Tell us a little about your life before Porchlight.

Music and fine art have been a big influence in my life, education and career. Before coming to Porchlight, I worked as a special exhibits coordinator at the High Museum. The High was a great experience. It was like seeing my art history classes from college come to life. These days, Porchlight is my home away from home. I started working here in 2006. In 2011, I took a year off to work for a publishing company in New York, where I art directed photo shoots with various celebrities and musicians. I’ve always been heavily involved in Atlanta’s music and pop culture scene, so the New York experience was a real adventure. When I came back to Atlanta, I came straight to Porchlight, and it feels great to be back.

What do you like best about working at Porchlight? What do you think makes Porchlight different?

I like all the different personalities of everyone who works at Porchlight. Everyone here brings a different approach to art, copy and design. Everyone has a unique set of skills and experiences, but we all get along really well and value our differences. When we come together to work on a project, we all approach it from a different point of view. Sometimes, we’re all talking and gesturing at once, but we consistently cover all the angles of a project, and it makes our work really solid.

What do you think makes a great brand? Who do you think gets it right and why?

A great brand is something that stays with you for a long time. If a brand is truly successful, you won’t forget it. A brand I really love is MAC cosmetics. Their imagery is a great expression of the brand. There’s one shot in particular that features Lady Gaga and Cindy Lauper that’s fabulous. Their choice of celebrities alone reinforces their bold and dynamic brand image. The image screams “sexy color,” which is what MAC sells.

What’s your go-to item in your garage or toolbox?

My cordless power drill. I never realized how much I actually use it. I keep the back-up battery charged at all times.

How would you rate your DIY skills? Have any good stories to share?

I think I am awesome at DIY provided the instructions are clear. I like to put things together and feel a great sense of accomplishment to see the finished product.

What is something you’ve learned about home improvement or home improvement design while working at Porchlight that the average shopper would never think about?

The one thing that I have learned about home improvement design is how uniquely informative it is. A big part of selling home improvement products is explaining how to use them and doing so in a way that makes it seem simple. That’s not always an easy thing to do. Packaging in particular involves a lot of information, and that information needs some structure to make sense to consumers. There are measurements, detailed instructions and even illustrations that all have to work together. Understanding how to establish hierarchy is a must skillset for home improvement designers.

On any given workday, what’s your chosen audio app? What’s playing?

I am the self-proclaimed “Queen of Spotify.” Since it’s connected to Facebook, it’s a great way to share music.  People can always see what I am listening to and can comment on the playlist I’ve created. Plus, I can listen to almost any song that pops into my head. When I’m not at work, I’m listening to progressive neo-soul artists or listening to local DJs spin.

When it comes to pop culture, are you into zombies, housewives or mad men?

Definitely Mad Men. If I had to choose a character that I would want to be, it would be Joan. She is sassy, smart and savvy – all great characteristics of a professional working woman.

What’s the first concert you attended?

My first concert was Lauryn Hill and Busta Rhymes.

Who’s your ideal client?

My ideal client would be one who understands and appreciates art and the power of design to enhance business. A client who sees good design as a positive influence on sales and marketing is more a business partner to us than a client. When that happens, we’re all on the same page, and we get results.

What’s your main strength in the workplace?

I have the ability to understand and process a creative challenge quickly. In college, I became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. During the process, I was given a name that members thought best described me. The name they chose was Ingenuity. I was given that name because they said that I was always thinking creatively. That way of thinking comes in handy at Porchlight where clients tend to want quick creative under tight deadlines. I can make that happen.

Read Lynnette’s bio here.