You have built a business from the ground up or built your career by climbing the ladder from the bottom up. You have put your blood, sweat and tears into it. You have sacrificed time that you could have spent with your family and friends. You have set aside things you enjoy, like hobbies and volunteering for local organizations. But your sacrifices were not without […]
Read MoreHow do you engage with customers, employees, vendors, community and fellow businesses? What is the “culture” of your business? Your culture is the human side of what you do and is a significant part of your success. Our customers, employees, vendors, community and fellow businesses are collaborators and investors. We need them all to be invested in what we do. We can foster greater investment […]
Read MoreSometimes as designers and marketers, we don’t get to create the brands we work on. Instead, we inherit them from other creatives whole cloth. Logos, fonts, color palates and existing marketing assets are often handed down from the client for us to work with. Other times, it’s little more than an existing logo and a smile. Regardless, it’s an existing brand and, suddenly, your task […]
Read MoreMany people have asked me to define Graphic Design. It’s tricky. The question is kind of like asking, “What is a doctor?” There are doctors who do routine work and there are innovators, which is a good way to think about it. It’s about telling a story, creating an ambiance, and a personal statement which surpasses the spoken word. It is an avenue for amazingly […]
Read MoreWhat does it take to be successful – as a business, as an employer, as an employee? There are two essential elements: 1) constantly strive to be better at what you do and 2) be “present”. The most successful people are open to opportunities for growth, are consistent and reliable, and focus on their goals and objectives. A business succeeds when it is driven by […]
Read MoreEvery designer has a style – a recognizable set of elements that makes their work recognizable as theirs; a certain way they balance type and graphic icons; a certain way they design graphic elements; such a recognizable look to their designs that those who know their work can look at it and say “That’s them, alright!” I know as a designer that I do. I […]
Read MoreIf you have been recruiting for very long, you may have made what I affectionately refer to as a “wild card” hire. This is a candidate who does not check all the boxes in the job posting or job description. However, what they possess resonates with you at an intuitive level. Your gut tells you they have the intellect, passion, motivation and behavior to learn […]
Read MoreSocial Media Marketing has become one of the most important methods of marketing for small businesses. At first, social media can seem overwhelming. Whichever social media platform you try (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.), use these tips to maximize your efforts. Link your social media profiles to your business website. Pick one and do it well. To start, choose a social media platform where your target audience lives and devote time to a quality presence on that […]
Read More“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas A. Edison At the end of my working life, my greatest joy is mentoring young people. In them, I am reminded of my younger self – at 15, 21, 30… I see their promise. I see their great strengths and hope. Like me, they will fail to see […]
Read MoreWhen working on a brand design over an extended period, it becomes inevitable that change will eventually need to happen. Sometimes this is a sweeping change involving a complete re-branding. Redesigning logos and branding elements from scratch with an eye on complete reinvention. This is a strategy employed best when the old brand simply didn’t work; the logo never connected with its intended target, the message was muddy, unclear and, as […]
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