Amusing stories & views by us
To blog, or not to blog, that is the question. Through these musings, we hope to give you a better sense of who we are, what we believe in, and share our (design) perspective. Below, explore our creative opinion pieces and discover design tips and tricks to use in your daily life.
Industry insights
Leadership
Jennifer
From vendor to partner: The shift that changes everything for marketing
Marketing teams often treat agencies as vendors, not partners—leading to missed insights and extra revisions. True collaboration and trust turn creative output into campaigns that perform.
2026-03-27
Read
Culture
Owen
How to get to Southam Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice
I share how a guest lecture at Algonquin unexpectedly rekindled my passion for design and reminded me why I love what I do.
2026-03-02
Read
Industry insights
Michael
Micro-changes that bring macro impact
If your brand feels dated, the logo is not always the problem. The system is. Micro-changes to templates, web components, and content defaults can create a surprisingly major shift.
2026-02-25
Read
Industry insights
Linden
Annual reports: The most underrated brand power move
An annual report should be more than a compliance exercise. Done right, it’s a strategic brand asset that builds trust, tells your story with clarity, and showcases your impact. With thoughtful design and accessibility, it becomes a powerful tool that sets the tone for what comes next.
2026-02-12
Read
Design thinking
Industry insights
Linden
Why hitting pause on marketing will cost you more than you think
When times get tight, a lot of companies hit pause on marketing. But, newsflash, the silence doesn’t feel neutral. It feels like giving up. And that’s not cute.
2026-02-02
Read
Leadership
Owen
A lesson learned through guest lecturing
I share how a guest lecture at Algonquin unexpectedly rekindled my passion for design and reminded me why I love what I do.
2025-12-12
Read
Design thinking
Owen
Why graphic designers are supernaturally good at baking competitions
I’ve noticed that graphic designers like me seem to crush it in baking competitions, and I think I know why.
2025-11-03
Read
Leadership
Jennifer
Why Leaders Should Consider Moonlighting Too
The passion project, when pursued with intention, isn’t a distraction from leadership. The whole point of leadership isn’t to manage what is; it’s about imagining what could be.
2025-09-29
Read
Industry insights
Michael
Doing More with Less: The Case for Strategic Creative
When the economy tightens, marketing spend is often the first to go. Here’s why the most resilient brands are rethinking that.
2025-08-28
Read
Design thinking
Christi
Captions aren’t enough: Rethinking accessibility
As a designer with close family experiences of hearing loss, I have seen how assistive tech can help but often falls short, reminding me that true accessibility means treating inclusion and dignity as basic rights, not extras.
2025-08-14
Read
Culture
Sarah
A year in retrospect: Navigating the creative world as a non-designer
Every challenge is a stepping stone and in this case, a very rewarding one. Read Sarah’s musing where she reflects on her first year at Initiate as she navigates the creative world as a non-designer.
2025-07-31
Read
Industry insights
Jennifer
This piece isn’t good enough: My experiences with impostor syndrome
A candid reflection on impostor syndrome, this piece explores the self-doubt that shadows creative work—and how asking questions, embracing imperfection, and showing up anyway can quiet the noise.