Jake Trussell
Résumé
PROFILE
Listener Maker Communicator
SKILLS
EXPERIENCE
Founder & Creative Director
2018 to Present
A human-centered experience design and brand strategy consultancy discovering insights, ideating possibilities, and refining solutions in order to help organizations build, test, deploy, and communicate innovative experiences that create value
Work includes:
Founder & Creative Director
2003 - Present
Originally producing vinyl records at the turn of the millennium, including the first releases by now legendary artists like (Chrissy) Murderbot and Aaron Spectre (Drumcorps), the first Mashit 12-inch sold out instantly, becoming an underground classic. Soon, BBC Radio 1 host John Peel chose Mashit as a “label of the month” and had founder DJ C record a session of Mashit tracks. The label has gone on to produce 7 more 12-inches, & over 20 digital releases.
Visiting Music Curator
Tufts University
2022
Curated a weekly series of playlists to accompany the Choreographies of Resistance course on the use of movement and dance as protest; students researched dance theory as a way to see social action as planned choreography, and to see the potential of choreography itself as a form of resistance; the playlists accompanied weekly seminars during which students participated in movement practice
Music Producer
1994 - Present
Recording artist, DJ, music curator, and film score composer who has performed at mountain-top festivals in Japan, underground raves in London, and nightclubs in Prague alongside artists including Lupe Fiasco, Four Tet, Rhymefest, Squarepusher, μ-Ziq, and DJ /rupture (with whom he founded the Toneburst event production collective); his discography features more than 50 records on labels including XL Recordings, Ninja Tune, and Soul Jazz, sharing production credits with the likes of Diplo, Quincy Jones, M.I.A., and Gregory Isaacs; a Chicago Reader review of his 2021 Do Radly album said that the music “brings life-giving daring to his hybridized dance music;” DJ C has held a series of night club residencies in Boston and Chicago where he also booked artists from around the world
Creative Director
2009 to 2018
Designed and managed brands, initiatives and experiential marketing campaigns for Chicago's economic development organization chaired by the Mayor; managed the brand of Chicago as a global business destination (#1 for corporate investment 7 years straight); built brands and communications for a number of civic startups incubated at WBC; designed and led programs and initiatives focused on innovation and entrepreneurship
Key Roles and Responsibilities:
Web Consultant
2008
Developed content for Annual Report, Digital Learning, and MacFound.org websites
Webmaster
Massachusetts College of Art & Design
1999 - 2007
Designed and developed the College's first website in 1999, coordinating across the organization to develop clear, coherent story-telling while maintaining brand consistency; managed an external agency to develop the award-winning website redesign in 2002; provided branding, communications, and technology strategy for the College President and departmental directors
BOARDS & VOLUNTEERING
Vice Chairperson, Board of Directors
Arts & Business Council of Chicago
2018 – Present
Building relationships between Chicago's cultural and business communities; work on emerging issues in the creative industries; design new models to ensure the support of creatives in marginalized communities to help empower a more just and creative Chicago; previously chair of the Strategic Partnerships Committee; led 2020 fundraising with the #ChiMusic35 experiential marketing campaign generating 9 Chicago Reader articles and over 2 million online impressions in order to raise funds and increase awareness and engagement in lieu of in-person events during the pandemic
Braintrust
2018 – Present
Active in a group of thinkers using the Innovation Dynamics framework to help solve social problems in collaboration with organizations like the Chicago Literacy Alliance, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Public Schools, Design for America, and the Rustandy Center for Social Innovation at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business
Year of Chicago Music Working Group Member
2019 – 2021
Serving on 3 working groups with the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (Marketing; Professional Development & Music Industry; Research, Infrastructure, and Cultural Policy) to support and promote Chicago's vibrant music sector
Mentor, 2112 Creative Industry Incubator
2015 – 2020
Mentor startup entrepreneurs in design, branding, and marketing strategy at business incubator focused on music, media, entertainment, and other creative industries
Radical Creator
2014 – 2020
Active in a community of change-makers breaking down silos and sparking connections across Chicago
Chicago Theatre Marketing Working Group Member
2017 - 2018
Worked with Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and the League of Chicago Theatres to support and promote Chicago's theatre industry, leading to the “Year of Chicago Theatre” (2019)
Advisory Council, LakeFX Summit
2014 – 2017
Creative industry professional development conference
Advisory Council, Chicago Music Summit
2013
Music industry professional development conference
EDUCATION
BFA, Media & Performing Arts, Interrelated Media
Massachusetts College of Art & Design - Boston, MA | Graduated with Distinction
1998
Blockchain Certificate
edX (Linux Foundation)
2018
Insights for Innovation Certificate
IDEO U
2016
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Psychology of Creativity
2020
Presented to Illinois Institute of Technology class on the ways in which the creative process, design thinking, and innovation can be applied across sectors.
Design for America Summit
2019
Presented at Northwestern University's Segal Design Institute on the use of design methodologies to improve employee experience
Leadership for Creative Enterprises
2018
Spoke Northwestern University's School of Communications on building and collaborating with innovative businesses and organizations, in conversation with Melissa Kaufman, Executive Director of The Garage incubator
Lake FX Summit (Creative Industry Professional Development Conference)
2015 - 2017
Moderated discussions with Kickstarter co-founder Charles Adler, Cards Against Humanity co-founder Max Temkin, Threadless CEO Jake Nickell, Fake Shore Drive founder Andrew Barber, Young Chicago Authors Artistic Director Kevin Coval, and others
Taste of Chicago
2016
Moderated a discussion on designing experiences across industries with Lupe Fiasco's tour manager, Iridium Clothing Co. Creative Director and rapper Pugs Atomz, and the creative agency for The Second City and Pitchfork Meida
Grammy Town Hall
2014
Moderated a discussion on Chicago’s creative industries at a Recording Academy event
Visiting Lecturer, Harvard University
2000 – 2007
Lectured on music production and culture
AWARDS
Site Selection Magazine’s Top Metro for Corporate Relocation & Investment
2013 – 2019
Top industry accolade 7 years in a row for Wold Business Chicago’s work marketing Chicago as a business destination
International Economic Development Council Award
2012
SiteSelectorApp.com Web Application
AIGA Web Design Award
2002
MassArt.edu