Jigsaw is looking for an experienced, passionate, detail-oriented Interactive Web Developer to craft exciting, innovative solutions for a digital world.

Responsibilities include:

• Hands-on creation of branded interactive experiences that adhere to defined project goals and specifications, including: websites, mobile web, apps, online ads, social media and email marketing.
• Collaborate with agency teams on digital strategies and solutions. Mentor these teams on crafting and executing digital solutions.
• Define UI/UX and technical approach to digital projects based on overall strategy.
• Deliver projects on time and on budget, in compliance with defined requirements and quality control.
• Continuously advance knowledge of emerging technology, providing inspiration and thought leadership to agency and client teams.

 Qualifications:

• 3 to 5 years experience in an agency or creative industry.
• Expert in PHP, HMTL, CSS, JQuery, XML, JavaScript, MySql, CMS-based environments (WordPress, Joomla, etc.) and Adobe CS tools.
• Expert knowledge of information architecture, UI/UX design and user flows.
• Web Server experience a huge plus.
• Deep understanding of technical requirements and limitations of digital platforms, including: web browsers, mobile, apps, display ads (including rich media), social media, email, and analytics.
• Ability to take initiative, solve problems, sweat the details, manage, and prioritize deadlines in a fast-paced team environment.
• Experience collaborating in cross-functional team.
• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Computer Science.

Interested? Submit your cover letter, resume and portfolio to humanresources@jigsawllc.com.

No. 13 {See description below}

Dear Ann,

Thank you for tweeting your idea to honor the boys and girls at Sandy Hook Elementary. The team @Jigsaw_LLC recently completed #26actsofkindness. I asked my madly creative co-workers to share what they learned from participating in this campaign.

“If you want to feel liberated, walk into the public market and give money to a stranger.”

“How beautiful and resilient the human spirit is.”

“How good it feels to help others without expectation of anything in return.”

“To never complain. There are so many people having a harder day than me.”

“To be grateful every single day that I have such a good life, and because of it, I have the ability to help those who don’t have it so good.”

“That taking time out of our hectic schedules to help other people, whether something big or something small, is one of the most important things we can do each day. At the end of the day, what’s more important than basic kindness?”

“I have ten minutes to spare.”

“There are deserving people everywhere.”

“I am never more important than anyone else.”

“#26acts taught me that a child’s smile is worth so much.“

Because of you this happened:

1. Paid for a stranger’s coffee.
2. Sponsored two families over the holidays with a meal and presents for their kids.
3. Coordinated the Kids BackPak program at children’s school. The students bring kid-friendly food items to school, which are then distributed to needy kids on the weekend via their school backpack. This is a way to give the kids, who rely on daily meals at school, meals over the weekend.
4. Consolidated grocery bags and gave one to stranger whose broke.
5. Donated to Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston in honor of friend who is running marathon.  The donation was dedicated to the boys and girls killed at Sandy Hook.
6. Helped a disabled person grocery shop at the Metro Market.
7. Donated winter coat and cold weather accessories to the Salvation Army.
8. Paid for person standing behind in line at Alterra.
9. Helped son’s teacher prepare classroom for the new year.
10. Paid for veteran’s next round of Stone Creek Coffee.
11. Paid for another person’s gas at the pump.
12. Mailed 26 baggies filled with crayons to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin for their kiddos.
13. Left chalkboard coasters in a neighbor’s mailbox with an anonymous holiday note. {See picture above}
14. Paid for car behind in parking garage.
15. Baked cookies for co-workers.
16. Helped lost person with directions.
17. Donated peanut butter to the Hunger Task Force 100,000 Jar Drive.
18. Bought a homeless person Subway.
19. Shoveled neighbor’s driveway.
20. Donated 26 pairs of individually wrapped children’s socks to the Joy House. {Part of Milwaukee Rescue Mission}
21. Helped daughter and classmates make Valentine’s.
22. Left $5 and note on random car at Milwaukee Public Market.
23. Helped family whose daughter is receiving cancer treatments.
24. Found a new shopping cart for an elderly lady whose cart’s wheels weren’t rolling. Helped her move her items to the new cart.
25. Helped an elderly couple set up their WIFI.
26. Let a stranger cut the line at Costco because they only had one item.

Thank you for inspiring us to be better.

Sincerely,
Rachel

CC: @Jigsaw_LLC

Introducing two of the newest pieces of Jigsaw. Hailing from the alma mater of many of us creatives here (Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design), Nick and Cody will be with us until May when they both graduate. Recently we caught up with them in our conference room to ask them a few questions. And yes ladies, they are both single.

What is the most interesting thing about working at Jigsaw?
Nick: I would have to say it is the diversity of thinking. There are so many great thinkers and idea creators that come into play, it creates a great learning and working environment.
Cody: The most interesting thing about working at Jigsaw is all the different jobs I get to be a part of. Seeing and experiencing so many different media of design at a professional level not only challenges my thinking, but also allows me to gain experience within all facets of design.

If a doctor gave you five years to live, what would you try to accomplish?   
Nick: I would travel to every spot I have ever dreamed of.
Cody: I would travel to the ends of the world, and also kiss every female I have ever had feelings for.

If your house was burning, and you could only save three things what would they be?
Nick: 1-me,  2-my Nike’s®, and 3-my Mac Book Pro®
Cody: 1-myself (so I don’t die), 2-my iPhone® (so I could call the fire department), and 3-the stacks of cash in between my mattress (self explanatory).

As an intern you are at the bottom of the totem pole. How is that experience at Jigsaw?
Nick: Well… I only had to get everyone coffee once, ha! Just kidding. My experience overall has been great. I really don’t feel like an intern, I feel that I’m part of the team.
Cody: Are we even on the totem pole as interns? If anything we would be the part in the ground that no one sees (ha ha). All joking aside I feel that Jigsaw does a great job at making you feel that you belong and have value to add to the team.

With both of you coming from MIAD, how is it working with each other?
Nick: I don’t even think about it. We both carry a different skill set and I feel that we are able to combine them to create the ultimate intern and asset to the Jigsaw crew.
Cody: Well funny story, not only do we go to the same school and have most classes together, we are also roommates. Luckily we get along, and mesh together well because it could get tense fast otherwise.

What would be the title of your autobiography?
Nick: ”Life and Times of Me, Myself and I.”
Cody: (Insert something funny, meaningful, and emotional here).

What places have you not been to that you would like to visit?
Nick: Hawaii, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Brazil, Chile, Rome, Mexico City, Tokyo, and NIKE® town.
Cody: Tokyo, Brazil, Sydney, Thailand, Bangkok, Anchorage, Moscow, New York, Amsterdam, and Egypt (I am sure I forgot a few).

With being one of two interns what is the competition factor like?
Nick: I’m actually surprised that there isn’t any competition. Not only are we classmates and roommates were also friends that get along and are able to talk and give feedback on each other’s work in a professional manner. I feel that we are helping each other to become stronger at creative problem solving and designing.
Cody: I never really thought about it like a competition. Maybe there is a friendly underlying one, but with being two different types of thinkers and designers, we more-or-less work to each other’s weaknesses.

Quick you need some sort of comic relief—what do you do?
Nick: Look at Cody.
Cody: Most likely I would make the Chewbacca sound (RRRRRRRR).

It’s 5 O’Clock on Friday. What are you drinking?
Nick: Ha—usually around 5 O’Clock I’m thinking of what I’m going to stuff my face with. But usually I’m also thinking of what new micro brew to try.
Cody: Nothing, I am trying to get home to have a beer… or beers.

Have questions for our interns—go ahead and ask them below—we know they would be happy to answer you.

We need a new verb. When someone calls you, your phone doesn’t just ring (although it can if that’s what you choose). It sings. It raps. It turns on a lightsaber. It NomNomNoms. It tells you to “Sashay Away.”

It also is a personal declaration. It announces to everyone in hearing distance that you like Family Guy, Star Trek, and the Simpsons. It says you’ve got Gangnam Style. Hearing a quirky, weird, funny ringtone makes you want to meet someone –– or not. Haven’t we all been in a crowd of people and just had to get a look at the person behind that Chewbacca howl, Sexy and I Know It (never who you’d expect), or Jingle Bell Rock (in June)?

I’m sure you’re all wondering what this has to do with Jigsaw –– and here it is. We have new people. New clients. And new readers of our blog. And we figured the modern version of a calling card just might be a ringtone. We invite you to get to know us by knowing what’s on our phones.

Eoghan, Front End Developer
What is your ringtone?
I use different ringtones for all of my friends and/or co-workers and/or arch-nemeses.
This helps me add flavor to my communications.

By the way, this is what he uses for his nemesis:
The Big Payback – James Brown
http://youtu.be/lnPtf8WO73g
Don’t mess with Eoghan.

Steve Marsho, Partner
What is your ringtone?
Old phone
What inspired your pick?
It reminds me of my youth. It’s comforting.
What does your choice say about you?
I’m old school. Why do I need an annoying ring tone that chirps?

Steven Wold, Partner
What is your ringtone?
Crickets chirping.

Rachel, Interactive Project Manager and Steve Marsho’s newest ally
What is your ringtone?
Old phone
What inspired your pick?
It was between that and the “Duck” option.
What does your choice say about you?
I like to keep it simple.

Sue, Strategist
I’m so boring that I don’t even want to answer this. My current ringtone is Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, Thunder Road. I was inspired to choose it by my love of Bruce Springsteen, which says that I’m middle-aged and boring and really love Bruce Springsteen and every time I’ve heard him play this song live, I’ve cried like a baby. That said: I’ve been shopping for Phineas and Ferb ringtones, like “Doofenschmirtz Evil Incorporated” or the Perry the Platypus “dooby-dooby-doo-wa” theme. Which says that I’m a middle-aged Mom and we also REALLY like Phineas and Ferb. It makes us ROFLOAO.

Anne, Art Director (with a logical answer our Strategist can appreciate)
Well, the ring tone itself doesn’t matter. I picked my text and ring tones based on being able to hear them. So the noise is higher pitched and always at max. I have to be able to hear my phone in my purse in another room…right? Or when I’m out at a noisy restaurant, mall, grocery, etc. But this is all counterproductive because the ring and text tone is so annoying that I’ll turn the volume all the way off, say, at work or where I’m somewhere I don’t want the phone to interrupt a conversation—then I forget about it and find out I have a bizillion missed calls. LIFE IS HARD!

Beki, Art Director
What is your ringtone?
-Tron soundtrack “Derezzed”
-Florence and the Machine “Dog Days are Over”
-Nirvana “Heart Shaped Box”
What does your choice say about you?
I’m a dork and from the 90′s.

Jen, Associate Creative Director
What is your ringtone?
Marimba
What inspired your pick?
Its superiority to the Glockenspiel.
What does your choice say about you?
Despite my German heritage, my past life must have included African roots.

Joanne, Print Production
What is your ringtone?
The standard ones that came with the phone.
What inspired you to pick that tone?
My unfamiliarity with smart phones.
What does your choice say about you?
Catch up or get left in the dust!

Dione, Senior Writer
What is your ringtone?
Theme song for “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” or RuPaul’s “Cover Girl”
What does your choice say about you?
In a past life, I was a Kim Novak/Ingrid Bergman/Grace Kelly impersonator.

Eric, Intern Extraordinaire
What is your ringtone?
My current ringtone is called Mr. Simple, which is ironic because there is nothing simple about it. If I were to sum it up I’d say it’s this crazy little techno beat that is very high energy.
What inspired your pick?
I chose it because it immediately got my attention –– plus its sounds really cool. It’s meant to get you excited and pumped-up, which always comes in handy.
What does your choice say about you?
It says that I am unexpected, I like to have fun and I am always up for a little excitement.

Craig, on the other hand, is not.

Craig, Account Supervisor
What is your ringtone?
Whatever came on the phone.

So loyal readers, what’s your ringtone? And what does it say about you?

A month ago our client, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, came to us with news that their January promotion would be enlisting the help of John Kuhn, Green Bay Packer fullback (insert thought about how excited I was that I almost peed in my pants). Now, you are all thinking this is coz’ I share the last name of this NFL star. But… there is something you should know…

You see, we are not related at all. Yet, truly John had become a part of my family. While my dad battled cancer, Sundays were the only time we would forget. Sundays, were where my whole family would wait for that first Kuhn play so we could all turn to each other and yell, “Kuuuuuuuuuuuhn.” John had given something to us that no one else could… he had changed how we felt.

Fast forward to day of shoot. As the cameras rolled and the interview started, I began to realize the power that people like John have. The power to change how we feel. He began his story. We all listened intently. He was animated, poised and as I listened to his words, his story became real. He would not be here today if his dad had not received blood after a tragic motorcycle accident. John, like so many others, had a blood donation story to tell, but more, he had a plea to make with Wisconsinites…

I can only hope that John Kuhn has the power to change how you feel.
Donate blood today.

Amendment to post: As of yesterday, BloodCenter is in a severe blood shortage. If there’s one easy gift you can give this holiday, consider donating NOW.