Author and video blogger, John Green shares his thoughts on authenticity, creativity, and community in his Connections 2014 Main Stage keynote.
I like talking about stuff that interests me with people that interest me.
Dharmesh Shah, HubSpot‘s CTO and Co-Founder, talks about how HubSpot’s Culture Code came to be. He discusses how you can formulate an environment and product that your employee’s and customers can get behind.
Don’t just hire to delegate. Hire to elevate.
This week, I was interviewed by local designer, Jamie Crump. She’s a student preparing to hunt for her first graphic design position in Indianapolis. Jamie presented some great questions regarding work environment and showing your portfolio. Read more →
The most fragile part of freelancing graphic design has to be maintaining your business relationships. When work comes along you can’t waste opportunities to impress.
After moving to downtown Indianapolis, I sent out a few LinkedIn recommendation requests to current/past clients. Recommendations are always great resume builders, and LinkedIn asks the endorser to choose three top qualities.
Out of ten results, the most used words were: Great Results, Personable, Expert, On Time, Creative, Good Value, High Integrity. Three of them are highly notable, according to writer Neil Gaiman’s Speech at the University of the Arts.
Treat clients like people. Also, convey that you are also a hard-working person just like them with a life. A phone call will usually one-up an email. Let the client know that you appreciate the work they are giving you by thanking them.
Eventually, you will learn to joke with each other and share stories. That’s when you are building trust.
We all want to be paid on time, right? Well, return the favor by delivering projects on time.
If I’m ever going to be late, I always provide reasons that will benefit the project. A good example would be when I’m testing my front-end designs in multiple browsers. Being late is going to provide higher quality assurance for the client, which is usually OK if they aren’t pressed for time.
Tip: Overshoot your delivery date when possible. It’s better to over-deliver than be late.
Fantastic designs will always help your situation. The client came for good results, and there is nothing better than giving it to them better than they expected.
Your first project is the most important with a client, but don’t forget about the second one. If you knock out two projects in a row, you are sure to have built a solid business relationship.
As Neil states in his speech, you only need two factors out of three to please a client.
Holding a high standard of business is something I always strive for, but I personally agree this theory holds ground in the freelance design world in cases where I’ve slipped.
What do you think?
Introducing FUSE, a strictly social gathering with AIGA Indy. This event aims to bring, or FUSE, the community together.
It’s an opportunity to kick back, mingle and socialize with cold drinks and good company. This event is open to everyone, not just AIGA Members, so bring your friends, coworkers and anyone else you’d like to introduce to FUSE. We’ll see you there!
WHEN: June 28, 2012 @ 6:00pm – 8:00pm
WHERE: 10|01 Food & Drink
ADDRESS:
1001 Broad Ripple Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46220
PRICE:
Everyone: $Free
Networking. Client relations. Your duty as a designer. Getting your boss to like you. They don’t teach these things in school because they’re messy, and most folks don’t talk about them because they’re personal.
Minneapolis-based independent graphic designer Seth Johnson will talk intimately about the things that are essential for all designers to master but are unlikely to learn in the classroom.
When you’re out of school, how do you scale the steep learning curve? It ain’t easy, but this should help.
Seth Johnson is a designer, strategist, writer, educator, and principal of the Minneapolis-based consultancy Seth Johnson Design. He partners with clients in a wide range of business and non-profit categories to conceive and implement branding and communications solutions. Using a human-centered approach to simplify and clarify, he makes his clients’ voices heard, their messages understood, and their visions realized.
He began his career at the age of 15 as a layout artist for a textbook publisher and a staff designer for his hometown newspaper. Since beginning his own practice in 2006, Seth has been fortunate to partner with brands and organizations such as General Mills, Hamline University, Hazelden, HealthSimple, Nordquist Sign Company, RBC Wealth Management, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, UltiCare, University of Minnesota, and Weight Watchers.
Like most Wisconsin natives, he is a connoisseur of beer and cheese, but he’s also adept at identifying typefaces in film titles—much to the annoyance of those seated nearby. He lectures frequently at design organizations around the nation and has held adjunct faculty positions at colleges in Los Angeles and Minneapolis. Seth is the currently-serving president of AIGA Minnesota (where he also served as its co-director of education and founded its mentor program), an advisory board member of Art Buddies, and a founding member of FEAST MPLS.
WHEN: April 26, 2012 @ 7 – 9pm
WHERE: Eskenazl Hall – Herron School of Art + Design
ADDRESS:
735 West New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
PRICE:
Members: $10
Student Non-members: $15
Professional Non-members: $20
Matt Hunckler caught up with SproutBox co-founder, Brad Wisler, hot off the heels of the first successful exit of one of their “sprouts,” MyJibe. They had a chance to talk about what makes the Midwest a good spot to start a software company:
You can find a more indepth article on VergeIndy. Source: VergeIndy.com
Matt Hunckler and I worked on a couple projects in the past. It’s great to see him making big moves with VergeIndy. Keep at it.
Wednesday, July 20, 20116:30pm – 8:30pm
Indianapolis Art Center
820 East 67th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46220-1199
AIGA Indy is thrilled about [INHOUSE]—a new initiative to provide support, resources, and inspiration for the many in-house designers working here in Indy and the surrounding areas. This quarterly event will share insight into the inner workings of in-house design studios–shedding light on the current struggles and successes faced in an in-house design environment. From speaker presentations to round-table discussions, the [INHOUSE] initiative is a time to share, encourage, and inspire designers in all aspects of the design industry.
Race season is in full swing, so it’s very fitting that our second [INHOUSE] presentation features Dawn DeBellis, Director of Creative Services at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Dawn will share how her team works daily to keep a 100-year-old brand fresh and relevant, while incorporating the personalities of three distinct events and a racing series brand. Over the past 14 years, Dawn has played an integral role in growing the Creative Services department at IMS from a 2-person team to a fully equipped in-house ad agency responsible for developing and producing a wide range of graphic materials for the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, Red Bull Indianapolis GP, and INDYCAR—the sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights. The IMS creative team also produces the official programs for the three races held yearly at the Speedway, including everything from art direction, design, content, and layout to commissioning cover artists, journalists, photography, and printing and production.
Don’t miss out on the conversation! Although the [INHOUSE] initiative was created with “in-housers” in mind, everyone is sure to get something out of this informative and insightful new series!
