Leadership

insights

what i love about my clients

I find the variety of personalities invigorating and inspiring. I genuinely delight in the uniqueness of individuals. It keeps me on my toes, keeps my thinking fresh and ensures learning. Personalities feed the creative process – unique character inspires.

common misconceptions about designers

We are all right-brained thinkers with limited business sense. Exemplary designers are problem-solvers who use hard data to inform the creative process. At the end of the day, I am a designer, but I am also an entrepreneur.

why do big companies work with small studios?

A boutique design shop may look small but think big. My design team is actually an expansive, flexible network of professionals – graphic designers, web developers, writers, SEO strategists – who collaborate with synergy based on each project’s needs. It’s gratifying to know that our clients benefit from a business model that scales to their needs.

why is research such a powerful tool for graphic designers?

Research is learning; and whether we’re learning about your business in particular, the economy, popular culture or literature, the process of continuous learning feeds our overall knowledge and creativity. Learning inspires. Inspiration feeds creativity.

top three things i learned as an in-house designer

1. How to manage expectations and navigate internal bureaucracy. While in-house I learned a great deal about the communication chain and what goes into the design approval process, including the importance of buy-in and feedback from key decision-makers.
2. The importance of research and documentation. Be informed. Keep careful records.
3. How to negotiate personalities and dynamics at play. Maybe we can call it a lesson in diplomacy. I know which questions to ask and how to provide solutions that satisfy.

common misconceptions about professional services firms

That all professional firms are “stuffy”. When I worked in legal marketing for the international law firm Shearman & Sterling, I learned so much about the firm’s attorneys. They have a great sense of humor and as part of the recruiting campaign, were delighted to go on record about their shoe stories, sometimes funny, sometimes quite embarrassing, but always endearing.