions. His clients included CNN, Bravo, Nickelodeon, HBO Verizon, American Express, Samsung, and the U.S. Army. He also created large-format video installations for major corporate conventions as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress.

At JK Design, Gary uses his expertise in Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, and other sophisticated software packages to create visually compelling motion graphics and visual effects for videos, websites, digital signage, and other client projects.

He is an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in After Effects, an Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) in Mac OS X 10.6, and a Digital Signage Certified Expert. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kean University.

“The demand for our video and multimedia services is growing rapidly, and our clients are looking to us for fresh ideas,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “With his extensive experience and excellent technical and design skills, Gary is helping us incorporate innovative animation techniques into our projects – and offer our clients exciting new ways to connect with their audiences.”

JK Design’s headquarters is located in the historic Staats House in Hillsborough, NJ. The agency also has an office in the Chelsea neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station.

About JK Design

In business for over 25 years, JK Design is a creative services agency specializing in strategy and branding, print, web, mobile, interactive, and video projects. Recent honors include two Telly awards, a Communicator award, several MarCom Awards, and a Gold Hermes Creative Award. The agency provides a wide range of innovative design, advertising, and marketing services, including: web design and development, iPad and mobile app development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging, and online virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com.

Hillsborough, N.J., January 11, 2012 – JK Design, a leading creative services agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, has significantly expanded its staff and capabilities with four new hires.

Martha Marchesi brings nearly 30 years of advertising and marketing experience to her position as director of creative and marketing services. A veteran of Madison Avenue, Martha has worked at nationally known agencies developing strategic solutions and crafting award-winning creative campaigns for clients such as Chevrolet, AT&T, Xerox, and Revlon. In addition to her creative duties, Martha specializes in branding and marketing workshops that help clients define and execute powerful, persuasive messaging. Martha earned a BS in communications from Boston University and is currently pursuing an MBA.

As JK Design’s newest interactive project manager, Paul Lahaski guides clients through the design and development process for websites, iPhone and iPad apps, email campaigns, and other projects. Paul has an extensive technical background and holds computing and Web design certifications from CompTIA and CIW. His business, finance, and media relations expertise was honed during his recent tenure as development manager for Embrace Kids Foundation. Paul earned a BS in business economics from Rutgers University and is completing a BA in information technology from Western Governor’s University.

Ashley Summerer brings a diverse range of experience – and razor-sharp organizational skills – to her role as account manager. In this fast-paced position, she works closely with clients, staff, and vendors to manage the daily project workflow, monitor production deadlines, and coordinate quality control and review procedures. Prior to joining JK Design, she worked as a project manager and conducted market research for several major brands. Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a minor in marketing from Pace University.

Production artist Nick Guido is responsible for the design and production of a wide variety of marketing and promotional materials. A graduate of Montclair State University with a degree in fine arts and a trained eye for great design, Nick worked as a Web designer and freelance graphic designer at several New Jersey agencies before joining JK Design.

“2011 was a banner year for JK Design,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president. “With the addition of these four talented professionals to our staff, we are now ideally positioned to provide the highest quality creative work and the widest range of print, interactive, and video services in our 25-year history. Our entire company welcomes Martha, Paul, Ashley, and Nick, and we all look forward to working with them to help our clients achieve success.”

JK Design’s headquarters is located in the historic Staats House in Hillsborough, NJ. The agency also has an office in the Chelsea neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station.

About JK Design

In business for over 25 years, JK Design is a creative services agency specializing in strategy and branding, print, web, mobile, interactive, and video projects. Recent honors include two Telly awards, a Communicator award, a MarCom Platinum award, and a Gold Hermes Creative Award. The agency provides a wide range of innovative design, advertising, and marketing services, including: web design and development, iPad and mobile app development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging and Internet-based virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or http://www.jkdesign.com.

Hillsborough, N.J., October 5, 2011 – JK Design, a leading creative services agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, has hired a new account and project manager.

Kristin Taylor is a marketing and advertising specialist with experience in print, web, and social-media campaigns for clients across a broad spectrum of industries. She has held positions at several agencies in the New York metropolitan area. She earned degrees in advertising and marketing from Syracuse University, where she was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society.

At JK Design, Kristin is responsible for managing the daily workflow of projects for specific clients, coordinating with vendors and staff to provide client support, monitoring production deadlines, and overseeing quality control and review procedures.

“Our client base is growing rapidly, and Kristin is helping us to meet their needs and exceed their expectations,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “In our search for a new account manager, we were looking for someone with strong marketing and business skills who understands the most effective ways to help our clients reach their goals. Kristin is the perfect fit and a very welcome addition to our team.”

JK Design’s headquarters is located in the historic Staats House in Hillsborough, NJ. The agency also has an office in the Chelsea neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station.

About JK Design

In business for over 25 years, JK Design is a creative services agency specializing in strategy and branding, print, web, mobile, interactive, and video projects. Recent honors include two Telly awards, a Communicator award, a MarCom Platinum award, and a Gold Hermes Creative Award. The agency provides a wide range of innovative design, advertising, and marketing services, including: web design and development, iPad and mobile app development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging and Internet-based virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or http://www.jkdesign.com.

Pictures from the event can be viewed here . Check out the JK Design team in the gallery below.