Categories

Search
Close this search box.

Jeremy Brazeal joins Reality Interactive as Creative Director

Jeremy Brazeal

Jeremy Brazeal joins Reality Interactive as Creative Director

We’re excited to announce that Jeremy Brazeal has recently joined Reality Interactive to lead the design team as Creative Director.

Here, we chat with Jeremy about his background, the more memorable projects he’s delivered, as well as what inspires him to create great design.

Welcome! Are you excited to join Reality Interactive as our Creative Director?

I am – thanks. After meeting the team I was impressed not only with what Reality had accomplished, but also excited for the potential of impact we could achieve together. I’m looking forward to this role.

You’ve worked with a lot of different brands over the years. Can you tell us a little more about some of the main brands you’ve worked with and the sorts of projects you’ve delivered?

My Career has always been anchored on building and leading internal creative agencies on the Brand side for companies such as the LEGO group and The Coca-Cola Company. So some of the product brands I have worked with are LEGO, The LEGO Club, LEGO Brand Retail, LEGO Shop At Home, LEGO Super Heroes, Coca-Cola, Mello Yello, Powerade, SURGE Soda, Diet Coke, Smart Water among others. I also consulted on the creation of the digital guidelines for The Coca-Cola Company.

Over the years, what has been the most memorable project you’ve worked on and why?

I have had so many it is difficult to choose. I would say it was being part of the business development team and later becoming the creative development lead for the LEGO MasterBuilder Academy. I was heavily involved from a content and creative direction perspective, and also product development, the teaching curriculum, physical and experiential aspects of the program, print publications, digital experience, content planning and creation, and marketing. This program was so core to the LEGO mission and provided a lot of firsts which among many included the first device agnostic site for the company, the first site to abandon the use of Flash on LEGO.com, and the first program to teach kids the techniques used by professional model designers. We also taught kids how to concept, sketch ideas, and even such things as color theory, which was a lot of fun.

What other memorable projects have you worked on that?

I don’t think a project can be memorable if it was not challenging. To innovate there needs to be a high degree of extreme risk, you need to have a sleepless night before a launch because you are risking so much that you are not 100% sure of the project’s success. You just need to find solace that the project is anchored in insights and data and go for it.

So there are a few others that were really memorable for me. I worked with a team to create the first fully responsive e-comm site for The LEGO Company in 2013, Shop.LEGO.com. Also, in 2014 we created the first dynamic content site for LEGO with the re-launch of the LEGO Club site. This used Club member profiles and behaviors to provide them relevant online content. It also, doubled as a CRM program and rewarded member engagement with exclusive content, and provided social tools in a safe heavily moderated environment. This site was a huge undertaking for all the teams involved and it was super rewarding to see it all come together when we launched. The LEGO Club site was the foundation for the new LEGO Life app and digital experience which launched a couple years ago.

There’s a lot of speculation about the future of retail and emerging trends in this space. Where do you think the future of retail is heading?

From my perspective I think we are going to see and increase in digital signs and dynamic content. Retail is going to have to become more interactive and experiential, and businesses will need to work harder to give people a reason to visit their stores other than the product being sold there.

In your opinion, is Amazon killing physical retail?

I don’t think Amazon is killing physical retail, but the pressure on physical retail has been around for a long time now. When the stigmatism around the safety of ordering products online disappeared, physical retail started to have to work harder to differentiate itself from online options such as the Amazons of the world. I have spent time in China where physical retail is everywhere most notably premium Brand Stores, but no one buys at retail there. They leave and fly back to their country of origin to make a purchase or buy online. People want to see things before they buy them, they want to touch stuff. It is still a tactile world that we live in. Physical retail needs to find a way to embrace this, and bring the physical and e-commerce worlds closer together. They need to find ways to use technology in brick and mortar stores to help answer questions, easily find information, compare similar products, and follow the sale to wherever the customer feels the most comfortable finalizing the transaction.

Tell us a little more about your approach to the creative process when it comes to design

I see creative process as problem solving so I prefer to start with as many true insights and data points as possible. All ideas need to anchor back to fundamental truths for me to consider the project a success. I also believe that every team member of the project, regardless of their role, has ownership. In the past, I have been most inspired by teams that approach the problem they are trying to solve together in a collaborative manner – as void of ego as possible. I believe this is a key element that can make a project successful.

How do you get inspired, and stay inspired?

I find inspiration inside and outside of the office and from the people on the team. I love it when people bring the things they are inspired by and influenced by in their non-work lives into a project and embed it in the DNA of the team.

 

Got a big idea? Let's talk - We're excited to make it a reality.

Metaverse or Metahype?

Metaverse or Meta-hype? The Reality Future Lab Project X(R) team weighs in.

April 6, 2023

It seems everyone these days is imagining exploring a realm where shopping meets science fiction - the "metaverse". A world where commerce is not limited…

It seems everyone these days is imagining exploring a realm where shopping meets science fiction - the "metaverse". A world where commerce is not limited to the physical but expands into a futuristic digital universe and back again. The reality is experiences like these are nothing new. Digital explorers and pioneers have been embarking on journeys that explore the possibilities of this concept, which bends the minds of mere mortals, for decades.   We recently discussed this topic with the brilliant minds of the Future Lab XR team within Reality Interactive, who are pushing the boundaries of technology through their Project…

“Consumers seek frictionless experiences in a world of disruptions”.

“Consumers seek frictionless experiences in a world of disruptions”

February 27, 2023

PwC recently published the findings of their latest Global Consumer Insights Pulse Survey, which was conducted in December 2022 among 9,180 consumers across 25 territories. …

PwC recently published the findings of their latest Global Consumer Insights Pulse Survey, which was conducted in December 2022 among 9,180 consumers across 25 territories.  The overarching message? While consumers are still concerned about inflation, they’re keen to return to their pre-pandemic lifestyle, and they have rising expectations on how and where they should be able to shop.  Below we summarize some key findings from the survey:  How behavior will change over the next 6 month:  96% of consumers intend to adopt some type of cost saving behavior over the next 6 months:  43% of consumers said they plan to…

3 challenges facing retailers today

3 Challenges Facing Retailers Today, and the Strategies Helping to Overcome Them

January 26, 2023

Retailers have always faced continuous challenges of increasing sales, maintaining brand loyalty, and delivering an exceptional customer experience. Today specific challenges outside of their control…

Retailers have always faced continuous challenges of increasing sales, maintaining brand loyalty, and delivering an exceptional customer experience. Today specific challenges outside of their control have forced retailers to get more creative and explore new options to win at the retail game.  Here, we explore just three of those challenges, and some of the strategies that retailers are utilizing to face them.  Staffing shortages = more self service technology in-store.  Whether it’s hiring or retention, the volume has been turned up on the staffing challenges retailers face, especially for temporary seasonal holiday workers. Warehouse jobs are posing competition to retailers…

5 perspectives to inspire you for 2023

5 perspectives to inspire you for 2023!

December 29, 2022

With 2023 around the corner, we take a moment to get inspired by leaders who are daring to innovate, creating great experiences, and leading the…

With 2023 around the corner, we take a moment to get inspired by leaders who are daring to innovate, creating great experiences, and leading the way.  On Planning Backwards: “By thinking five to 10 years out and then “playing the movie backward,” you free yourself from the constraints of what is possible now. You can envision year 10 and then figure out what has to happen in year nine, year eight, and so on for the vision to become reality.” Stéphane Bancel, CEO, Moderna On earning your customer’s trust: “Our brands—Nike, Converse, Jordan Brand and Hurley—are loved by customers all…

The Future of Retail in 2023

The Future of Retail – What to Watch for in 2023

November 30, 2022

With the end of year fast approaching, we take a look at what industry experts are projecting for retail trends next year.  Let’s get Phygital:…

With the end of year fast approaching, we take a look at what industry experts are projecting for retail trends next year.  Let’s get Phygital: Get used to hearing this catch phrase - coined to capture the idea of seamlessly integrating a physical and digital customer journey. If you are familiar with Reality, you have heard us mention the much more appropriate Customer Driven Retail. With customer loyalty up for grabs (a third of customers reporting to be willing to leave a brand after just one bad experience), retailers are working on meeting customers where they are, and giving them…

3 ways technology will play a part in helping engage consumers this holiday season

3 ways technology will play a part in helping engage consumers this holiday season

October 28, 2022

If the research is right, retailers should anticipate this holiday season to start earlier and be bigger than the last. In fact, Deloitte’s annual holiday…

If the research is right, retailers should anticipate this holiday season to start earlier and be bigger than the last. In fact, Deloitte’s annual holiday retail forecast predicts holiday sales will increase by 4-6% this year - with 70% of consumers starting shopping before Thanksgiving.  As a critical time for retailers, many brands are exploring new models and technologies to both reach new customers, and harness a whole new level of engagement with existing ones. From Virtual Parties and introducing digital assets into their retail mix, to metaverse type AR Experiences and events, we explore what brands are considering this…

Have you merged your ecommerce, brand, and retail marketing teams yet?

Brick and Mortar is Dead

August 30, 2022

Ok, now that I have provided a much-needed jolt to get your attention I will clarify what I mean with this dangerously bold, trope of…

Ok, now that I have provided a much-needed jolt to get your attention I will clarify what I mean with this dangerously bold, trope of a statement. Physical retail is far from dead. If approached effectively with powerful digital solutions, physical retail can be massively impactful for brands who rethink the way they do things, and how they engage with customers. But the term ‘Brick and Mortar’ is more outdated than an 8-track. Bricks and mortar are used to build walls, but customers want their purchase journey to be one seamless experience, whether that be physical, digital or both. We…

BMW Visualizer Tools

Visualizer tools give BMW dealerships a 78% increase in conversion

June 23, 2022

Design that drives desire: Visualizer tools give BMW customers and dealerships the power to accessorize any BMW, anywhere. The challenge To increase sales and conversions by…

Design that drives desire: Visualizer tools give BMW customers and dealerships the power to accessorize any BMW, anywhere. The challenge To increase sales and conversions by letting clients customize their own vehicles with virtual accessories. In order to craft an international solution, the team had to overcome the challenge of a highly complex data set, imagery, and models in multiple languages, as well as country-specific codes and options. Finally, three-dimensional models had to be created and put through an extensive QA process due to the complexity of options and interdependencies. The solution We began with the best tech in the industry…

FREE 5-Step Digital
Transformation
Checklist

Download our FREE 5-Step Digital Transformation Checklist and see where Reality solutions can take your business.

Kickstart your journey to the digital age.

Add Your Heading Text Here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Kickstart your journey to the digital age.

Jeremy Brazeal joins Reality Interactive as Creative Director

We’re excited to announce that Jeremy Brazeal has recently joined Reality Interactive to lead the design team as Creative Director. Here, we chat with Jeremy about his background, the more memorable projects he’s delivered, as well as what inspires him to create great design. Welcome! Are you excited to join Reality Interactive as our Creative Director? I am – thanks. After meeting the team I was impressed not only with what Reality had accomplished, but also excited for the potential of impact we could achieve together. I’m looking forward to this role. You’ve worked with a lot of different brands over the years. Can you tell us a little more about some of the main brands you’ve worked with and

Kickstart your journey to the digital age.

Download our Digital Transformation Whitepaper