Leverage Design as a Business Asset
Article in BIV’s How-To 2011 publication argues that businesses who invest in hiring experienced designers have advantage and reap rewards.
Read This Article
Posts Categorized: Articles
Why We Charge More: An Open Letter to Future Clients
An open letter to our future clients on why we charge more.
Read This ArticleDesigners, Tear Down These Walls
Design is in chaos, and leadership is sorely lacking. It’s time for those with the ability to take the reins of power and haul the industry into the modern world.
Read This ArticleDesign School Delirium
Over the years as a design director, design association executive, and design instructor, I’ve been asked by innumerable potential students about the merits or shortcomings of the various local design schools. It seemed time to put these thoughts down in writing once and for all, hopefully saving me some time in the future. (more…)
Read This ArticleBranding The Man They Called Jesus
Separating Church and State (of Mind). At some point in our lives, each of us learns the lesson that discussing religion or politics in mixed company can backfire.
Read This ArticleMy Internship at Industrial Brand
For the past three and a half months I have been an intern at Industrial Brand, and what a journey it has been. I have learnt a lot about the business of design and every step in between from how to write an RFP response to preparing production ready files. The whole design process: beginning to end. Come on, what more could you ask for out of an internship, really! It’s awesome!
Read This ArticleUsing Twitter For Business Requires Focus
“We need a Facebook page and a Twitter account, right?” ask many of our clients these days. Much like clients who want news sections or blogs as part of their websites, our answer is always “It really depends.” If social media channels are where a majority of your audience is spending their time, then yes, […]
Read This ArticleFreelance Contractors Or Employees? Does It Matter?
The Industrial Brand team circa 2009—no contractors included. I recently spoke with a client who expressed his frustration with design firms who include associates on websites or in proposal responses without clearly expressing that they are external contractors and not employees. Does it really matter? Is it a personal choice or a question of professional […]
Read This ArticleLooking Back at 2009 as a Design Association Volunteer
Mark Busse gives his final speech as President of GDC/BC in January, 2009. GDC/BC‘s President, Marga Lopez, recently asked me to submit an overview of 2009 from my perspective as a GDC Executive. After a little thought, I jotted down the following, which I thought I’d share here. (more…)
Read This ArticleI Wish Vancouver Supported the Design Industry
IMPORTANT UPDATE – See amendment below for some good news. I love living in Vancouver for a myriad of reasons. The more I travel, the more I realize how good we have it here. But I have to say, as a creative professional who makes his living in the communication design field, my city’s lack […]
Read This ArticleI’m a designer, not a writer. WRONG!
When I was a much younger man studying fine art in university, we spent a lot of time practicing how to interpret and describe artwork, its meaning and how it made us feel. Later, during my business administrations studies, writing essays, case studies and briefs emerged as a key component of a successful business professional’s […]
Read This ArticleRemembering VANOC Design Director Leo Obsbaum
Leo Obstbaum, Design Director for VANOC 2010 Olympics My friend and colleague Leo Obstbaum, the creative mastermind behind the designs of the Vancouver Olympic Games, died suddenly in his home of natural causes in the early hours of Friday, August 21st. He left behind his beautiful wife Monice and young daughter Dakota. He was just […]
Read This Article