TIME To Learn. TIME To Grow.

I had a great opportunity to spend the day with D.W. Pine, Deputy Art Director for TIME Magazine and Luke Hayman of Pentagram who is responsible for major creative redesigns of magazines such as the New Yorker, Travel+Liesure, and TIME Magazine. It was extraordinary to be able to learn from two of the greatest minds in creative publication design.

It's a bit of a stretch to sit at the feet of these two men and be taught in a small, personal setting, the ins & outs of building major publication titles and leveraging great creative design to launch and relaunch incredible brands like TIME & New Yorker.

As creative individuals, it is important to continually grow and be mentored by the very best in the industry. It really made me see beyond where I am and look from a much higher perspective.

"Leaders Are Readers" Book Review: The Breakthrough Company

One of the best books on becoming a successful business is "The Breakthrough Company," written by Keith McFarland. He analyzes the strategies that form breakthrough companies and is one of my top 10 books that I would suggest to leaders wanting to build a successful breakthrough company.

Excellent book for everyone!

Everything Photoshop

Thought I would share the link to some styles I have created over the years and posted on Adobe's Exchange site...Enjoy!

Chad's Styles »

Brain Freeze Lesson #2 - "A Picture Is Worth 1000...DOLLARS?!"

One of the biggest challenges for any designer is finding the right images to fit the project. I spent hundreds of dollars as a freelancer trying to find the best images I could. I've been to Corbis, Getty Images, etc. looking for the best in stock photography. Don't get swept away looking for expensive stock photography. There are two great sites out there offering cost effective solutions for your stock photography dilemma. They are...

iStockphoto.com (Fees range from $1 - $10)

AND...

Shutterstock.com (Subscriptions from $99/month)

Don't break the bank on buying stock photography. 

"Leaders Are Readers" Book Review: Meatball Sunday

Corporate America has been told by its most revered marketer that the old ways aren’t working, and that it’s time to change — not just marketing, but also product development — to meet the new conversational media forms. Seth Godin tells them why they should be a part of the New Marketing.

This book will make it “safe” for many marketers to really begin actively experimenting with social media. The book talks about another wave of businesses moving into two-way conversations. NOt your old marketing techniques.

"Make the Logo Bigger!" - A Lesson In Subliminal Advertising

As Creative Director of a truly innovative marketing firm we run across clients with many different needs...and desires! I can't tell you how many times we've partnered with businesses or organizations looking to us as their creative engine, utilizing the combined decades of industry experience that our team posseses. Our team spends hours strategizing and developing a major marketing campaign only to be told that all they really want is a personal designer to put to paper what they see in their head. We then become overpaid, overworked production artists.

Almost sparks the question, "And why are you hiring us again?"

We can never know as much as our clients do about the industry that they're in. I'm not an expert in running a bank, baking a cake, erecting a building, or picking poo out of a yard. But, what I am an expert in is devising proven and out-of-the-box methods of building and promoting a brand to targeted individuals.

"Looks good...but can you make the logo BIGGER?"

One of the biggest questions we hear in our industry is, "Can you make the logo bigger?" It has almost become a cliche throughout the marketing world. However, a bigger logo doesn't always command the attention that one would expect. Watch this video »

Size doesn't make people want to buy into a business or service. A brilliant idea, no matter how subtle, coupled with strategic planning and placement is key to building strong consumer pull. It isn't about bombarding them with beautifully designed brochures or flashy websites. It's about using man's most basic instinct...curiosity.

A Few Good Creative Men