We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elise Rose Achard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Elise Rose, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?

Creating a truly diverse and inclusive workspace is incredibly important to me. It’s not just about surface-level diversity for appearances’ sake; it’s about fostering genuine inclusivity where everyone feels valued and welcomed. As someone who is neurodivergent, with dyslexia and dyscalculia, I find myself most comfortable and at ease around individuals with diverse backgrounds and unique stories to share.

Choosing to pursue a career in the arts as a child has given me a different perspective on the world, and I find it fascinating to connect with people who share this unconventional trait. Hearing their stories and experiences adds depth and richness to our interactions. It’s through these encounters with people of all kinds that I truly appreciate the beauty of diversity and the power it holds in shaping our collective experiences.

(Curious about how someone with dyslexia writes so well? I owe it to the assistance of ChatGPT.)

Elise Rose, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an Art Director and graphic designer. I chose this career path primarily because school as a neurodivergent in the early 2010s was becoming too complex, and art resonated with me more than math. I studied graphic design for five years in Switzerland before traveling abroad to study Art Direction. This experience provided me with fascinating opportunities worldwide and broadened my perspective on how advertising varies depending on your location in the world.

I’ve had the opportunity to work in companies like Ogilvy, known for their traditional approach, as well as smaller digital agencies with their own structures. With my Swiss background, I appreciate good structure and a focus on typography, but I also like to playfully break some rules to inject fun and dynamism into my work.

One of my proudest achievements was creating an OOH campaign for a radio station in Berlin. Initially, the client was adamant about sticking to one direction, and their corporate identity was essential. However, I followed my usual approach of researching the client and presenting three different directions: one that was clean and simple, one that was fun and outgoing yet still aligned with their CI, and one that was more unconventional and daring. Despite their initial inclination towards the most corporate option, they ultimately opted for the colorful, bold direction that deviated from their CI.

Even after three years, they continue to request this design. If it were up to me, I would change it up, but nonetheless, it’s immensely rewarding to know that my work is still valued by the client.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I can talk about how COVID really impacted my generation. Finishing school during COVID and then starting life during COVID was tough. Everything changed, and no one knew how to work remotely. But another thing that made it hard for me was getting sick and having to change my lifestyle and start medication to get better. Work took a toll on me mentally, sure, but it got to a point where it affected me physically because I wasn’t taking care of myself properly. Now, I’m learning that work is important, but taking breaks, holidays, saying no to overtime, cooking, and getting enough sleep should always come first! The notion that work defines life, and one must tirelessly produce to excel until exhaustion sets in, is an antiquated belief. This outdated mindset, often associated with traditional advertising, is overdue for revision. True creativity flourishes in environments where burnout is not the norm. I’m excited to see what changes will happen in the next 10 years.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve always been a visual person, mainly because my brain doesn’t process text in the typical way—it relies heavily on visuals. As a result, it’s crucial for communication to be concise and impactful, with visuals that immediately capture attention. My mission is to enhance the urban and digital landscape with designs so appealing, you’d want to display them in your own home. Think of it like this: even if it’s just a block of cheese, if it’s beautifully designed, you’d still want to have it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://roseachard.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rose_0042/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-elise-achard-21a67413b/

Image Credits
Ragi foods Granny GmbH