Profile - continued (2/3)

Central is led by Sara Burgess and Damien Newman.

Sara Burgess studied at the University of Victoria and received her MFA in Illustration from San Francisco's Academy of Art College. She then ran a specialized product illustration company in San Francisco, working for clients such as Levis, Joe Boxer and Restoration Hardware, developing retail merchandising plan-o-grams and for their clients.

Sara spent three years with Pottery Barn's Tabletop design department, designing and developing all that one must use to successfully entertain. As an integral part of the team, Sara led and designed some of the retailer's most successful product lines.

Today Sara works with a number of clients and organizations to develop product lines, and research new trends and directions for homewares and products. Within Central, Sara is growing a retail consultancy practice and a number of exclusive product lines with outside partners.

Sara has worked as an illustrator, product designer, graphic designer, and web designer, in the UK, US and Canada.

Sara works, cycles, climbs, runs and sleeps in Marin, California.

Damien Newman specializes in brand and design strategy, helping companies improve their performance and growth by transforming themselves internally, and developing a design process. Combining a mix of business therapy, systems thinking and design methods, Damien collaborates with client teams to help them realize their potential, manage change and transform themselves (slowly or quickly) into great innovative companies.

Damien has worked for companies such as IDEO, frog design and Studio Archetype and held key positions at both professional services firms and 'client' organizations. He has led, managed or worked on high-profile projects for companies such as Microsoft, Real Networks, SUN, UPS, IBM, Xerox and Motorola.

Damien writes online at mdn press and Push Button For, and occasionally for Design in Flight. Damien was previously an author for Speak Up, which he still contributes to from time to time but is a great read nonetheless.

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