Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Leebert.
Hi Nick, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember—first for myself, then eventually for friends and even adults who started asking me for stuff at a young age. I always knew I had a bit of a knack for it, but I never imagined it could turn into a career. Growing up, I didn’t really know any professional artists, so it wasn’t something I saw as a real possibility.
That started to change after high school when I landed a job at a screen printing shop. Totally by chance, I found myself getting paid to draw and design—and I loved it. With a lot of support from my family, I started to see that maybe there was a path forward doing creative work. I took art and design classes at a junior college, eventually transferred to CSULB’s School of Art, and focused on graphic design. That’s when things really clicked.
From there, it was a mix of hard work, good timing, and the continued encouragement of people around me. I graduated and got my first “real” design job working with global brands—total dream scenario. Now, 18 years later, thanks to some amazing mentors and a ton of talented collaborators, I’ve grown into my current role as a creative lead at an award-winning international branding agency.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road definitely hasn’t been smooth—but I’m actually really grateful for the bumps along the way. Those tough moments helped shape who I am today. Over time, I’ve built up tools to handle the setbacks and not let them throw me off course.
As a designer, you’re constantly putting your work (and yourself) out there for critique—from peers, clients, and the world. Early in my career, that was tough. I’d pour days into a project, obsess over every detail to make it feel just right, only to have it shot down in minutes by a creative director. I didn’t really know how to handle that at first—it stung, and it took a while to not take it personally.
Eventually, I learned how to deal with rejection and see it as part of the process. I started to understand that doing my best was enough, and that I could be proud of that. I also got better at building a stronger point of view behind my work and learning how to present it in a way that really communicates the thinking behind it. That’s made a huge difference—not just in how my work is received, but in how I feel about it, too.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Right now, I’m a Creative Director at Chase Design Group. We’re a strategic branding agency that mainly works with consumer goods brands—helping design everything from their packaging to the whole brand experience around it. We’ve partnered with big-name global brands, but we also work with smaller challenger brands that are just as exciting and meaningful to us. No matter the size, we go all in—because when our clients succeed, so do we.
What makes me really proud is being part of the Chase team. The agency was founded back in the ’80s by Margo Chase, who was this powerhouse of creativity, precision, and pure determination. Her spirit still drives the way we work today. That legacy of passion and craft is something I carry with me every day in the work I do.
Any big plans?
At Chase, I’m genuinely excited about the work we’re doing and where we’re headed as a creative agency. We’re always evolving, and I’m really looking forward to being part of that growth. The future feels full of possibility.
Outside of work, I’m always looking for new ways to stay inspired and keep my creativity flowing. Lately, I’ve been getting into ceramics—it’s become a really rewarding outlet for me. I love being able to mix my design background with something more tactile, exploring how graphics, form, and texture can come together. Plus, it’s a great way to unplug from screens and get into a totally different headspace. Ceramics demand full focus—if you’re not present, a piece can fall apart in a second. That kind of mindfulness has been a refreshing contrast to the pace of my day-to-day work life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chasedesigngroup.com
