About…

Eric Junker is a Los Angeles based multi-discipline creative thinker whose background as an artist, designer, writer, teacher, puppeteer, banjo picker, and surfer fuel his insights on the merging of artful thinking and survival. He received his undergraduate degree in design from UCLA and his MFA from The Claremont Graduate University.  He has performed and exhibited his work in many venues including MOCA, Track 16 Gallery, Theater of Note, Robert Miller Gallery, Canter’s Kibitz Room, and Spaceland. Mr. Junker is currently a Consulting Partner and Creative Director at WJ Agency, and has taught and lectured at USC, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Mount San Antonio College, and California College of Art. He currently lives and works in Silverlake with his calm wife and inspirationally rambunctious 5-year-old son.

Eric Junker is a creative thinker and inspirational leader with a proven ability to drive positive change and business growth through effective communication including high-impact branding and design, advertising, and marketing strategies.

Eric Junker is a marketing/branding strategist and creative director who has provided the creative insights that have launched scores of businesses and made existing ones more successful. His experience includes a significant number of marketing and branding programs to support many different industries, businesses and brands including Tommy Bahama, Caesars Palace, Wolfgang Puck, Rio Hotel & Casino, BMI, NFL, and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Eric continues to contribute fresh, original strategies, thinking and ideas for many clients in beverage and spirits, technology, cause marketing, retail, travel and hospitality and financial industries.

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/19/posters-for-chefs-the-new-rock-stars/?smid=pl-share

http://swimming.ly/post/45844935190/eric-junker-restaurant-rock-posters

http://consortiumholdings.com/tag/chef/

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Current: Founder/Owner Eric Junker Communications Partners
A creative consultancy specializing in branding, marketing strategy and creative direction. Current clients include Fitness Ridge Worldwide, JFK Medical Centers, Movie Tavern Inc, Photoboxi, and Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
2002 to 2011: Wagner Junker, Inc., Los Angeles CA and Las Vegas NV
Creative agency with expertise in launching, branding and marketing a wide variety of businesses and products
Chief Creative Officer & Partner
Co-founded and provided creative leadership to boutique agency whose services include brand development, marketing, advertising, PR, digital campaigns, creative services and social media strategy for top-flight clients such as Tommy Bahama, Caesars Entertainment, Wolfgang Puck Restaurants, Clear Channel, and Broadstone Development. Accountabilities included research and analysis, concept development, pitching to new and existing clients, creating new brand and advertising concepts, managing client relations, and leading team of 20+ creative professionals in both traditional and online medium.
Overview: Built agency from the ground up, bootstrapping the growth from zero to $5M in annual revenues with 25 employees located in three cities. Successes include:
- Built and led a top-notch creative team that serviced clients in a variety of industries while ensuring positive and creative work environment.
-  Led the agency to pioneer social media and SEO-driven marketing as early as 2007 via MySpace and Craig’s List, and developed full-fledged integrated on-and offline campaigns by 2009.
- Built strategic partnership with Synthesis Media to launch contest platform wigibuy and create/maintain a network of Facebook pages for major cities across the US, attracting approx. 750,000 followers.
- Devised transformational brand for run-down Las Vegas hotel. Created name, developed brand identity, and designed all brand touch points for hotel that was named “best hotel opening of 2010” by the influential website Vegas Chatter.
- Overcame dogged internal resistance to change within established non-profit organization by creating compelling multi-media presentation on the importance of renaming and launching new communication architecture. Gained unanimous approval of 26-member board.
- Devised and executed large marketing campaign (including coordinated print, outdoor, online and event components) that completely changed perception for a San Francisco neighborhood previously seen as undesirable. Drove 95% increase in interest in apartment rentals.
- Revamped branding and messaging for chain of high-end cinemas launched in 2009 and challenged by tough recession. Created “real night out” campaign that used social media, online advertising and traditional print media to create a value proposition more suited for the economic climate.
1990 to 2002: Various Clients
Freelance Art Director/Designer
Provided freelance graphic design and art direction services to a wide range of clients including Disney, Buena Vista Pictures Marketing, Pioneer Electronics, Hard Rock Cafe International, Rhino Records, JVC Musical Industries, Propaganda Films, UCLA Medical Center and Price/Waterhouse.
- Assisted legendary album cover designer KOSH in creating cover art for a wide range of artists such as  Rod Stewart, Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffet, Bob Seeger, WASP, LA Guns and RATT.
- Served as creative director to launch rebirth of Walt Disney Records, designing all packaging, posters and promotional materials.
- Designed movie posters for Disney films such as Armageddon, Mr. Magoo, American Werewolf in Paris and Con Air. Created logo and posters for the highly successful Bud Air franchise.
- Conceptualized, promoted, and helped produce weekend-long music festival featuring Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Counting Crows and others.
- Provided creative direction to the radio station Star 98.7 for 3 years, designing print and outdoor ads, special event logos, posters and promotional music packages.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
M.F.A. – Fine Art Claremont Graduate University
B.F.A. – Communication Design, University of California, Los Angeles (Honors)

Affiliations: AIGA; Art Directors Club; The One Club; International Association of Business Communications; Association of Professional Communications Consultants.

TEACHING LECTURES PANELS

2012- Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California Marshal School of Business, Advanced Writing for Business: Finding Your Voice

2011- Distinguished Alumni Panel, University of California, Los Angeles

2011- Explore@4: Marketing and Sales Panel, University of Southern California

2006-2008- AIGA Student Portfolio Review Panelist, University of Southern California

2003- Panelist, The Role of Utopia in Los Angeles, Japan America Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California

2002- Instructor, Mount San Antonio College, Art C70, Introduction to Computer Graphics

2001- Guest Lecture, University of California, Santa Barbara College of Creative Studies

2000- Guest Lecture, California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, California

1998- Teaching Assistant, Claremont Graduate University

1998-  Graduate Fellowship Committee, Claremont Graduate University

GRANTS/AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS

2003- California Arts Council Grant (as a principal in Utopia Pop Pop)

2003- Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department Grant (as a principal in Utopia Pop Pop)

1997- Blake Grinstein Graduate Tuition Fellowship

1997- Claremont Graduate University Fellowship

1996- Claremont Graduate University Fellowship

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2010- PRNewser (mediabistro.com), ”Wigibuy Links Marketing, CSR, and Social Commerce,” Tonya Garcia

2010- Upstate Business Journal, “Wigibuy Launches in Chico,” Jess Krager

2010- AllBusiness,”Wagner|Junker has Won PR Account for Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas” Joel Russell

2007- San Francisco Business Times,”Parkmerced Tries ‘Domination to Gain Visibility,” J.K. Dineen

2006- Details Magazine,”How a Midlife Crisis Can Save Your Soul,” Jeff Gordinier

2003- Los Angeles Downtown News,“These Puppets Don’t Play Nice,”  Kristen Friederich

2001- San Francisco Weekly, “Pick of the Week,” Lisa Hom

2000- Los Angeles New Times, “Monkey Shines,” Stephen Lemmons

2000- International Design Network, “Monkey Business,” Victor Cheung1999- Los Angeles Times Magazine, “Planet of the Puppets,” Russ Spencer

1999- Los Angeles Times, “Artists Evicted,”  Deanna Welch

1999- ZYZZYVA/West Coast Artists and Writers, Editor’s Note

 

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