Julie Flannery Allen {writer}

At eight years old Julie wanted to be the “one who gets to change out the corn at the Corn Palace”. Sure the colorful corn is impressive, but looking back, Julie can't help but wonder if it was actually the concept behind those grainy domes that drew her in. What a great idea—make a palace out of corn to show the world just how abundantly it grows in SD. Because while corn mosaics weren't in her future, advertising was. Julie hearts the web and all things mobile, including ham sandwiches. She's always flowed between the digital and traditional world. Nationally, she's worked with Apple, Land Rover, Jaguar, Mattel, and Palm while at AKQA, Riney and Y&R. Regionally, she's worked extensively in the financial, education and health categories.

After having two amazing kids, Julie headed back home to South Dakota and she feels lucky to be back around her family and still be able to have a career she loves.

Sarah Lavin {designer}

Sarah wears metallic shoes, a trench coat dotted with polkas and a pair of blinkers. You can tell by looking at her, she enjoys being a tad bit funky. You can tell by hearing her, she’s more than passionate about design. You can tell by meeting her, she’s more than most, lively and spry. You can tell by knowing her, she’s living life free on cloud nine.

Whether designing for the printed page, a mobile phone or that nook above a fireplace, there is one thing that's for sure...Sarah puts a dollop of wow in everything she runs across. Her degree in fine art and graphic design from SDSU has led her to agency work, freelance design, teaching, an on-the-side-for-fun interior design business and now to this love called Zing. And thanks to her two young daughters {who keep her grounded and on her toes all at once}, her eyes are open even wider to the inspiration all around us.