Our Mission
Southern Design Bee is a Savannah based creative company that specializes in building experiences. We are experts at listening to your problems and coming up with one of a kind solutions with you. By applying design thinking to business, we are able to make your dreams a reality.
Southern Design Bee was founded by multidisciplinary artist Em Thompson. There, she leads a team of designers, illustrators, and daydreamers. Work at SDB is fueled by colors, cultures, and building experiences. Whether it’s brand development, product development, or chalkboards and on-site artwork, we have got you covered.
Being a SCAD alumna herself, Em is proud to lead a team of exclusively SCAD students and alumni. She continues to be a mentor and supporter of SCAD bees as they find their way and of her local community.
About Em
Em Thompson is a creative leader, brand developer, and mentor. In addition to establishing Southern Design Bee, a design firm focused on building experiences, she has launched Beespoke Gifts. In Em’s past, she has led teams across Hallmark Global from Ornaments to Home Decor. In her 15 years at Hallmark her skills were used not only with greetings, but developing concept stores, designing trade showrooms, celebrity collaborations and numerous licenses, and leading and launching businesses. Em also helped launch the Waymakers Change Group, a diversity and inclusion brand out of Dallas, and is their Chief Creative. Em focuses on building brands and engaging teams.
As a business minded creative she was regularly with buyers, instilling ideas and concepts that left clients feeling inspired and confident. She’s comfortable on live news, in videos, and with public speaking. Additionally, she is certified in the “Art of the Pitch” taught by Peter Coughter and is SCAD Amp certified in professional presentation and communication.
Em proudly guides and motivates her team of designers. She is also a great collaborator with cross functional partners from clients, to engineers, demand and inventory planning, procurement, and marketing.
Through leading trend research and a deep love of traditional art history, she has led luxury interior design and events for numerous clients. Her roles have given her opportunities to work globally and with 150+ factories worldwide, leaving her with an unparalleled knowledge in numerous materials and manufacturing methods. With those experiences and knowledge, she’s guided not only in her daily work, but on projects in leading interior design, trend research, and consulting.
Em serves on numerous boards and likes to support and stay actively involved in her local community. She is also a proud SCAD alumna, graduating with Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Graphic Design.
