NINE Magazine
Employee Engagement · Editorial Creative Direction
Ralph Lauren’s New York offices naturally commanded attention. But at 9 Polito Avenue in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, another community of employees was helping power the brand.
Working with the SVP of Human Resources, I co-created NINE, an employee magazine dedicated to that community. Named for the headquarters address, the publication turned employee experience into editorial content, celebrating the people, tenure, projects, community involvement and personal stories that shaped the culture behind the brand.
What began as an engagement initiative quickly became something employees wanted to be part of, with colleagues volunteering their stories, families, pets and perspectives for future issues.
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My Brother,
The Movie Star
By Michelle Riggi
Ralph Lauren Men’s BuyerNINE MagazineOctober/November 2010
For the October/November 2010 issue of NINE Magazine, Michelle Riggi, a men’s buyer at Ralph Lauren, wrote a deeply personal account of watching her younger brother, actor Chris Riggi, pursue an unconventional path into film and television.
Following a recurring role on Gossip Girl, Chris landed a leading role in the feature-film comedy Vampires Suck. Michelle’s story captured that pivotal moment through the perspective of an older sister, bringing a personal dimension to an emerging Hollywood career.
“And then, [Orchestra builds and swells], a little show called Gossip Girl popped up on the radar screen.”
“Growing up in the Riggi House was interesting to say the least.
I’m the oldest, Chris is the youngest… Chris enjoyed the royal treatment typically reserved for the baby of the family and while my parents thought he could do no wrong, my brother, sister and I felt as though he got away with everything.
Despite our different stations within the family pecking order, he and I shared one common bond; to goof around, act, impersonate and make people laugh.”
Business, business, business, was how we were trained, so when Chris decided to take this unconventional path in life and buck the trend, I was definitely skeptical. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in him, I was just surprised that he had the guts to put himself out there like that.
Like many actors in the industry, Chris moved to NYC… he definitely struggled which was difficult to watch. He worked his tail off, going to audition after audition, only to land one liner roles in soap operas and TV sitcoms. [Cue the sorrowful violin.]
“And then, [Orchestra builds and swells], a little show called Gossip Girl popped up on the radar screen.”
“He got a leading role as Jacob White in Vampires Suck… I went to the show, opening night and laughed my butt off at his comedic performance… My brother had finally achieved his goal of landing a leading role and I was the quintessential beaming older sister.”
“…the lesson about pursuing a passion and dream with drive, determination, guts and hard work – and what a privilege and inspiration it is to learn all that from my little brother.”
My Role·Creative Director · Executive Producer · Stylist
I developed the visual direction for the feature and oversaw the portrait shoot, production and styling.
Editorial reconstruction from original article and photography.
More than an employee magazine: a publication shaped by giving voice to stories, directing talent, producing shoots and styling subjects, revealing the depth, character and creativity of the people behind the brand.