‘Pride & Prejudice’, Chic Doormats, and Wes Anderson: The Work That Made Sunny Manning
Sunny Manning is a dynamic creative leader with more than a decade of experience spanning agency leadership, startups, freelance work, in-house roles, and higher education.
As associate creative director at Brandon, she is recognised for driving transformative creative solutions at one of the most results-obsessed and tech-forward marketing agencies in the country.
Known for cultivating creative excellence, refining processes, and sparking meaningful growth, Sunny thrives on solving complex brand challenges with bold, innovative strategies that help clients achieve their fullest potential.
Beyond her role at Brandon, Sunny is committed to shaping the future of design as a faculty associate at The Design School at ASU. There, she mentors the next generation of designers, helping them develop not only their technical skills but also the mindset and confidence to thrive in their creative careers.
Based in Scottsdale, AZ, Sunny enjoys a fulfilling life with her husband and their two fur babies: a playful miniature pinscher puppy and a tuxedo cat. Outside of work, she finds joy in cooking, staying active, antiquing adventures, and backyard birding.
LBB> The ad/music video from my childhood that stays with me.
Sunny> I loved watching infomercials as a kid. Especially anything cooking-related. The demonstrations, the pitch, the graphics – I was fascinated by all of it.
As I got older, I’d dissect the selling tactics and memorise the lines. They probably hard-wired me to think like a marketer. I was an easy sell, though. I couldn’t wait to grow up so I could buy all the gadgets! Thankfully, I’m a little more selective than my younger self would have been.
LBB> The ad/music video/game/web platform that made me want to get into the industry.
Sunny> There wasn’t one single thing – it was more like a series of breadcrumbs. I’ve always been hyper-aware of how design weaves its way into everyday life, and the moment I realised I could actually participate in it felt like discovering a superpower.
I think an early clue that I was design-focused was every year when my (amazing) mum would take me door-to-door in our neighbourhood to sell Girl Scout cookies: I had to be dragged along, and my protest-behavior was to critique everyone’s door mats. I latched on to that single object as the defining brand element of each house and judged them like each doorstep was a gallery, and I was the unsolicited critic.
Worn bristles? Lazy.
Cheesy puns? Cringe.
Minimalist with a single monogram? Chic.
Subconsciously, I was discovering that design had power; to express taste, tell a story, say welcome, or don’t even think about it. Forget the cookies – I was analysing their brand based on their entryways.
In my early teens, album art, tour posters, and band merch felt like extensions of the music – visual currency for the culture we belonged to. That connection stuck.
In my late teens and early twenties, I played electric cello in an indie rock band and spent years on the road. Seeing North America that way shaped me creatively. That early love for music visuals and other creative influences evolved into a fascination with design: how it tells stories, builds meaning, and shapes how we move through the world.
A defining moment in my creative journey came during a design school trip to New York. We visited a few firms, including Sterling Brands. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at the work behind household names completely blew my mind.
Suddenly, this world that once felt abstract snapped into focus. I was lucky enough to intern there the following summer. Shoutout to the incredibly inspiring Debbie Millman for granting me that opportunity; it was a valuable experience early in my career that I’m still super grateful for.
LBB> The creative work that I keep revisiting.
Sunny> One of my favourite albums is the bossa nova classic ‘Getz/Gilberto’ (1964) with Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto (and more). It’s the soundtrack to one of my favorite headspaces—serene, present, and inspired. It's one of my faves to listen to while working as well as relaxing. To me, it’s what that perfectly content “life is beautiful” feeling sounds like.
Wes Anderson movies also hold a special place in my heart—the art direction, the music choices, the world-building—it’s all so magical and intentional and immersive. I still notice new details every time I watch, and each movie carries different memories from my life at the time of their release.
Another fave: I recently rewatched ‘Pride & Prejudice’ (2005) for the umpteenth time. It’s always a stunner!
LBB> My first professional project.
Sunny> I was a design intern for ASU Gammage, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed auditorium in Tempe, AZ, that hosts touring Broadway productions and an array of other performances. Growing up as a cellist and a dancer, it was fun combining my love for the arts with design—and seeing my work around town for the first time was a thrill.
LBB> The piece of work that made me so angry that I vowed to never make anything like that.
Sunny> I don’t really think like that. If I don't get it or like it, maybe I’m just not the target audience—and that’s fine. If it’s a bad design that makes me grimace in the moment, I probably mentally hit “delete” immediately and move on with my life. If there was a piece of work that made me so angry that I’m still thinking about it, one could argue that it was at least memorable.
LBB> The piece of work that still makes me jealous.
Sunny> It’s hard to pick one, but OK Go’s music videos always get me. They’re so inventive and full of joy, and I can’t help but think, “How did they even come up with that and actually pull it off?” I love work that makes you crave a behind-the-scenes or “making of” video—when the final result is so tight, you just know the process was wild. It’s not so much jealousy as it is admiration. That kind of work reminds me how far a great idea can go when it’s executed with care, collaboration, and the audacity needed to make it happen.
LBB> The creative project that changed my career.
Sunny> The creative project that changed my career wasn’t a single campaign, it was a four-year evolution. At Joybyte, I was part of the leadership team guiding the transformation of the agency itself—a complex and deeply creative project. We shifted from a generalist shop into a hyper-focused, innovative social media and influencer agency. I started as a lead designer and eventually stepped into the role of director of design, helping shape not just the work but also the business.
That transition was catalysed by the pandemic. As the world reshaped around us, we didn’t pause—we pivoted. We reimagined our services to meet a shifting landscape, applying the same creative thinking we used for clients to reinvent ourselves.
That momentum led to our acquisition by TBA Worldwide, an independently owned collective of specialty agencies that includes Brandon, the full-service agency I’m part of now. We collaborate closely across teams, and that blend of niche expertise and full-service strength continues to unlock big creative opportunities. That chapter taught me that design thinking can do more than build brands—it can shape the growth of businesses.
LBB> The work that I’m proudest of.
Sunny> I’m proud of all of it in different ways. Every project teaches you something, even if it’s just what not to do next time. It all stacks. The most gratifying ones are often the messiest—full of curveballs that somehow lead to something even better.
Good work tends to unlock the opportunity for even better work. I like to think my best is still ahead of me, and that goal keeps me motivated and growing.
LBB> I was involved in this, and it makes me cringe.
Sunny> I make it a point to spend my time and energy on things I genuinely care about. That way, there’s not much room for regret later on. If something doesn’t hold up years down the line, I know I gave it everything I had with the tools and perspective I had at the time. Growth is part of the process, and if I can look back and cringe a little, it probably means I’ve come a long way since.
LBB> The recent project I was involved in that excited me the most.
Sunny> As an animal lover and mom to two fur babies, it’s been great working on a campaign for a pet-food brand currently in progress. Getting to combine personal passion with creative work is always a sweet spot. It adds a special dynamic to feel like you’re part of the audience you’re speaking to when developing creative concepts. It makes the work more fun!
