Suggestions
Jess Gary
Creative Director | Art Director | Brand Strategist
Jess Gary is a creative director, brand strategist, art director, and creative coach based in Richmond, Virginia.3 She has over a decade of experience in building beloved brands and driving businesses forward.2
Career Highlights
Jess has held several key positions throughout her career:
- VP, Executive Creative Director at Brooklinen14
- Fractional Creative Director at IPSY1
- Design Director at BARK (BarkBox)1
- Creative Director, Brand at Seychelles Imports, LLC1
- Art Director at SelectNY1
She was an early-stage employee at both BarkBox and Brooklinen, where she built and mentored creative teams and led companies through growth across product categories and new channels.2
Education and Approach
Jess Gary holds a B.A. in Art History/International Studies from Humboldt State University. Her approach to creative direction emphasizes collaboration, mentorship, and facilitation. She believes in creating a great creative work environment that allows teams to generate good ideas, which she then helps move forward.4
Philosophy and Skills
Jess considers herself a creative problem solver.3 She values adaptability, collaboration, and a positive attitude in team members.4 Her experience includes:
- Brand identities
- Product launches
- Advising on building in-house creative teams
- Full-service creative work
Jess emphasizes the importance of good briefs, clear communication, and giving creatives space to ideate.4 She also stresses the value of understanding the business side of creative work to effectively solve problems and communicate with clients.4