A Day in the Life of Cecelia Bjare, Creative Director at Pond Design
As a Creative Director at Pond Design, Cecelia Bjare has shaped iconic brand identities for industry giants such as Jameson, Absolut, and Kraft. With a passion for creating meaningful design with a positive impact, Cecelia has led Pond Design for over 15 years with a "what if" attitude, daring to challenge the conventions of the creative industry.
A Typical Day
As a Creative Director, Cecelia divides her time between strategy, design, and concept development, and creative direction. She is also involved in assembling teams for different projects, ensuring the right mix of skills and perspectives are in place. Another key part of her role is planning ahead for upcoming projects, making sure they have the right capacity and resources to deliver.
Early Career
From a young age, Cecelia knew she wanted to work in design. She was always drawing and painting, which led her to Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm, the oldest and one of the best design schools at the time. There, she gained a deeper understanding of design thinking.
Challenging Projects
Rather than pointing to a single project, Cecelia thinks there are common themes that run through tricky projects. Often, the root cause is a misalignment of expectations. This can stem from their side – for example, not fully understanding the client’s needs – or from the client’s side, especially if they have a complex internal organization.
Sustainability in Design
Style and sustainability aren’t opposing forces. In fact, sustainability should be seen as a creative challenge, not a limitation. Using fewer materials or creating multi-functional packaging requires creative problem-solving. Modern consumers care deeply about sustainability, so aligning with their values makes the design more desirable.
Favourite Tools
For Cecelia, the most valuable resources are people. Conversations with her team, feedback from clients, and collaboration with other creatives are essential in shaping the final outcome. For digital work, she relies on Adobe Creative Suite – Illustrator and Photoshop are key. She is also exploring many AI tools, having a dedicated AI meeting every two weeks to share different learnings and insights.
Dream Project
Cecelia’s dream project would be one that blends art, design, and storytelling – perhaps for a cultural institution or a purpose-driven brand. She is particularly drawn to projects where design can have a meaningful impact. Her dream client would be one who values creativity and trusts the process.
Career Advice
Cecelia would advise her younger self to be patient but stay persistent. The creative industry is not a straight line. There will be setbacks, doubts, and moments when you question your talent. Trust that every experience is teaching you something valuable. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and remember that there are no shortcuts – you have to work hard and realize that the pressure you feel on delivering a creative brief will never stop. You have to welcome that creative pressure.
Conclusion
Creativity is not a solo journey. Every great project is a team effort. As much as Cecelia loves design, she equally loves the process of collaborating with people who challenge and inspire her. That’s where the magic happens.
FAQs
Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?
A: Misalignment of expectations between our side and the client’s side.
Q: How do you approach sustainability in design?
A: Sustainability should be seen as a creative challenge, not a limitation. Using fewer materials or creating multi-functional packaging requires creative problem-solving.
Q: What tools do you use for digital work?
A: Adobe Creative Suite – Illustrator and Photoshop are key.
Q: What is your dream project?
A: A project that blends art, design, and storytelling – perhaps for a cultural institution or a purpose-driven brand.
