Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Takata-Herring.
Hi Danielle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m the co-founder and Creative Director of Dreambox Creations, the nation’s leading advertising agency for the restaurant space. I grew up in a small pocket of Los Angeles. I was really shy when I was young but loved all-things-art. Whether it was drawing, painting or dancing- I spent countless hours creating art and communicating through design. I always knew I wanted to pursue something in the industry. Fast forward to 1999, we started Dreambox while attending college at Cal Poly Pomona. I was only 20 years old, a 2nd year student, balancing three jobs.
My business partner and I were really content working at our other jobs so we never thought we would walk away from stable, corporate environments. I was working at 20th Century Fox and he was working for a global airline. In the very beginning, it was difficult to make ends meet but we continued with it and knew that we would never really have this opportunity again. So when we graduated college, we made a conscious decision to both quit our respective jobs and work full time at Dreambox.
Now, Dreambox is in its 22nd year. We develop brand messaging for social media, commercials, digital and print ads, campaigns, websites, emails, brochures, direct mail, magazines, and corporate reports. Some of our clients include Round Table Pizza and Habit Burger Grill. When I’m not working, I enjoy interior design, volunteering and spending quality time with my husband, Jeff, our 3-year-old son, Clark and 8-month-old daughter, Andie.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The hardest hurdle was in the very beginning when we didn’t have any proven work to show. We were also very young and hadn’t yet earned the respect from clients to prove to prospective clients.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being the creative director, I am in charge of creative, brand style, and the positioning aspect of each of our brands, and really making sure that every element speaks to people. We generate original artwork for our client’s digital campaigns and websites, creating a voice and identity for restaurant brands, driving social media engagement and really working to evoke an emotion from the audience.
My team and I work to interpret and evolve each customer’s brand voice. We focus on brand positioning, email marketing campaigns to website design and business process improvements- and it really helps streamline adoption of new technologies. The end goal is always getting Customers through the door.
Our strengths and the overlap of tech and creative capabilities complement one another and provide a one-stop-shop for our clients. They really love it!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I didn’t have a mentor in the beginning but over the years working with so many influential people in the restaurant industry, I definitely look up to a handful of people and have learned many important things from them that have helped me with my day-to-day job and life in general. Surround yourself with people that have done what you’re trying to do so you can learn from them, vent to them, relate to them…. etc.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: WeAreDreambox.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/wearedreambox
