Megan Stephens

As a strategist and creative director, I specialize in jump-starting and guiding the creative process. I work with companies and organizations to define what makes their product or service irresistible, articulate the vision and develop the story to engage and build relationships with customers. Then, the fun part: weaving graphics, imagery and words together across brand touch points to bring the vision to life at every encounter. Clients have ranged from Panera Bread, The Hershey Company and Lee Jeans to Wonder Bread, Nature's Pride and the United Nations. Recent local brand identity rejuvenations include the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association and the KC Chamber. I have been with Willoughby Design since 1998.

The role of design to delight and inspire everyday life — especially from a woman's perspective in a world where the majority of corporate and design leadership positions are still held by men.

The human brain (female and male) sees shape first. Color second. Words third. But, science has proven that they process the same experiences differently. Knowing that women consider significantly more factors when making purchase decisions than men, it makes sense that if you can design a visual language to tell your story in a way that resonates with the way she sees the world, you are automatically more likely to break through the clutter and gain her attention. I am passionate about exploring the power of using human-centered design thinking, an innately female process, to build experiences that resonate with women on multiple levels to build enduring loyalty.

Brand Identity Systems, Brand Strategy & Design, Consumer Packaged Goods, Retail Experience, Storytelling/Copywriting/Editing