In Conversation with Amy Globus

Tell us about your background:
I’ve always been fascinated by the space where art and design turn abstract ideas into lived experience.

My background began in fine art; I earned my MFA in New Genres, exploring photography, sound, video, and sculpture as ways to translate complex ideas into form. That education shaped my approach to design—not as decoration, but as systems for meaning.

After graduate school, I founded Team, an independent strategy and design studio based in Brooklyn. What began as a small experiment in collaborative practice has evolved into a multidisciplinary team that works with global brands, cultural institutions, and philanthropic organizations. Our work bridges visual identity, digital experience, physical space, and brand storytelling.

Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of leading projects for clients such as Pfizer. We led the company’s global rebrand—defining its purpose during one of the most transformative moments in its history—and developed immersive environments, large-scale graphics, and a comprehensive toolkit for global rollout.

Team partnered with The Bronx Museum to redefine its identity and digital presence ahead of its 50th anniversary and major architectural transformation. The project centered on accessibility, inclusivity, and community engagement—reflecting the museum’s mission to serve as a cultural anchor in the South Bronx. The resulting brand combines bold typography, a flexible digital toolkit, and a renewed narrative framework that celebrates the museum’s history while looking confidently toward its future.

Outside of client work, I’m deeply involved in the arts and philanthropic communities that have shaped me. I was a grantee of the program in 2004 and now I serve on the Board of the Rema Hort Mann Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting both emerging artists and cancer patients, as well as the Board of AIGA NY, where I advocate for mentorship, diversity, and the evolving role of design in culture. These experiences continually remind me that design is most powerful when it serves people and purpose, not just profit.

I’m interested in fostering environments that blend intuition with intelligence—spaces where creativity is both strategic and empathetic. I believe in collaboration that is inclusive, transparent, and driven by shared curiosity.

In many ways, my background is a continuous balancing act between vision and execution, between art and industry. Whether developing a global brand system, mentoring young designers, or helping an organization articulate its mission, my goal is to create work that is human, hopeful, and enduring.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

When I started out, I thought being good at what I did meant having all the answers — knowing exactly what to say in a presentation, how to solve every design challenge, how to make something “perfect.” What I’ve learned is that creativity — and leadership — actually live in the unknown. The best work comes from listening, asking better questions, and being open to the unexpected.

I also wish I’d understood earlier that design is as much about people as it is about ideas. Building trust, giving others space to contribute, and creating environments where collaboration feels natural.

And, I wish I’d known how important it is to protect curiosity and joy in the work. There will always be deadlines, stress, and self-doubt, but staying connected to why you do it — that mix of wonder and purpose — makes all the difference.

Best career advice you've ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from artist Andres Serrano, who said, “Tell ’em to go fuck themselves. You got this.”

It’s blunt, but it’s stayed with me because it’s really about confidence — trusting your voice, your instincts, and your perspective, even when others doubt it. Creative work will always invite opinions, but knowing when to listen and when to hold your ground is everything.

What leadership qualities are important to you?

Empathy, clarity, and courage.

Empathy builds trust. It lets people feel seen and understood, which is the foundation for any creative environment. Clarity gives purpose — it helps everyone know not just what we’re working toward, but why it matters. And courage is what keeps things moving when the path isn’t clear — the willingness to take risks, ask hard questions, and stand by your values.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?

Pivoting from art to design. My background is in fine art, and for a long time, I saw design as something entirely separate — more commercial, more constrained. Making that shift required rethinking how I defined creativity and success.

In art, the work is deeply personal; in design, it’s collaborative and often driven by the needs of others. Learning how to translate my artistic instincts into strategic, purposeful outcomes, without losing that sense of experimentation and emotion, took time.

I came to see that art and design aren’t opposites — they shape each other. My art background trained me to think conceptually and find meaning through systems, skills that became central to my design practice. The pivot wasn’t a departure but a reinvention.

How do you define success in your career, and how has that definition evolved over time?

Rooted in a studio art practice, my early focus was on visibility and achievement through exhibitions, awards, or press.

Over time, that definition has evolved into something deeper and more sustaining. Now, success feels less about external validation and more about alignment — doing work that reflects my values, challenges convention, and makes a positive impact on people and culture. It’s about building environments where creativity and empathy thrive, mentoring others, and contributing to something larger than myself.

At this stage, success is measured by trust, integrity, and the ripple effect of meaningful collaboration — not just what I make, but how I make it and who I lift along the way.

How has networking contributed to your professional growth and success?

Networking has never felt like a strategy to me — it’s always been about genuine curiosity and connection. The most meaningful relationships in my career have come from shared values and creative conversations, not from transactional goals.

Many of Team’s most rewarding collaborations have come from relationships built years earlier, sometimes through friends, former clients, or people I met while working on art-related projects.

I’ve also realized that strong networks aren’t built on volume, but on trust. The creative world is small, and reputation travels. Being kind, collaborative, and generous with ideas tends to come back around in unexpected ways.

Networking, for me, has been less about collecting contacts and more about building a community — people who challenge you, support you, and help you grow.

What are your top networking tips for building strong connections in your industry?

Be generous with your connections and time — the most meaningful relationships often come from helping others without immediate expectation of return.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-globus-64355713/

Website: https://team.design/

Instagram: @team_studio