What to Look for When Hiring a Designer

When looking to hire a designer for your next project, a team, your company, whatever your creative/communication needs are... you need to look for some sort of compatibility — as well as talent.  There are thousands of designers out there in the marketplace, you don't know where to look, referral — word of mouth — google search or internet — even looking them up in the phone book... whatever means you choose. What I recommend or is in my opinion — experience is the best.

I was chatting the other day with a colleague of mine about why people hire us, we both mentioned creativity, knowledge, customer service, etc. But, what popped out immediately about us was this: "the reason people hire ImageWerks is that they benefit from the 'advantage of experience'. I smiled and said - "yes, they do, we have over 35+ years providing technical, design, and photographic services."

While reading today, I found this on another blog & thought it was very appropriate to repost, let me know what you think... & of course, if you need any of our services (photography or design)... don't hesitate to call!

————— Credit: John McWade.
"...... A colleague — a non-designer — wrote to me last week asking for help in hiring a “creative services lead” to head up a new project for his business. What should he look for in a designer? Here are the eight qualities I like."


1) Passion, vision and self-motivation. Without these, you’ll be dragging a rock. You need someone who shares your vision. Nothing’s worse than a “what-do-you-want-me-to-do-next?” kind of designer. Well, no, yes there is. One who’s touchy and confusing, too.


2) Vocabulary. A creative lead should be able to articulate what’s happening and why, in language that you and your staff can understand. If you start hearing vague terms like “pop” and “impact,” make him explain what he means. Listen for, “If we do A and B, we can expect C.” This is not trivial.

3) Inquisitive intelligence. Look for someone who’s curious about almost everything and approaches life with a sense of wonder. Similarly, I want someone who’s taken the time to learn about my company and whose questions are perceptive.

4) Good conceptual skills. There are many ways to achieve any stated design goal. Conceptual skills find the new and interesting ones. You might articulate a hypothetical situation and ask her to describe three possible directions. Prepare to get out of your box. The best concepts are often unrecognized at first.

5) A portfolio. You’ll know in 15 seconds the designer’s skill level. Compare his work to excellence that you’ve seen, and don’t compromise. If it’s below what you’re seeking, end the interview right there. Politely, please.

6) Projects. If you see a lot of one-off stuff, no matter how attractive, it won’t tell you much; most designers can do nice, single pieces. Look for complete projects — Web site, print material and stationery, for example — that share a common look and purpose. Such work is more difficult to visualize, organize, and execute.

7) Real-world experience. The emphasis here is on “real.” Always ask under what conditions a design was achieved. How did the designer interact with the client? What was the role of each? Time frame? Revisions? Budget? Fantastic “portfolio pieces” are less desirable than solid design done under realistic conditions. If you find both, cheer!

8) Production skills. Your person will need production skills or know how to hire them. Nothing will slow you quicker than not being able to make something happen that you want to happen. Also, someone who understands typography is preferable to someone who can just type. Likewise, someone who understands the guts of Web coding is preferable to someone who can just run Dreamweaver.

—————
Miscellaneous notes:
It goes without saying that personalities must be compatible. Never hire an otherwise perfect candidate assuming that “he’ll change,” or that “you’ll change her.” You can usually feel the vibe right away. Trust it.

Even if you (both) like the vibe, it’s a good idea to establish a trial period. A person can be qualified and compatible, but for one reason or another can’t get the work done. You’re out of rhythm. Your work styles don’t jell. Something was misunderstood. Whatever the case, give yourselves at least a 90-day period in which either of you can terminate employment at will, for no cause at all. This is good for both of you. Creative work comes from love, passion and relationship. It can’t be faked.

Connecticut gal in the south

What a difference...  I'm a Connecticut native & last evening I experienced the south (again). Our kids live in North Carolina, but are from Alabama. What is the difference? Is it the deep southern accent... the chicken 'n dumplings, or their friend Bubba!

I'm used to the hussle & bustle & am a true "northerner". The contrasts of the south vs north... or I should say city/suburbs vs suburb/rural is dramatic. I get teased that I move too fast & need to slow down, last night I got a taste of slowing down. I've experienced this before and each time I do, I smile.

Last evening was the most dramatic.... after celebrating our granddaughter's high school graduation we went to dinner. There were people all around, cars, hustle & bustle... it was the center of town. When we left the restaurant & started walking to our car... there was nothing... silence... a stillness that I could only relate to that I had seen in a science fiction movie. I walked... no ran... into the middle of the street & started imagining being in a science fiction movie. You know that movie - the one where a comet had come screaming through the sky & contaminated the air & anyone that had been outside evaporated into dust... the only people that survived had fallen asleep in the movie theatre! All I exclaimed was... whoa... this is wild!

Silence vs noise... nature vs city, what do I prefer...  I'm not sure. I grew up in the suburbs in close proxcimity to a large city. That bustle & noise still hums in my ears, but the silence I experienced last evening had a "safe energy" to it that I rarely experience. I miss that "safeness"... the quiet times where I could walk alone & not hear a car driving down the street. Coming back to our kids home, I walked our dogs & experienced that quiet again. The stillness hung in the air & all I heard were the echoing voices of the bullfrogs sitting on the edges of the pond. Sweet - huh?

... I think I'll continue my thoughts on the south & what I experience today ..... let me know what you remember or experience? For now - I think I'll congratulate my granddaughter on her graduation from high school.... she just needs to remember the top 10 list that her teacher spoke of this evening at commencement... (hmmm - so do I)...

country seating in Milton, NC

Reviving the Creative Conversation

Back in January, the excuse for not contributing to our blog was I was busy - and then 6 months goes by, my conscious is "yakking at me"... you're not writing anything – not even sending out an e-newsletter... why? I guess - there is no excuse. So - let's revive the creative conversation, what do you want to hear? The events, trips, projects, and exhibits we've been involved in have been exciting and successful. It's time to share.

Business has been up & down, busy – not busy, exciting, boring (yes, I said boring)... but overall, our clients & projects have been great and we wouldn't change a thing. GC & I have both been exploring better ways of doing tasks and reevaluating how to do the best at our craft... that's design, photography, and illustration. I've also reconnected with old friends through Facebook – wow what an exciting ride. Some of our current and future happenings are:

• My new photos (Bermuda) are up at the Workhouse Photography Group – the show goes through July 18th.
• One of my photos (Wind) was juried into the Greenspiration show at the Workhouse. The show is through June 13th (see - I told you I was late in this post). Here are the works that are in the show. http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=ddz3k33s_178gwprbshd&interval=5
• But, an annual event that GC & I are getting excited to be a part of is the 6th Annual Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival on June 20th (Fathers Day). For more informaiton and tickets, visit: http://historicmanassas.mymediaroom.com/wire/events/viewevent.aspx?id=9133. GC will be exhibiting and selling some of his newest paintings – I'll have my photos and notecards. (some new stuff & older pieces... come early for some very special bargains on them!).

So, besides our "happenings" I ask myself daily one simple question... "how can we stay focused on the creative and get excited about stuff...?" I'm thinking it's the pleasant memories & images from our recent cruise to Bermuda (fresh air, bright colors, and that oh so beautiful crystal blue water) — but, it could also be our outdoor camping adventure in Harpers Ferry, WV this past weekend. Each day is new, every experience is new, and I am just thankful that I am sharing my creative adventures with my soulmate.

Here are some recent photos from our trips, including my piece "Wind" that's in the Greenspiration show.

Wind

Old Rider (this was taken in St. Georges, Bermuda)

Horizon (taken on the deck of our cruise ship)

harpers ferry wall

The confluence of the Potomac & Shenandoah River

Been a while... why?

When you realize that the new year (2010) has come and started—you begin to ask yourself where did the last year go? For me, 2009 was a rollercoaster. I tried to explore myself creatively, but I also looked at the practical side of things. I keep telling myself, if I tell my friends, clients or social media "buds" that I'm overwhelmed with work & very busy—"poof" we're busy. If I say the opposite—well, you know what I mean. I think I'm trying to say that if you stay positive only the best comes to you... for the negative... the same is true. For myself, family & business - I have promised myself to only stay true to myself & stay positive for 2010 and for however I do it, I am staying cognicent. About a week ago, I was visiting with a friend of mine and we were talking about happenings in our past & her comment to me stuck, "I am the poster child for positive/optimism".... I have promised myself to stay that way.

So, why do I say in my post title, "been a while... why?" 2009, frankly was a year I would like to put behind me & my family. It was on the positive side, one of positive growth & connection. I am a person that stays positive and really only wants positive around me... that goes for personal & creative instances. The positive actually took something of a turn when it came to my family happenings in 2009. While helping my parents through health issues, I took advantage of reconnecting with my hometown—I did this during my "caretaker breaks." I grew up in West Hartford, CT—what I thought was a small town, with nothing to offer... has turned out to be one of growth and culture. I love the new town center & the nightlife that it has to offer, but I also love the smalltown feel that it gives off. Thank god I was able to take the time to take some photos of my old haunts.

I really think the best part of it was finding out that I do not come by my creative/photography side by chance... my dad is a creative sort and has a long history of photography and art. I embrace that now and I cherish that knowledge. I would like to share some of my photo jaunts from my visit(s) this past Nov./Dec. Let me know what you think...

These photos were taken in Elizabeth Park, Hartford, CT (established in 1899), and Bloomfield, CT (the old farmer's market).

I have another story that I'll post tomorrow or sometime soon — family stories & photos. stay tuned.....

ImageWerks Wins Business of the Year Award!!

ImageWerks, lc Named Home Based Business of the Year by the Prince William County Regional Chamber of Commerce

WOODBRIDGE, VA October 28, 2009 -- At a private reception held last Wednesday evening, the Prince William County Regional Chamber of Commerce unveiled its 2009 Business Awards, which exemplify the dynamic energy of businesses in Prince William County, Virginia. ImageWerks, lc, is an innovative communications studio in Woodbridge, Virginia earned the Home Based Business of the Year award for 2009.

Kathy Strauss & GC Schow started their business in 1999 with one client—one project. It was a small local business that needed a logo & brochure. Since then, their client base has expanded from local individuals to large international corporations. They define their business with the mission statement: “ImageWerks strives to create stunning, innovative design work—to build strong business relationships—that allows their clients to communicate their mission.” “We are very pleased to have received this honor, said ImageWerks’, Creative Director, Kathy Strauss. “This is truly the icing on the cake as we celebrate our ten-year anniversary in business. We take great pride in our work and ability and look forward to another 10 years and beyond of growth helping our clients present themselves in a compelling fashion by providing ‘creative solutions for business.’”

Clients can count on ImageWerks to be with them every step of the way. Partnerships with writers, printers and other quality vendors allow ImageWerks to serve as a “virtual in-house” graphics department, taking customers all the way from the initial brainstorming stage to implementation of the final product. Another value-add is its “Advice without the cost” philosophy. Meeting fees are built into the design estimate, allowing clients to contact ImageWerks as needed, without worrying about a surprise when the bill comes!

About ImageWerks, lc:
Imagewerks lc is a design studio offering a high level of creativity, practical experience, know-how and development in a broad range of disciplines, including: advertising layout, publication design, packaging, signs, banners, multimedia and web design/hosting services, brochures, illustrations, logo design and related collateral, and photography. ImageWerks keeps its marketing skills current, using social media sites and helping clients to learn the ropes of Web 2.0 and other advances in the field. This online outreach, along with careful market strategy, has helped ImageWerks to succeed in the current downturn.

GC and Kathy are active in the community, volunteering their time and talents to groups such as Project Mend-a-House, Prince William County Library Foundation, American Red Cross/Prince William Chapter, and Literacy Volunteers of America/Prince William. Kathy is also in the 2010 Class of Leadership Prince William. A longtime Chamber supporter, ImageWerks has done many design projects for the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce, including work on the current logo.

Some of their clients include: The World Bank, Carleton University, UNDP, The Manoff Group, Rare Conservation, Family Health International (FHI), Prince William County Schools Education Foundation, National PACE Association, the National Center on Full Faith & Credit, Compton & Duling, City of Manassas Public Works, Prince William County Solid Waste Division, Jewelry By Design, and ReKonnect, RGS Title, and The Heritage Foundation.

www.imagewrks.net
Media Contact: Stacia D. Kelly (703) 597-2951
Media Contact: Kathy Strauss (703) 492-8215
###

Two-sided Creativity

For a long time we've been telling people all about our business & our talents. They know that GC & I are graphic designers, we design logos, marketing materials (postcards, brochures, etc.).... layout publications for both formal and informal use (annual reports, simple Word documents, training manuals, etc.).... create presentations in PowerPoint... design trade show exhibits & posters.... all the way to creating interactive media (CDs, web sites, etc.). But, I think our most creative endeavor are our photography and illustration skills.

There is a mysterious side to the business of graphic design—especially for people that don't know what we do or for that matter, understand what we do. People assume that designers create stuff that comes out of a canned software package—but it doesn't. We literally envision what people think & then put it on paper. It takes me back to my old World Bank days when I started working in the evaluations department and most of my co-workers were economists. I was a publications designer and my office was colorfully decorated. I would get the strangest stares when they would walk by my office—it wasn't until someone walked in and made a comment, "We just can't figure out what you do! A Word file or a pile of papers comes into your office & within a couple of days, out pops this gorgeous book! How do you do it?" I just smiled & said........ "Magic!!"

Why do I call this post "two-sided creativity"? The reason is that GC & I have two very special skillsets... I'm a photographer & he is a fine illustrator, the nice thing is that these skillsets mesh perfectly together. We like to combine our two skillsets into "combination" projects (i.e., turning my photos into fine illustrations or paintings). We have done this numerous times for friends and personal enjoyment—but we have also been telling our clients about this! So, I decided that it's time to show the world samples of our combinations, as well as showing off some of GC's illustrations.

If there is anything that you see here that interests you, wows you, or moves you to ask us to do a project for you... call or email. Even better - leave a comment :-)

Possum Point

Blue Boat

Firebird 2004

Diane

Train

Pastel illustration for Hewlett-Packard brochure (section only)

where has the time gone?

Dear g-d... where has the time gone? It seems like just last month we were in Spokane sitting on the beach at our lake cabin.... or was it that it was that we were celebrating the ringing in of 2009? More people have been telling us... only 100 more days till....... I really don't want to hear that. But, regardless of "time flying by" - I have found that I've let my blog slip off to the wayside and I've not done any showcasing of our portfolio or photography.

So, for posterity - here are the posts I made to my Facebook profile & a photo or two from our trip.

1. up early - just after sunrise.. chill in the air & steam rising from the water on the lake. wandered down w/ camera in hand (of course)... ducks, loons & gulls making all kinds of noise... peaceful & beautiful pictures.

2. spent the afternoon w/ our kids & grandkids... sat down at the lake & watched the neighborhood dogs chase balls in the water. the kids swam & splashed in the water... got great pics of all. listening to the geese honking while flying overhead... drink in hand & dinner on the way.. til later

3. relaxing on the deck. (did you hear that - I said the word relaxing... the kids went for a walk - might go swim in the lake later. 4. the kids left for home. all is quiet now... time to break out the wine! looking forward to exploring the area tomorrow... might sweet talk gc into heading up to canada tomorrow... canadian rockies, here i come ;-)

5. cool, sunny morning on the lake. amazing how quiet it is up here. very few cricket noises, no frogs. sometimes you'll hear the ducks or the loons... amazing, there are NO mosqitos... but there are yellow jackets.

6. granite point park - beautiful place on Loon Lake... cool place that was built in 1939.

7. sitting & enjoying some Alaskan Amber ale.... gosh some of the best beer we've ever had!!!

8. it is truly amazing when stepping out on the deck & there is not a cloud in the sky & all you see are stars... yes, you can really see the milky way clearly from here. peaceful dreamy & there is definitely something else bigger out there. until tomorrow...

9. spent the day in spokane walking around River Front park. the area is clean B the falls are gorgeous. Its no wonder the Spokane indians settled around the region. The energy is amazing. heading back to the lake - but of course after some wonderful NW beer :-)

10. sat out on the deck this evening, chill in the air tells that fall is coming soon. the stars are quite bright, I see constellations that I know the shapes, but can't remember the names. I looking for my friend Orion, but he's not up in the sky just yet. Peaceful still water that's in contrast to the noise of the falls. will try to rise early to photograph the sunrise - we'll see.

11. fished our coffee & watched a family of wild turkey walk in front our deck... & an eagle just swooped in front of me... with a hawk squawking in the tree. great energy/animal medicine today is gonna be fantastic!

• coffee with cream or sugar I can see, but fish? ;-) Other than that, the morning sounds great.
• ....when typing on a tiny keyboard you have no idea what keys you hit... i think it was supposed to be ''finished our coffee'' ;-)
• Based on the averian theme, I'm guessing it was perch flavored.
• Glad you're having a great time fishing!
• .....well I guess we have to bring back some fresh trout or bass for you... the rods are in the shed waiting to be hooked up w/ bait.
• fished your coffee??? are you going for Java Trout?
• .....you know, that could be a name of a coffee shop out on a lake front resort... especially up here in the NW

12. spent the day driving around the spokane area today. It was fun watching GC try to remember his way around. We found our way to Liberty Lake - what a gorgeous area.

13. last nite at the lake. sitting on the deck. cool clean air. hearing the crickets & occasional dog barking in the distance. the sky is so bright w/ stars that i am brought to tears. I am truly going to miss the energy & awe of this place. like... before, the milkyway is bright, the big dipper is BIG & my buddy Mars is shining clear. peace ya'll

14. the kids surpised us & gave us a nite at the Cour D'Alene Resort. gorgeous hotel on the lake & room w/ a view. (fireplace, balcony, etc.). spending the day walking thru a town of artists & then off to walk some trails & maybe venture to see the floating golf green.