Katie's Expert Q+A

Describe your favorite self-promotion. Did it work?
Our Hatch Egg Coloring Kits – with a name like Hatch, we thought we’d have some fun with self-promotion around Easter time. We redesign the classic egg coloring kit box yearly, and people love it. It’s interactive, beautiful, playful, and unexpected – it doesn’t contain a single portfolio image. We think people get tired of looking at pictures of work and just want to take a break and become engaged in something fun! The response is great. Clients and partners participate in an online egg-coloring contest annually, in hopes of winning the 24kt gold plated egg-cup trophy. Last year, we received over 100 entries and over 15,000 unique votes for the best egg!

Do you have a pet project – a side business or a charity to which you donate time or services?
Yes, we have lots of pet projects – a side wine business, the beginnings of product lines under the Hatch name. We keep a folder in the office filled with inspiration and try to fill our down time with creative exploration into the world of housewares, home goods, accessories, and interactive kits. The only problem is making time to get all this good stuff into production!

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
An architect.

What does Boston bring to mind? What do you plan to do while you’re there?
I love Boston. And when I think of it, I think of beautiful old brick. (It’s not something we have a lot of out in San Francisco / Earthquake country.) I think walking is the best way to experience a city, so we plan to do a lot of that. And of course stop in for a pint here or there.