Her Story
About Kirsten
Kirsten Phillips serves as creative manager at Ropes and Gray, a global law firm, where she manages the implementation of a global rebrand and oversees external design teams handling printed materials, brochures, pitch materials, web graphics, and events collateral. She began her career in graphic design approximately 17 years ago after earning a master's degree in the field from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University in Boston, following an undergraduate degree in sculpture. Phillips joined Ropes and Gray directly from graduate school in the Boston office as a designer, later accepted a nine-month contract in Hong Kong that extended to seven years, and relocated to the New York office in March 2023. Following a firm restructuring that transitioned internal design work to external agencies, she was promoted to creative manager and now coaches design teams while continuing to contribute to design work. She attributes her success to strong communication skills and the guidance of mentors such as Joan Farrell, the firm's first art director, who helped refine her craft. Phillips values open communication in both professional and personal spheres and advises others that progress is not always linear, encouraging them to take steps back when needed, say yes to opportunities like international travel, and keep doors open.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kirsten
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to communication and speaking with people up and down the corporate ladder. I've had the opportunity to work with really great people, and the majority of managers above me are women, which has been a great opportunity to work with wonderful women mentors. Joan Farrell, the first art director, took me under her wing and helped polish my craft.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was from my mom: sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward. Also, always travel and say yes to opportunities like going to Hong Kong even without knowing much about it, because if you hate it it's 9 months experience, if you love it it's 7 years. Keep everything open and don't shut any doors.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them exactly what my mom said: sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward. Progress is not always linear and sometimes it doesn't look how you expect. Don't close any doors before you open them. You can turn anything into an opportunity, it's all in what you make of it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I'm cautiously optimistic about AI. It's still in its infancy but I think it's going to be an asset to our field. Approaching it with that view has helped me stay positive because I do use it personally. The key is being the driver and embracing how to use it to move forward. Communication is crucial because if you can't clearly articulate what you want AI to create, you won't get the product you're looking for. The human input is what drives that.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Communication is the most important value. Being able to be open and speak with people, and be able to speak about your craft and what your goals are. At the end of the day, designers are communicators. We just use a more visual medium than most. Really perfecting that will expand everything for you.
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