Jen Bilik

Artist, Brainstormer, Business leader, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Jewish, Marketer, Producer, Single, Writer/Editor

I am a designer, writer, and entrepreneur. Ten years ago, I founded my company, Knock Knock, which creates witty gift and stationery products and publishes book. My goals for Knock Knock have included being able to exercise both my visual and verbal creativity; integrating art and commerce to make products for smart people; and to have no clients. We're now about thirty people plus one dog operating out of a glorious office in Venice, California. I'm a maker at heart: carpentry, knitting, sewing (my mother was a quilter, and I could sew before I could write), drawing, anything involving glue. I also love pop culture and humor and perpetrate both. Prior to starting Knock Knock, I was a book editor and writer. I specialized in illustrated nonfiction for adults, AKA coffee table books. I've written two of them and edited many. A few places you can read about me: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/business/21proto.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 http://www.inc.com/magazine/201110/the-way-i-work-jen-bilik-of-knock-knock.html http://dog-milk.com/the-scoop-jen-bilik-and-paco/ http://observermedia.designobserver.com/audio/jen-bilik/37676/

Words. Making. Creativity. Chemistry with other people. Dogs. Books. Walking. Playing piano. Eating. Trying not to eat. Eating. Walking faster.

At Knock Knock, everything we put into the marketplace has to have the right balance between surprising and familiar. If it's too surprising, people don't get it. If it's too familiar, they're bored by it. I believe that's a good way to think about and evaluate certain aspects of creativity.

Consumer Goods, Creativity, Entrepreneurship & Small Business, Graphic Design, Marketing / Branding, Product Development and Design, Publishing, Writing

This is my first TED experience other than watching the videos, and I'm looking forward to it!

. . . being really limber.