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Kerstin MENDE
Head of art buying | SCHOLZ & FRIENDS
Kerstin Mende was born in Bielefeld, and currently lives and works in Hamburg. Kerstin studied Marketing, and then worked as a junior Art Buyer at BBDO Hamburg. In 1994, she started working for FCB Hamburg, and began to work as a freelance Art Buyer for businesses such as BBS , JvM, Kolle Rebbe , McCann Erickson, S&J ,TBWA, Wire Advertising, and WPW. Since 2004, Kerstin has been Head of Art Buying at Scholz & Friends, and still is a part-time freelancer.
questionnaire
What was your very first job?
After a 2 years education in Marketing, I started as an art buying assistant at BBDO
Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails?
I try to find the best people for my client’s needs. I mainly work with photographers, Illustrators, graphic designers. On the one hand I evaluate from the creative site - on the other hand I need commercial experience to negotiate the best offers.
How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? What was there train of events that brought you to where you are today?
From the very beginning - already at high school, I was In a highest lever in art class . not talented in being that creative but always interested in peoples work. I started an apprenticeship in advertising to get commercial degree. Even after many years in business I still think there is no better job than being an art buyer. You always meet interesting people (like on events like yours) No job is the same. So, it never gets boring.
In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?
Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest etc. are great tools as well as meetings like Connections. In Hamburg we have established an event for young talented photographers that´s called WEITSPRUNG. And of course we meet photographers/agents/Illustrators every day to be up to date.
