Back Edge Design
Creative Direction & Brand Design

About

ESEN PENCE
Brand & Creative Executive

For 15+ years, I’ve been leading creative teams and building brands that people actually care about. With a foundation in illustration and design, I specialize in the health, wellness, and "better-for-you" food and beverage sectors—with a heavy bias toward digital-first, DTC growth.

I’m currently a founding member and Senior Director of Brand & Creative at Blueshift Nutrition, where I’m fully immersed in disrupting the supplement category and building a brand from the ground up.

Before this, I spent 11 years crafting the visual identity and strategic campaigns that turned La Colombe Coffee into a household name, scaling the brand through its eventual $900M+ acquisition.

When I'm not obsessing over brand systems, you’ll find me snowboarding in the Vermont mountains or scouting local cafes. I’m always hunting for new music—the heavier, the better 🤘—so if you have a recommendation, send it my way.

For LinkedIn Profile & resume click here.

BACK EDGE DESIGN STUDIO
Esen Pence’s design boutique

If you have a business in food, beverage, hospitality, if you’re an artist or a musician, or if you know a non-profit that could benefit from design services, creative direction, or consulting in these areas, reach out!

Clients include:

  • AIGA - Professional Organization for Design
    2018-Present Non-Profit Management / Mentorship / Community Leadership
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    2023-2025 Board of Directors: Professional Development Director, VP of Ops
    Created a series of events around "Personal Branding" and hosted 3 workshop / panel discussions for the community with industry mavens like Lisa Smith (ECD at Uncommon, ex-JKR), Meg Niman (Persona Project), Heads of State, as well as local Philadelphia design talent.

    2024 National Conference Planning Committee
    Reviewed 300+ proposals for the conference and evaluated based on considerations such as quality and fit.

    2020-Present Design Mentor, Portfolio Reviewer

    2018-2019 Volunteer on Civic + Community Engagement Committee 

  • University of the Arts
    BFA, Illustration/Design Concentration
    Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor for the International Students
    Graduated with honors
    Continuing Education Classes, Foundations of Web, Interactive Design: CSS + HTML

    Strategy Summer Camp by Mark Pollard 2024
    The Frame Work Frenzy: 31-day strategy challenge

    UC San Diego 2015
    Specialization Certificate - Online at Coursera, Human Computer Interaction Design

    Schule für Gestaltung, Basel Switzerland 2010
    Summer Workshop, Inquiry by Design

    Yale University, CT 2006
    Summer Classes, Graphic Design and Digital Video

    University of the Arts, London UK 2005
    Summer Classes, Graphic Design and Exploring Art & Design

More about me…

We reunited our high school band and played at our wedding. I learned snowboarding in my late 20’s. I’m a double citizen of Türkiye & U.S.