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Rick’s Blog
Boss, Friend or Partner. How to work with your design firm.
Today Jean Klündt passed on a great article link from the AIGA (the American Institute of Graphic Artists) website. The article is titled, "The True Partnership: How to Get Great Design Solutions".
The article explains the three types of client/designer relationships:
• Boss/Worker
• Friend
• Partner
In very clear language, the author also explains how from a client's standpoint, the ONLY way to get great concepts and design from the design firm is to engage them as a Partner.
I encourage every designer, design student or corporate client to read this article and take its recommendations to heart. I think even art directors can learn how to more effectively work with their designers by following the guidelines in this article.
A Win at Nike
Earlier this week I took a trip with Carie Weeks, Dean Davis and Mark Forman to Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, OR to shoot photos and conduct video interviews of Gonzaga alumni for use in the University's recruitment view book and microsite that Klündt | Hosmer is developing.
Nike's DNA branding exhibit.
Nike has an incredible facility in Beaverton. It is set up on nearly 200 acres, much like a college campus, with well-designed buildings, beautiful water features, inspiring artwork... truly an amazing place to work.
We shot images of people and places around the campus along with video interviews of several alumni telling their career stories for potential Gonzaga undergrads. I will use the images and interviews as source material for writing a feature story for the view book and microsite.
The people at Nike were very accommodating and the passion they have for their work and products is clearly seen and felt. We captured some great images and very insightful interviews that are sure to inspire potential Gonzaga students.
I shot some photos on my iPhone while we were there and posted them to a Facebook album. Check them out.
As a bonus, after our work on Nike's campus we did a little shopping at the Nike Employee Store (nice shoes) and enjoyed a Thai meal together with a wonderful crew of people.
Thanks to Nike, Gonzaga University, Dean Davis Photography and Forman & Company for making the trip so successful.
Happy 2012
Happy 2012, Everyone! It has been a month since my last blog post, which just shows how busy we have been at Klündt | Hosmer... and the fact that I took a vacation week between Christmas and New Years to spend time with my family.
It's good to be back in the office and cranking away on some exciting, new projects. Just to keep you up-to-date on a few things we're working on, we're about to launch a new website for MotoConcepts, we're deep into the editorial section design of the Avista 2011 annual report, we're finalizing the script for Wagstaff's corporate video, and just starting the design and writing of Gonzaga University's next recruitment view book.
Carie Weeks reviewing the content layout for the next Gonzaga view book.
Carie Weeks from Gonzaga and I just worked out the content organization for the view book project, and discussed communication goals for our upcoming trip to Portland, OR where we'll interview and photograph/film Gonzaga alumni who work at Nike.
2012 is shaping up to be a great year!
Creativity Defined by Steve Jobs
Darin just emailed all of us a list of the "Top 10 New Business Articles from 2011". In the list is an article titled, "The 10 Best Quotes for Advertising Agencies". Several of the quotes were from Steve Jobs, the late CEO of Apple.
Here's what Steve had to say about creativity in Wired Magazine:
"Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people." Wired
There is a reason why I liked Steve Jobs so much and why I am proud to have used Apple products in my business and my home daily since 1986.
Conncecting experiences and seeing the world from various perspectives is what separates creative people from the masses. I have been a "creative" person my entire life (and still have teacher comments from elementary school to back that up.) I think creative people are special and am surrounded by them at Klündt | Hosmer. It's why I like coming to work everyday.
I will always appreciate Steve Jobs' philosophy and insight on making a difference and thinking differently. And I am happy to have an iPhone in my pocket, an iPod in my car and a MacBook Pro and iPad on my desk.
Think differently.
Rick Hits Goal
For those following my Total Shape for Life/Medifast journey, here's a recap. I started on a weight-loss program on September 7 after being inspired while working on the design of Larry Shook's book, "A Renaissance of One".
On my weekly weigh-in yesterday, the scale read 164.0. I hit my goal, plus one more pound lost. That's 33 pounds lost in less than 8 weeks. Now I just need to keep it off. But with TSFL's transition and Ultimate Health program, I will have the tools to eat "right" and maintain a healthy weight for the rest of my life.
For anyone interested in looking into the TSFL program (and you don't need to lose 30 pounds or more to get started!), I encourage you to contact Kathryn Leslie at 206.604.6557 or visit her website. Kathryn will explain the program to you and get you set up on the plan. That's how Larry and I both lost over 30 pounds in a matter of weeks.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, "There may be less of me to see in the future"... well, that definitely has come to pass. There are 33 pounds "less of me" than there was less than eight weeks ago.
Engineering a Fun Halloween
Yesterday, Ashley Martin and I served as judges for the annual Halloween Costume Contest at Coffman Engineers' Spokane office.
Some of the Coffman Engineers team dressed up for Halloween, along with Ashley and Rick (dressed as judges.)
Klündt | Hosmer is currently developing a new website for the firm and has gotten to know many of Coffman's team members from their five offices. It was fun seeing the Spokane crew show their enthusiasm and spirit at this competition. Who knew engineers could be so much fun?
Each department put together a theme (complete with music) and dressed up to impress each other and the judges.
Ashley and I judged sleepy managers (complete with pajamas) counting "sheep", a safari hunter (kidnapping a baby gorilla) being attacked by jungle animals, a group of early '80s aerobics instructors, the cast of "Toy Story" and a strange threesome representing the result of an exploding microwave, the grim reaper and germs.
The Coffman Spokane team put a lot of effort into their costumes and the development of their themes.
In the end, the 2011 winner was the Structural Department whose sleepless managers (stressed out by projects, clients and the demands of their general manager) "counted sheep" in order to fall asleep.
Thanks for the food and festivities, Coffman Engineers! We had a great time judging the competition.
Practically Perfect Printing
Henry Ortega holds awards for print materials he designed.
We were pleasantly surprised this afternoon when Kelly Walker, our sales rep from Lawton Printing dropped by.
Kelly presented us with three beautiful plaques from the 2011 PPI “Print ROCKS!” Awards. PPI stands for the Pacific Printing Industries Association. This year, three industry judges reviewed over 240 submitted print design projects from all over the Pacific Northwest and selected the best quality pieces to receive awards.
Projects we designed–including print pieces for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians 2011 Calendar, Second Nature Wilderness Programs 360º Directory and the 2010 Avista Annual Report–were awarded special recognition in the competition.
Nice printing, Lawton! It was a pleasure to work with you on these projects. The quality of your work is appreciated (not only by us) but by the commercial printing industry as well.
Tale of the Scale
Four weeks have passed since I started following the Total Shape for Life (TSFL) Medifast diet program. Four weeks of eating six small meals a day and not having any milk, cheese, sugar, bread, chips, M&Ms, ice cream, alcohol, french fries or Whammys from Dick's Drive-in.
Have I kept true to the program? Have I cheated? Have I given up? Have I lost weight? Do I feel any better? Has it been difficult? Do I crave any of the items in the previous paragraph?
Yes. No. No. Yes. Yes. No. No.
As of this morning, I have lost a total 22 pounds in the past four weeks. The scale read 175 pounds this morning, down from the 197 it displayed just after Labor Day. I expect that in less than three more weeks, I'll be seeing 165 blinking on that bathroom scale.
For me, the TSLF program has been simple, easy and effective. If you actually FOLLOW the program, you WILL lose weight. And what I really like is the sense of power I have gained to affect my own life.
I mentioned in an earlier blog post that you might be seeing less of me in the future. Well, the future is already here. And there's more than 10% less of me to see now than there was a month ago.
Oh, and to make this blog post have a least a little associated with Klündt | Hosmer work, we made a website design presentation to a new client a couple of days ago. See learn how the presentation went, take a look at our "Grand Slam Homerun" Facebook post.
(The above image is NOT my actual feet... or weight.)
What's Up With ü?
Many of you have seen the Klündt | Hosmer "mug shot" campaign that we have been running for the past month or so. If you haven't seen the photos, get on Facebook, go to the Klündt Hosmer page and take a look at our photo album. You'll see dozens of Klündt | Hosmer's friends and clients, promoting their relationship with us through the proud display of our latest coffee mug.
The umlauted U featured on one side of the mug has recently become a super-graphic on the wall of our lobby. It graces the space above Katie's head and welcomes everyone into our office.
If you have worked with Klündt | Hosmer in the past, are a current (or even potential) client and haven't received your mug yet, send us an email request and we'll send you a mug. Or come into our office and pick yours up. All we ask is that you allow us a photo of you holding the mug that we can post to our Facebook page.
We also encourage you to "like" the Klündt | Hosmer Facebook page. Join the club and get your "mug shot" on Facebook.
Book 'em, Dano
I belong to a Masterminds group that meets every first and third Thursday morning at the Spokane Club.
The group consists of about a dozen business owners, from a baker to an attorney to retired accounting professor. Part of the format of our group is that we select books to read that will have meaning for helping us run our businesses better, promote what we do, improve our time management, etc. Sort of an "Oprah's Book Club" for business owners. We read the books then discuss what we learned and how we can incorporate what we learned into our businesses and lives.
One of the members sent out a list of book reviews for us to consider for the upcoming season of meetings.
Now, I read a lot. Probably 150 books a year. But I was amazed as I looked through the book list of over 120 books that I have only read a couple of these titles.
The list was compiled by Derek Sivers who writes a blog at http://sivers.org.
To take a list of the book titles yourself, just click on Derek's name, above. If you have read any of these, let me know if you liked them or not and why. My Masterminds group is making selections and I would appreciate your insight.
There are some very interesting books in Derek's list. Coincidentally, my group is leaning toward starting with The Personal MBA, which is the first book on the list. But is that good insight on their part, or just laziness in not wanting to scroll any farther down the page? ;-)
I am intrigued by What Got You Here Won't Get You There, How We Decide, and Ignore Everybody.
Mostly, I wonder how Derek Sivers found the time to read over 120 book and write up a review on each.
I am also impressed with how strongly I am affected by the design of the each book's cover. I either had an immediate interest in the book, or an immediate disinterest in it... all based soley on the look of the cover design.
Maybe there's a book in there that I should write...
