Gwen O’Brien: Creative Titan

If you’ve ever thought it’s all been done before or if you think that tradition speaks volumes about value, you’ve probably never met Gwen O’Brien. Gwen is not a mere rock or pillar in the design community; she’s more like a flower that reaches for innovation and new ideas. In her career, her life and her philosophy, she has established original thinking as her top priority.

I’m always looking for something new. Something different, and how we can solve problems in new ways.

Growing up, Gwen’s mother had an interior design studio, and so she learned the design process at a young age. That foundation was inexpressibly valuable as it helped earn her a full-ride scholarship to Kendall College of Art and Design. She studied graphic design, art, and interior design, and later she was trained in computer programming. Gwen wasn’t just creatively inclined, she actually took the steps to verse herself in the skills and the tools that are required to express creativity in productive ways.

I want to be able to design anything. I like to dabble in it all. It’s challenging at times, but I like that.

For the last decade or so, Gwen has been working for herself under the name Plenty (formerly Plenty Creative). She started as a freelancer and grew up from there into an award-winning design agency. Her company is well known in West Michigan for producing striking visuals, remaining on the cutting edge of good design and having fun along the way. Recently, Plenty merged with Fairly Painless Advertising out of Holland, Michigan. This marks a new season for Gwen and her creative partners. It’s a bold move, since this type of merger is not common in West Michigan.

I’m all for pushing the envelope and doing something different. I don’t want to do something that’s been done.

Taking a cue from the fashion world, Gwen places a high importance on the spark of a new idea. When she finds inspiration, she puts all her effort and resources towards nurturing the fresh thought. Not only does Gwen celebrate what’s current, but she sees genuine value where many others would not. In the end, the work speaks for itself, and it proves that a single spark (if protected and seen as important) can change the way people think about businesses, initiatives, and even life itself.

Don’t do what everyone else is doing. Experiment, and get a lot of experience. Make mistakes. Keep pushing it. This is the time. Do something crazy! If not you, then who?

Gwen O’Brien is the founder of Plenty Creative,
the AIGA President’s Council Chair,
and a creative powerhouse in West Michigan.