Our team hails from diverse disciplines, spanning brand development, museum management, and computer science to high-level video game development. Our focus on creating new approaches to existing challenges ensures an aura of innovation runs through our studio. Our proprietary code-base allows rapid prototyping of new-to-the-world concepts. Our integrated physical prototyping shop ensures a seamless interplay between digital and real-world elements.
Our creative philosophy begins with a deep respect for our clients brand and audience. Every idea, emotion, innovation, and execution builds upon that foundation. Our insistence on best-in-class creative and development processes and formalized user testing ensures a ‘no surprises’ launch of projects and initiatives. We believe the future belongs to those who create it.
CLIENT LIST:
LEADERSHIP:
ALAN HUGHES
FOUNDER
Alan Hughes is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of NEXT/NOW™. His focus is creating digital content and interaction that thematically, creatively, and architecturally feel ‘as one’ with a physical experience and environment. Group interaction, intuitive interfaces, social media hooks, and unexpected digital reactive surfaces have become the hallmark of Alan’s work in the field. An industry innovator, Alan successfully headed creative development at his previous agencies for 11+ years for clients including Toyota, the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid, The Dubai Mall, American Eagle Outfitters, AXE, LG Electronics, Experian, ADP, TurtleWax, McDonald’s, Leica, and Hitachi. Projects of note include software architecture and interactive design of the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, multiple experiential films for the world’s largest video screen–The Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas, numerous interactive video Times Square collaborations with LG, large-scale trade show touchscreen content and design for Hitachi, content pre-viz for the American Eagle Outfitters interactive building in Times Square, and in-store augmented reality kiosks for Target and Axe.
SHEILA SCULLIN
GENERAL MANAGER
Sheila joined the NEXT/NOW team with a decade of experience in museum exhibit development and management. Sheila served successfully at Chicago Children’s Museum as a Project Manager and Director of Exhibit Development and Design. Sheila has vast experience working collaboratively with exhibit development, design and fabrication teams on experiential projects for cultural institutions. As General Manager for NEXT/NOW, Sheila has successfully managed project timelines, budgets, workflow and production of interactive experiences, video productions, physical component design, large- scale projection mapping and more. Projects of note for NEXT/NOW include the Discover Card Black Friday/Orange Friday takeover of Pioneer Court on the Magnificent Mile, Accenture Digital Lounge, John Deere North America and Europe dealer Projection-Mapping experience, Crown Royal Traveling Tour, Chicago Sports Museum, Bloomingdale’s Retail Installation (Luxottica, Persol) and Audi Product Launch Interactive.
RANDY GRESS
DIRECTOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Randy has been with NEXT/NOW since it’s inception, after a successful career with the Atlanta Braves Organization and Pepsico where he skillfully managed multiple high-profile sales accounts. Randy works with clients, partners and NEXT/NOW staff to ensure that each project realizes the client’s vision and aligns with the brand’s goals and desired outcomes. His hands-on approach supports a clear and collaborative process from concept to completion. Projects of note for NEXT/NOW include the Discover Card Black Friday/Orange Friday takeover of Pioneer Court on the Magnificent Mile, Accenture Digital Lounge, John Deere North America and Europe dealer Projection-Mapping experience, Crown Royal Traveling Tour, Chicago Sports Museum, Bloomingdale’s Retail Installation (Luxottica, Persol), Audi Product Launch Interactive and Cars.com national sales meeting interactive experience.
JANNA RETZLER
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
Janna brings over 10 years of integrated and experiential marketing to NEXT/NOW. Her extensive background in direct, digital, retail, social, branding, strategy, experiential and communications has represented brands such as HP, Ford, Ingredion, KraftHeinz, Jaguar, John Deere, Accenture, Volkswagen, Federal Reserve Bank and more. Her role at NEXT/NOW is focused on creating a client-centered approach to project management and process workflow.