Introducing The Agency Route

As it’s been a few months since we welcomed a new author to Business of Design online, we are pleased to introduce Dave Carlton, Principal and Creative Director of The Vyant Group.

The Vyant Group is a unique branding, marketing and package manufacturing agency with a different agency business model (a manufacturing component). With over 14 years of agency experience, Dave is the leader and driving force behind The Vyant Group. In addition to supervising the company’s day-to-day operations, he sources the creative talent and fuels the culture to provide a motivating and energetic environment. As a Creative Director who champions his clients’ goals and objectives, Dave supervises all activity related to client brand development, strategic marketing and communication programs.

Winning numerous design awards, his work has also been featured in several books. The most recently published work is featured in “Unique Packaging”, a hardbound published by HarperCollins.

As a member of the Board of Advisors for the Brooks Institute’s Visual Communication program, Dave continuously takes time to meet and offer opportunities to recent design graduates.

After reading about his dedication, I wasn’t surprised when Dave came back with this personal quote:

With my experience in business and design, I welcome the opportunity to give back by teaching future designers what to avoid when starting their own companies.

Giving back is also a goal of Business of Design online, so there’s certainly a fit.

In The Agency Route, Dave will write about what he knows, which is all things small to mid size agency: making the decision between freelancing and agency, setting up, choosing location, hiring and firing, working with vendors, marketing, and finally, making the decision to leave agency work.

You can read more about Dave in our authors section.

The Team @ Business of Design online,
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Please give a warm welcome to Josh Jeffryes

Introducing Cube2.0

Josh has gone the business route, tasted the waters, then happily signed on to work in-house with a small web development company in St. Louis. His many experiences (past and present) will be invaluable to our readers. To help those who are a bit technophobic, Josh will also touch on how interactive technologies are transforming our businesses.

If there’s one common theme running through the designers on BoDo’s visiting author’s roster, it’s the personal involvement in helping the industry. It shouldn’t really be a surprise, as being a team member on BoDo is yet another way of contributing. As the organiser of the St. Louis Graphic Design Meetup (5th largest design Meetup group in the world), Josh fits right in.

Josh, thank you for joining BoDo. Your experience will go a long way in helping round out the team.

And before we forget to mention, your diddles ROCK!

The BoDo Team
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Say “hello” to Robert Wurth

Introducing Freshly Squeezed Branding

What design business can get along without a touch of branding? Right on time, in Freshly Squeezed Branding, Robert will be writing about the subjects of brands and branding.

Have you read Freshly Squeezed Droplettes? If it’s a “yes”, then you’ll already know Robert has a flair for clear, concise and well researched subject matter. In Freshly Squeezed Branding, it’s a sure bet you’ll learn something there as well.

Another passion of Robert’s is NO!SPEC. A year ago this month, 20 concerned designers worked nonstop to launch the NO!SPEC campaign. Robert chipped in with copy and advice, even while under the influence of a nasty flu. Have a look around NO!SPEC to see what he wrote, or go straight to Design Contests Are Dangerous For Your Business.

Now that NO!SPEC is in its second year, Robert has agreed to be the new voice of the campaign. As a level headed, tireless advocate for the industry, Robert is well suited for the appointment. Robert also holds the position of Vice President of Proscodi: The Professional Society of Communication Design. Proscodi has been taking its time getting sorted, but hasn’t been lax as NO!SPEC is a product of Proscodi. First things first, right?

We’re glad you could join in Robert. You are indeed a welcome addition to the team.

The BoDo Team
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