jamey erickson ’04

Since he was 16, Jamey Erickson knew he wanted to work for himself. A mere decade later and only two years after graduating from CVA, mission accomplished. Not only that, but as founder and owner of Sevnthsin, a hot interactive design agency that creates websites, applications, interactive digital experiences, and social media projects, Erickson now employs 14 others.

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Their website neatly proves the point. Sevnthsin's list of clients is long, but names such as Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, the Minnesota Timberwolves, JCPenny, Target, and Brother Ali jump out. “We grew like wildfire after beginning in June 2006,” recalls Erickson. “There was a hiccup in 2008 when we lost a big client due to the crashing economy, but now business is very good.”

While designing websites is still important, Sevnthsin is moving increasingly into designing social media projects from specialized mobile phone apps to mobile websites, like their recent iPhone and iPad app for JCPenny. “It’s sort of a niche, niche,” explains Erickson. “I love a state of constant change - when I don't know exactly what we will be doing in six months.” Ever poised to stay on the technological edge, seducing clients to join him, Erickson states, “The mobile device is a huge part of current life and it will be a huge part of our future.”

Ultimately, Sevnthsin’s goal is to provide value in a digital world of marketing, advertising, and design. “This is where things are going. We want to give legitimate value to delivering content–all the information people need–on an iPad or any mobile device,” Erickson adds.

Erickson gives kudos to CVA. “CVA was exactly where I needed to be at the time,” he offers. In fact, he began teaching at CVA soon after graduating in ’04. In 2010 he took a break from academia and became a CVA Trustee. “I try to stay as involved as possible,” he states. “We take CVA interns and we support a scholarship for interactive designers.”

Unarguably Sevnthsin is an agency with an attitude. Their NE Minneapolis studio is home to Foosball and Ping Pong tables, and two Pinball machines. Oh, and five large paintings of animal sculls spice up the soaring walls. Part happy prankster (they are the masters of bad jokes) part creative genius (they know a good idea when they create one), Sevnthsin is fearless, punky, and elegant all at once.

And the name? It was inspired by Vice - The Seven Deadly Sins, a CVA student exhibition he was a part of the fall of his freshman year. It was also the name of Erickson’s former band, one that played just one gig. Sevnthsin, apparently, is playing many.