Alumni
Grad Works on Creative Direction for Nike, Anthropologie, Kate Spade, and Uniqlo
Born in Maui, Hawaii and raised in Big Bear Lake, California, Shana Bianchi started drawing, painting, and decorating her room at a young age. “Creativity tends to dance out of me, allowing me to express myself and reflect the beautiful world back out onto its canvas,” she says. After earning a Visual Communications degree from FIDM, and working in various roles at companies such as Bloomingdale’s, Juicy Couture, Tory Burch, and BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, Shana struck out on her own by founding Sloane & Row, a boutique creative agency specializing in branding, marketing, creative, and visuals for clients such as Nike, Anthropologie, Kate Spade, West Elm, and Nordstrom, among many others.
What was your path to FIDM like? I was extremely studious growing up. Grades, Honors/AP classes, and extracurriculars were very important to me. I had always planned on going to a four-year university, but FIDM came for a talk at my high school, and I visited the LA campus shortly thereafter to take a tour. As soon as I walked onto the campus I knew. I trusted my 17-year-old intuition and just innately knew this was the place for me. It was the most wonderful college experience I could have asked for.
Any favorite FIDM memories? I remember feeling wildly lucky that my "work" was fun, expressive, and artistic. Each teacher made the classes extremely special for me, and I truly felt the classes and coursework prepared me for the "real world" post-college in a way so many other schools cannot and do not do. If I were to pick one favorite memory, it would be when Lyn Tobman and Cindy Patino selected a handful of Visual Communications students to represent FIDM in New York City. It was a magical experience, which led me to meet my long-time mentor and dear friend, who hired me shortly after the trip, opening up tons of doors and opportunities, which helped to build the foundation of my career.
How did FIDM help prepare you for your career? The coursework and projects are so hands-on, and are a direct representation of what it's like out in the world post-college in this industry. FIDM gives students tools and resources, connections, and confidence to make a name for themselves in a variety of different creative roles in the world. The creative industry thrives and succeeds because of talented humans that come out of the FIDM campuses, no doubt.
When did you launch Sloane & Row? In 2015, I built a boutique creative consulting company, which came out of my love and background of three main areas: Creative Services, Visual Merchandising, and Interior Design. All three areas have been wildly successful and have afforded me the pleasure of working with major global brands.
How did your past roles inform what you're doing now? Each company has been very different. I am super grateful to have worked for large, medium, and start-up sized companies. I highly recommend people work at large companies for the first two to four years post college. There are a ton of operational and process oriented things to learn, and it's important to understand the inner workings and cross-functional teamwork that takes place at a large company. Then, after you have an understanding for how it all works, go start your own thing or go work at a start-up, but make sure you have a strong foundation of an organized skill set before venturing out into smaller-led companies. Trust me, it shows when creatives have a lack of understanding for big-picture planning and over-arching cross-functional strategy.
You have a lot of high-profile clients at Sloane & Row. What do you most enjoy while working with these brands? I treat all brands, big and small, the same and love every moment of it. Typically when working with large brands, I'm working on branding and creative marketing/services. My process is two-fold: first, I understand the Brand DNA (where they've been, where they're at, and where they're going). Second, I understand their audience and key demographic. Who is their consumer? Where do they vacation? What brands do they buy? What cocktails do they drink? What music do they listen to? Everything is a key indicator of how to market and creatively communicate to someone. Everything is important.
What advice would you share with current students and new grads? The world is changing and evolving, and that's okay. Things may not be as you imagined growing up, and let that be a beautiful universal lesson in releasing any expectations of what you "thought" something would be. This will allow you to be your most authentic, true self with a purpose bigger than you expected. As the next generation, you're trailblazing new frontiers to uncover and unfold what the next wave of the world will look like, feel like, and sound like. Make positive noise for change. Innovate. Ideate. Have fun! And most importantly, be kind. Do good for the world. Help the industry and the world with a servant's heart, splashing and painting creativity and beauty wherever you roam.
What’s up next for you? I am currently writing a book on mindfulness, and what it means to our generation, which is a very important tool for our culture in today's climate. I also recently launched a podcast on manifestation, and the most recent episode on finding purpose will be a great listen for recent grads and current students. If you'd like to learn more, subscribe and listen to Mindful Divine via Apple Podcasts.
Learn more at sloane-row.com.
Categories: Visual Communication Alumni
