Judges' Bios

Josh Berta
Associate Creative Director
Sullivan

Josh has over 8 years of design experience specializing in identity design, branding systems, architectural graphics, and varied printed collateral. He has worked with clients in financial services, higher education, real estate development and sales, cultural institutions, and the non-profit sector. Currently an Associate Creative Director at the Manhattan-based branding firm Sullivan, Josh is responsible for developing and transforming strategic insights into creative visual platforms and communications. His work has been featured in Communication Arts, Print, the New York Times, and the books Logo Lounge 6 and Flaunt: Designing effective, compelling and memorable portfolios of creative work, and received awards from Yupo Paper and the SEGD.

Josh also authors the snarky design criticism blog Pr*tty Sh*tty, which is currently on hiatus, and contributes regularly to Design Observer and Quipsologies, as well as the Sullivan blog.

Somewhere in the midst of all that he also manages to be a husband and the father of two adorable girls.

Website: http://www.joshberta.com

Blog: http://prttyshttydesign.blogspot.com

Jason Brantly
Creative Director
Philadelphia, PA

"The consumer is not a moron. She is your wife." - David Ogilvy

Jason Brantly lives by such words. He's an art director who believes that "people don't read advertising, they read what interests them." (That's another Ogilvy quote.)

Advertising should be engaging, endearing, informative and most of all, intelligent. Even if it's humorous, off the wall or different. The work Jason has been associated with, or penned and art directed himself, is always simple and smart. No matter the client. No matter the agency.

Before moving to Philadelphia, Jason had senior stints at J. Walter Thompson/Houston, Moroch/Leo Burnett/Dallas, The Richards Group/Dallas, and Sicola Martin/Y&R/Austin.

Don't let the Texas roots fool you. Jason's work has received national and international attention. He's had advertising published in Communication Arts, The One Show, Print, been awarded National Addy Awards, as well as Clios, and most recently garnered a silver award in the British D&AD Show.

Sandy Dylak
Director, Communications & Creative Services
Purchase College, SUNY

Sandy Dylak joined the staff at Purchase College in 1999. Initially head of print and publications, she now directs the college's communications and creative services division, handling all print publications, rich media products, social media development, web content, marketing, promotion, advertising, and media relations.

With a BA in Journalism from Rutgers, Dylak began her professional career in 1988, as manager of a communications office for a worldwide research foundation (JDFR). Six years later, she joined the science/technology division of McGraw-Hill as managing editor of both domestic and international versions of a monthly technical journal. Beyond content development and editorial/production oversight, the position involved all aspects of promoting the magazine, daily web news, and managing special publications for global trade shows.

Dylak continues to write and edit on a free lance basis for a short list of clients. She maintains an extensive network of professional relationships with photographers, writers, designers, print vendors, multi-media specialists, and social media experts.

Michael Shirley
Group Creative Director for Digital Initiatives
Euro RSCG Chicago

As principal of SobelMedia, Bill Sobel helps start-up companies in the media and entertainment industries find digital media solutions. His client list includes Post Perfect/New York, Crawford/Atlanta and other leading media, advertising and entertainment industry clients. Sobel is also an active member of the New York Chapter of the National Television Academy, a consultant to the Convergent Media Program at the NYIT and, in conjunction with Ira Flatow of National Public Radio, a consultant to the Science Cable Network imitative under the jurisdiction of The Sloan Foundation. Bill is also founder of the New York: Media Information Exchange Group of media and financial professionals who meet monthly to explore ideas and offer wisdom on the profound changes that are forever changing the industry. He also teaches emerging technologies in media and entertainment, communications management, broadcasting and new media at Polytech University, the University of Albany’s school of management,
and at New York University.