Job Description

Starting in June for 8 weeks we are looking for an awesomely talented graphic designer/web designer for a 20 hours a week internship opportunity. You must have web design experience, preferably WordPress and video is a PLUS. You will have beautiful fun-filled work for your portfolio in print, web and video by the end of the internship. And we will have fun doing it!

Qualifications

We are a small business branding boutique, so we do everything from the logo to the web back to promotional materials. This summer we are also redesigning our own website. YOU MUST HAVE: Web design work, WordPress knowledge, logo development, print experience, video editing knowledge, willingness to learn, ability to take on projects by yourself, and a super good attitude.

Application Instructions

Please send your CV, cover letter and sample work in PDF format (a link to your website portfolio is OK, but you must include a separate CV and cover letter) to ideas@stepbrightly.com or contact us here.

• We are located 2 blocks from the Oak Park Blue Line stop
• You must bring your own laptop with recent versions of the Adobe CS suite

xo, Step Brightly

I give Gwyneth Paltrow and the GOOP City Guide team a standing ovation for their delicious New York restaurant choices. Everything that she suggested, and we tried was fabulous and I highly recommend. There was a certain *air* to all of her selections as you can imagine. The pizza at Co. was over $15, but I have been dreaming of it ever since.

The chef, Jim Lahey just released his book about how to make your own no-knead pizzas at home. I have to buy it to make this delicious spinach pizza pie.

We spent time at the Chelsea Market, a must go for the little bakeries, the bookstore and Art&Fleas vintage market.

Within an hour of arriving in New York we went to the MOMA’s Modern restaurant. It was a luxury, and something we did on a whim. And for $55 for a 3-course lunch, something that I will remember forever. We dined for 3 hours before heading to the bookstore. It was heavenly.

With a few glitches in the GOOP City Guide program (it lost all of my bookmarked favorites 1/2 through the trip) The best aspect of the listings was the food. You can plan your days around where you want to eat, and GOOP will target other GOOP recommendations based on your location. What did we ever do before Google Maps? and for that matter, before GOOP’s NYC City Guide?

I remember walking the streets of New York with my father trying in vain to find the John Fluevog store in the late 80′s. And by walking I mean dragging him around tooth and nail explaining, “But the address says it’s here!”

Step Brightly is a boutique graphic design and custom web design studio with expertise in hospitality, social stationery and gift industries. We also specialize in graphic design and web design solutions for  professional small businesses.

I was disappointed to learn that Encyclopedia Britannica was no longer going to print their encyclopedias after 244 years. No more flipping pages learning new words, pretending I know how to pronounce them. What will happen to curiosity? Spontaneous learning? Google doesn’t give you the feelings a wore and loved book does.

I made it my purpose to spend as much time in bookstores in NYC as possible. I walked through the MOMA twice, but spent most of my time in the delicious bookstore flipping through their design and inspiration…and much to the dismay of my husband, I bought a lot of heavy books.

I was stoked to see Step Brightly’s identity work for BabyDolls Boutique featured in Damn Good: Top Designers Discuss their All-time Favorite Projects published by HOW Books!

Oh the Gates! THIS was a life changing event for me. My cousin Paula and her children invited me to go with them to New York in 2005, not even knowing the Gates was going to be in Central Park. I am a life-long fan of anything Jeanne-Claude and Christo do. They are amazing creators of space and time.

I miss books. I ended up buying 5 heavy books that I love and pour through daily for inspiration. I own a Kindle, so I realize I am part of the problem, but I believe we should hold books close to our hearts and eyes and make sure that our children don’t miss the delight found in books and the printed page.

In Oak Park there is a fantastic resource for donating used books. Books to Devour is a non-profit founded by three book-loving moms, their mission is to distribute reading material to food pantry patrons and build community through literature and learning. I have a stack of books to donate this week to keep the spirit of sharing and curiosity alive. Don’t let books die!

After my GOOP inspired hotel search we are going to stay in what Randy calls the most ‘uncool hotel in New York’, The Roosevelt because of his work related needs. I am going to spin it to be a roaring 1920′s classic New York experience. This perfectly fits my reoccurring theme: A Girl Can Dream.

Robert Rauschenberg 1974

We are going to follow GOOP’s New York City walking tour of Chelsea and the West Side. This gets me to the Gagosian Gallery featuring my favorite American artist of the Abstract Expressionists, Robert Rauschenberg installation, as well as Matthew Marks Gallery. Who started the Shabby Chic revolutions decades before Anthropologie? Robert Rauschenberg.

We will spend time at the High Line to fulfill Randy and my architecture itch, plus it is going to be gorgeous weather, and I love the history of it’s development overtime.

After our day of seriously artsy culture we may try to go to Barbuto for a drink and an appetizer if we can get it. Gwyneth is a cooking connoisseur, so it should be delightful.

We will probably need a little pick-me up before going to see my best friend from middle school, Shana Farr, preform at the Metropolitan Room. The Metropolitan Room was voted #1 Jazz Cabaret Club by New York Magazine. So excited to see her and soak in the culture of the day…kid free, deadline free and happy!

I am going to miss Julien when we travel to New York next week, but will revel in the long uninterrupted city strolls and masive amount of time I am going to spend in book stores. Because of Step Brightly’s focus on baby and children branding and graphic design, I put some quality time into the GOOP kids section. My favorite stop on the map is moomah, a Tribeca cafe that hosts arts and crafts for kids.So adorable! Sadly they are closing their cafe at the end of March, but are continuing with Tracey Stewart’s online journal about parenting.

I know I am diving in too deep when I start to talk out loud to the screen nodding my head and agreeing with Ms. Stewarts moomah mission statement:

“Parenting is an incredibly stressful job fraught with anxiety.”
Yes!

“The Journal is a resource for inspiration, providing realistic suggestions and activities that are as doable as they are enjoyable, while never making you feel like you’re not doing enough.”
Thank Goodness, I need this!

“Too often parenting sites propose an unreal picture of perfection that is impossible to attain.”
Yes and yes!

I am in the throws of early childhood development and growth, for both me and my sons. It ebbs and flows and there are bumps. Mostly it’s me though. The latest organic baby food magazine, how to wash my laundry without using dryer sheets. Seriously? I barely have time to shave my legs and make dinner before 6.

Just how realistic is all this baby and parenting media and how much can I take on and feel good about myself and my kids? I hope that moomah will shed some light on meaningful topics. So far Ms. Stewart’s writing and musings are spot on and much appreciated.

Here are practices that are going into effect the moment we get back.

1. How to bribe Julien to sleep in his own bed…all night.
2. How to keep Julien, and me, sane and socially acceptable while eating out.
3. Have glowball storytime, I think this will be good for a 2 year old and 10 year old. We all love bright shiny things!
4. Create a special collection to be featured by Ben. He loves to collection odds and ends, and this will give us a place to keep them. (look…we are organizing too, bonus!)

All images copyright from moomah’s fantastic design team.