Spotlights
Spotlight on Creativity April 2009
April’s spotlight on creativity is on Shaun Casper, owner of Open Haus Studio LLC, a Philadelphia-based creative agency that specializes in branding, advertising and design. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to design and develop the look for everything from airlines to university mascots. Shaun is interested in all aspects of creativity – from design to illustration, film to special effects makeup. He is known as the go-to guy who does what it takes to get the job done right.
A graduate of Bradley Academy of Visual Arts in York, Pennsylvania, Shaun was a designer with Huntington Communications and was later employed by the Brownstein Group, all while doing freelance creative work on the side. After a gaining a solid exposure and a wide client base, he and his partner started seeing a clear vision of what they could do as independent company, and Open Haus Studio was born. With an established clientele and a clear vision for the company, Shaun is constantly taking Open Haus Studio to new levels of success.
Your name:
Shaun Casper
Firm/company:
Open Haus Studio LLC
Occupation:
Partner/Creative Guy
Current Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Hometown:
Reading, PA
Favorite Philadelphia neighborhood:
I've become quite partial to my own neighborhood which is Fairmount/Brewerytown area. We’ve got amazing history, beautiful scenery, great dining and great places to hang out and drink a nice beer.
Best advice you've ever been given:
I’m a perfectionist in many ways, and early on in my career, I would get caught in the little details. A colleague told me to not over think it and keep the big picture in mind at all times.
Your favorite thing about living in the Philadelphia Region:
Accessibility. In this city, I can step out of my house and walk to anything I need. If it’s raining, I can catch a bus to virtually anywhere in the Philadelphia area. If I want to go to New York City, I hop on a train. If I want to fly to Amsterdam or Los Angeles, I take a 20-minute cab ride to the airport. And if I want to visit friends and family in my hometown of Reading, it’s an hour drive. You can’t beat it!
Your favorite thing about working in the Philadelphia Region:
Philly is a city of firsts. Just look at our history and you’ll see that we’ve always been innovators and just plain hard workers. I think Philly gets a bad rap from the rest of the country. My goal is to help change that perception.
How would you market the Philadelphia Region to professionals outside the region?
Philly is often overlooked because we’re sandwiched in between New York and DC. In recent years, I think people from cities like New York have given us a second look. They’ve found that Philly does have an amazing energy to it, whether it’s dining, music, art & culture, etc. In terms of career opportunities, we’re an untapped resource. There is so much opportunity if you know how to take it.
What advice would you give to young professionals trying to break into your industry?
Make the most out of every opportunity. Whether it’s an internship or an interview. Chase those four or five agencies that you’ve always dreamed of working for. But, don’t be disappointed if you land a job somewhere else—that is your stepping stone. The best education that you’re going to get will not be from college, it’s going to be from your first job.
How has the design industry in Philadelphia evolved in the past ten years?
Coming from a design background, I remember hearing predictions that print was going the way of the dodo bird. Ten years later, I’m glad to see that print didn’t go anywhere. It just joined the ranks of web, viral, mobile and film. Last year, I worked on a campaign that won several industry awards. We started off by designing a microsite and online web banners. Then we ran print ads in trade magazines, as well as completely redesigned their tradeshow booth to continue the campaign. It was a huge success for their company and, I believe, a true testament to the power of a fully integrated campaign.
Open Haus Studio is a Philadelphia-based boutique creative agency founded by Shaun Casper and Heather Hunt-Casper that specializes in branding, advertising and design. By promoting an environment that supports the honest and open exchange of ideas with clients, the agency has cultivated an environment where creativity flourishes. The agency’s multi-disciplined approach has resulted in a portfolio spanning a wide range of media, including print, collateral, editorial design, packaging, interactive, TV, direct marketing, environmental, nontraditional and promotions. Open Haus Studio is a member of the Sustainable Business Network and is proud to be powered by 100% renewable energy.
Some of Open Haus past clients include Aramark, New Jersey State Aquarium, Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Center City District, SuperPretzel®, United Healthcare and University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
To learn more about Shaun and his work in the region, visit www.openhausstudio.com.