Kelly Bjork
About Kelly Bjork
Kelly Bjork is an Executive Design Director at IDEO, where she has worked since 2021. She has a rich background in design, having held various roles at IDEO and VSA Partners, and has contributed to significant brand development for major companies.
Current Role at IDEO
Kelly Bjork serves as the Executive Design Director at IDEO, a position she has held since 2021. Based in Chicago, Illinois, she leads design initiatives and oversees creative projects that align with IDEO's mission of fostering innovation through design thinking. Her role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop impactful design solutions for various clients.
Previous Experience at IDEO
Prior to her current role, Kelly Bjork worked at IDEO as a Senior Design Director from 2016 to 2021. In this capacity, she contributed to numerous design projects and strategies. Additionally, she briefly served as a Brand Design Expert in Residence for five months in 2015, where she focused on enhancing brand identities and design methodologies.
Professional Background at VSA Partners
Kelly Bjork held multiple roles at VSA Partners, Inc., including Associate Partner and Executive Creative Director from 2013 to 2015, and Creative Director from 2008 to 2013. During her tenure, she led the development of brand systems and corporate communications for major clients such as IBM, Motorola, and First Data. Her leadership contributed to the agency's recognition in the design industry.
Education and Training
Kelly Bjork earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where she studied from 1988 to 1992. She also pursued further education at Fachhochschule Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen for one year in 1990-1991. Additionally, she completed Executive Education programs at Columbia Business School and Yale School of Management in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Contributions to AIGA
Kelly Bjork has been actively involved in the design community through her roles at AIGA. She served as Programming Co-chair for AIGA Chicago from 2002 to 2005 and later as Director of Membership for AIGA Minnesota. In these positions, she contributed to the growth and engagement of the design community, fostering collaboration and professional development among designers.