First-Person:Lyndi Parrett

Being a PC cowgirl was one of the most profound, life altering experiences I’ve ever survived. In the two years at Portfolio Center, I had quite a few emotional rollercoasters – laughing, crying, and sleeping, all within 10 minutes; staying up till 5am for Design History so I didn’t have to hear Hank yelling at me on the other end of the phone to get to class. I had more cardboard, paper, etc. glued to the dining room table, chairs and floor... But it meant going from feeling an inch tall to being above the clouds, to not thinking that any other person existed outside of Portfolio Center. I discovered what my passions were and, most importantly, how to feed them.

When I moved to California, I didn’t immediately look for a design job. Honestly, I was burnt out. Working full time and going to school for 8 years straight had almost killed me. So I worked at a little art cafe right next to the beach, freelancing and finding my niche as a solo designer.

After doing that for a while, I decided to send out my mini books to over 20 design firms in San Diego. I don’t think I have ever been more nervous than when I dropped them off at the post office. I hoped that all my schooling and experience was going to pay off. I got a lot of calls, but I was most interested in The McCulley Group, a firm that I had eyed since moving to Solana Beach.

I'd researched them early on and loved the way they thought, as well as the design theories they practiced. They planned every step of the client’s journey, from asking questions that begin the process of exploration to delivering a brand that reflects the client’s position and culture in the marketplace. This was the one firm I wanted to interview with more than the rest.

I got a call from Jeff Haack, Principal at McCulley, asking me to come in. The interview went over two hours long with Jeff and the owner, John McCulley. I had a good feeling about it. I started about two weeks later, working on a variety of projects from print pieces to websites. Right from the get-go, they gave me enormous responsibility, much more than a junior designer would ordinarily have.

Our firm lets each designer be their own project manager, giving them the whole project to manage and produce. From the initial conceptualization of a project, I would design whatever was needed: logo, letterhead, website, signage, etc. I would be the main contact with the client and the printer, attend all press checks, have knowledge about invoicing/billing, and see the project to full completion, following up with the client at all stages along the way. My experience at McCulley has taught me not only to follow my instinct and passion for design, but to push myself on the management side as well.

Recently, I won 3 awards in GD USA’s design annual: one for Paseo Del Mar website (paseodelmar.com), another for an annual report for Security Business Bank (you can view at securitybusinessbank.com – we designed the web as well), and one for a branding suite for ParkLife. I would have to say my biggest accomplishment is the logo design we did for The City of Del Mar. To see it on the street, on the entry signage and park benches, and to know that it will be there for years to come is almost overwhelming.

Lastly, and most importantly, we’ve begun to work on our new brand. The McCulley Group was purchased about a month ago by the large architectural/interior firm, Carrier Johnson. John McCulley, Jeff Haack, Kathy Mitome (strategic), and I will begin a new journey by starting a strategic, environmental, communications sector within Carrier Johnson. The combination of firms like CJ and McCulley is new to the marketplace. The expectation to succeed is high, but so is the excitement level.

Our work will now move from a regional to an international platform, with projects such as a new Hotel and Resort development in Costa Rica, a new Hi-Rise development in Dubai, and the Hard Rock Hotel here in San Diego.