2024 Designer Dozen: Maggie Danker

Maggie Danker
Senior Environmental Designer, AGAR
Age: 27
Favorite movie: “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”
Favorite Artist: SZA

WHY MAGGIE?

Starting as an Industrial Design graduate from the University of Cincinnati’s College of DAAP (Design, Art, Architecture and Planning), Maggie has used her knowledge to understand the importance of product design. Her attention to detail has helped her with projects during her time at AGAR, like brand activations for Procter & Gamble (Cincinnati) for the Cincinnati Music Festival; a shop-in-shop for DSW; Limelight, a retail marketplace as part of the Cincinnati BLINK festival; and a holiday activation for cannabis brand Insa – to name a few.

Beyond mentoring interns at AGAR and assisting with onboarding and training for younger designers, Maggie is also the author of two children’s books, which she partnered with TriHealth and the Cincinnati Reds MLB team (Reds Rookies Program) to create. Roughly 17,000 copies of each book were distributed to first-time parents at TriHealth hospitals (which also included a pamphlet with parenting tips and tricks) and made available for purchase within the ballpark. Product design has influenced Maggie’s other hobbies outside of work, including ceramics. According to her co-workers, she considers herself a huge foodie and loves to cook and travel.

📷 Courtesy of AGAR, Cincinnati

What’s the biggest challenge you have faced professionally?

Experiential marketing activations can vary depending on brand type, location, scale, audience and installation length, which always challenges your creativity as a designer. Keeping strategy at the forefront and prioritizing design intent based on the brand’s goals can be a challenge, but this approach has led to some of the most rewarding projects for me.

Retail changes every day. What role do you see physical stores playing in the future?

Brands are popping up in multiple formats to reach new audiences and personally connect with consumers. I’m seeing more brands seek out their customers with micro and temporary activations that bring the experiences to them. I think we’ll continue to see this strategy grow, with retail brands differentiating themselves with creative activations that meet consumers where they are.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

At AGAR, every day is different. I enjoy that one day I might be working on a retail environment, and then the next, I’m working on a temporary brand activation. We get the chance to work across a variety of industries, providing the opportunity to showcase an array of design styles, utilize our breadth of skill sets and approach each project differently – it keeps you on your toes!

What’s your advice for another young designer?

Listen and take every opportunity as a chance to learn something new. With every project, there will be new challenges, but for every challenge faced, your expertise, preparedness and confidence will grow to position you for future growth.

My dream project is…

…designing an activation for Netflix or Hulu!

My best part of my day is…

…making my morning latte, I have perfected it.

I find (design) inspiration in…

…travel. I love to travel when possible and seek out a new country, new cuisines, fashion styles, history, etc. I always come back with a variety of inspiration from a trip.