Biography
Multifaceted creative entrepreneur Jake Trussell is known for his work as a creative director, music producer, and communications strategist.
He's the founder of Metabolize, a strategic communications agency that uses human-centered design to metabolize business complexities into concise stories that engage audiences.
He also founded Mashit, a record label that has produced over 20 vinyl and digital releases, earning critical acclaim for its “forward-looking” (URB Magazine) approach “at the crossroads of the … international DJ scene … pushing underground dance culture forward” (Time Out Chicago).
Legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel chose Mashit as a “Label of the Month” and invited Trussell to mix a session of Mashit tracks for his show.
As a recording artist and DJ, Trussell has released more than 50 records, composed film scores, and toured the globe. He's been called an “alchemist of sound” by Boston Magazine and a “pivotal figure” by XLR8R Magazine for his innovative recordings and DJ style. The Chicago Reader called his music “clever” and “futuristic” pointing out that he's a “producer of growing influence.”
He continues to produce and curate new music, sometimes writing about it at Mood Bling. He also manages PhilipTrussell.com for his father, a painter and poet living in Austin, TX.
Trussell serves as vice chair of the board of directors for the Arts and Business Council of Chicago, a nonprofit serving Chicago’s cultural workers and enterprises to ensure community vitality and an equitable creative economy.
For most of the 2010s, he served as Creative Director for Chicago’s economic development organization chaired by the Mayor, positioning the city as a global business destination (#1 for investment, 2013 - 2019).
Trussell received a BFA in Interrelated Media from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and an innovation certificate from IDEO U.
Listen
to goals, needs, and problems to be solved
Make
solutions using the right media for the job
Communicate
Mood Bling
Writings on music in the liminal space between underground & mainstream where no genre is off limits as long as there's magic
Design Innovation
Writings on human-centered design, creativity, and the process of metabolizing complex ideas into resonant experiences
Thoughts
While many organizations have become adept at designing great customer experiences that lead to strong brand affinity, there are far fewer as skillful at creating this level of resonance with their employees, even though companies with a focus on employee experience tend to outperform their competitors … Read on
Black music not only defines the American canon but in one form or another it has dominated global popular music for the past 100 years. Chicago a major global platform for that immense creativity for the past century and its role as a hub of Black musical innovation continues today. … Read on
To innovate is to alter established practices by introducing new ideas. It’s fundamentally creative, but it’s also a science. So why and how do we innovate? … Read on
Refreshed positioning and identity shed new light on the who, what and why. … Read on
Designing and developing an application for mapping optimal business locations … Read on
The New York Times piece “Why Do Kids Love Terrible Music” underestimates kids’ ability to develop their own complex musical tastes. … Read on
How Does the Creative Economy Impact Economic Development? … Read on
Meaningful brand interactions can forge positive relationships with customers. This is amplified when employees also feel good about their company. … Read on
Retirement sounds nice, but what if you love your job? How might we deviate from the social norms around aging in the workforce in order to shift from the industrial age into the knowledge economy. … Read on
Jake Trussell
Listener
Maker
Communicator