Agency 29 is growing, and with that growth comes some incredible new talent, including two new Art Directors joining the team. B Cuyler is one of them: she brings a painter’s eye, a brand strategist’s instincts, and a genuine love for the work that happens between a client’s idea and the moment it finally feels like them.
Big-picture thinker. Detail obsessive. B is the person who will photograph a wall texture just in case it’s useful later.
B’s path to this role is anything but linear, travelling a winding road from fine art to art history to grad school at RIT to agency life, and every stop along the way shows up in how she works.
She approaches branding the way an interior designer approaches a house: the structure is already there; her job is to make it feel like home.
She’s also been known to facilitate team bonding, plan a good activity, and show up with strong snack opinions. More on that below.
What drew you to the role of Art Director at Agency 29, and what do you love most about this kind of work?
Growing up in rural North Carolina, agriculture was a constant presence in my daily life. Joining Agency 29 felt like a homecoming, allowing me to design for something that had a major influence on my upbringing. Beyond the work, I am impressed by the agency’s culture; it is clear that they walk the walk.
Before joining our team, what were you up to professionally? Any past roles, education, or experiences that especially shaped how you work today?
I have spent a majority of my professional career in some sort of agency so I feel like Agency 29 fits right into my wheelhouse. As far as specific types of projects I’ve worked on, you name it and I’ve worked on it, but my bread and butter is branding.
I did all of my undergrad in Fine Art doing painting, printmaking, and ceramics. I also got a degree in Art History. Graphic design was a natural and functional evolution of where I could use my skills as a trade so I went to RIT for grad school and studied Visual Communication Design.
During that program, I toured the facility that I would eventually intern at. I also met the creative director at Digital Hyve while attending RIT’s very well-known portfolio review event and he became my first boss and continues to be a mentor and professional inspiration. The team he built and the way he approached creative work continues to inspire me.
What’s one part of your job people might not expect?
I like to say that I am like an interior designer for brands. Clients build their houses but the house doesn’t feel like home until it’s decorated and I feel like that is how I help bring their brands to life.
I don’t think people realize how much of this work is done internally and behind the scenes. Creatives are constantly noodling something in the background.
The other thing I think gets overlooked about creative work is the client relationships. I sometimes feel like a design therapist in the best way. I get to listen to what clients think and feel and help them turn that into something amazing.
What’s something you’re excited to bring to Agency 29 or hope to grow into here?
I’m excited to be an extra set of hands on the team so that we can grow and have the resources to continue making quality work for our current and future clients.
I also always try to be a sort of camp counselor and help facilitate everyday team bonding that is not just work-related. I love getting to know people and planning activities and making work feel like a fun place to be while still getting the job done. I’m also very excited to start getting to know our clients a little better and fostering those relationships as well.
What’s the most unexpected place you’ve found inspiration for a client project?
This is a tough one to answer because I don’t consider any source of inspiration to be unexpected. I’m constantly taking photos of wall textures or plants that I think look interesting. I’m also always on the lookout for interesting brands that are breaking the mold. I will say that I get a lot of inspiration from food and fabrics, especially those used along the Mediterranean coast.
When you’re not at the computer, where would we find you?
In my kitchen in various stages of sourdough making or outside with my wife and daughter doing things like nature walks, picnics, pool time, or checking out the zoo.
Lastly, what’s your go-to coffee (or tea) order and what snack should we keep stocked in the break room for you?
My go-to coffee for the last 2 years straight has been an iced brown sugar shaken espresso. I purchased an espresso machine just so I could make it at home when I wasn’t ordering it from a coffee shop.
My favorite snack is any kind of potato chip or fresh fruit. I also really like the super crunchy messy nature’s own honey and oat bars.
From fine art roots to brand-building work, B is already adding something real to this team. We’re so glad she’s here (and we’ll make sure there are always chips in the break room).