Daily Inspiration: Meet Emily Buckner Pierce

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Buckner Pierce.

Hi Emily, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always wanted to have a career in the “arts” – and lucky for me my Godmother was a graphic designer who shared insight into the potential of the profession (this was back when dial-up internet was the norm, haha). So, I went to college and got a degree in design communications.

Out of school, I landed a job with a luxury luggage company and while my title on the paper said “graphic designer” – it was a lean operation where my title didn’t mean anything, haha. My software knowledge and ability to communicate through design organically opened doors to exciting opportunities within the company. I’m still in awe at the amount of trust they placed in me, but I worked with overseas manufacturers, managed all things tradeshow, designed fixtures and dictated in-store merchandising to major department stores, collaborated in designing products + made technical drawings for production, oversaw product photography and campaigns, collaborated with licensing partners (Vera Wang, Barbara Barry, Michael Aram, and more), coordinated launch events, wrote press releases, managed quarterly marketing for a sales force and was responsible for product placement in commercials and film… and that’s truly just the tip of the iceberg, I was still doing the typical print and digital required of a graphic designer! It was a whirlwind boot camp that exposed me to facets of the creative realm I had never even known or considered (namely prop styling and production design), as well as, how to align myself to pivot into any one of those sectors professionally.

So how does that lead me to today? Well, in addition to the valuable insights, it cemented the foundation for my creative/professional attitude and how I set goals that build momentum. Everyone’s path is different and there is no “right” way – so I avoid spelling out my a-to-z journey. But I’ll say that what I’ve done to date is the product of showing up each day and building on what I’ve learned the day before, little by little. The finished product is just the icing on the cake… for me, the real enjoyment comes from the process – no matter the medium or scale. I embrace the unknown and am tasked with making an idea into a reality!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m human, so I can’t claim to not have had some moments of uncertainty over the years, but overall I’m a glass-half-full and adaptive person – so I don’t know that I’ve really registered anything as a “struggle” and can thankfully say that by just showing up, doing the work and approaching a creative career as an evolving journey – any bumps have been absorbed without major impact and noted as part of the standard life and learning process.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My works span several creative genres, but when I distill them down – I spend much of my time as an art director and production designer. My focus is predominantly live entertainment + experiences and commercial production.

My work is still really varied even within the context of entertainment. For example, this year I and the team at EAMOTION designed and installed a permanent exhibit at the Adventure Science Center called the Infinium Room.

I was able to work with Deepak Chopra on a new immersive meditation series that just debuted in LA. And then within the touring world, I’ve worked with Dayglow, Lord Huron, A Day to Remember, Noah Kahan, and Julien Baker to name a few… and even helped with some typography for Lizzo’s 2022 VMA performance.

I sound like a broken record, but it’s just as varied on the commercial front – I’ll work with brands directly or through an agency doing design + build and/or styling + sourcing for commercial stills, editorial shoots, tabletop, video campaigns, etc.

I genuinely find creative problem-solving invigorating. I’m most proud of my creative flexibility and for applying all the things I’ve learned in new, unexpected ways. I have a huge database, if you will, of practical and unexpected experience and I feel this sets me apart because I’m not locked into “norms” for any one field.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ebpierce.com
• Instagram: @e.b.pierce

Image Credits
Blaise Cephis, Clay Cook, Kyle Dreier, and Dominique Sindayiganza