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
Michael
Green pixels: The new frontier of sustainable design
Ah, Earth Day. A time to reflect on our environmental footprint, hug a tree (or at least think about it), and debate whether oat milk is truly saving the planet. For us graphic designers, it used to be pretty straightforward—choose FSC-certified paper, use soy-based inks, print only when necessary. Simple, right? But here we are […]
2025-04-15
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Leadership
Jennifer
Switching gears: Lessons from our project management system overhaul
One of the major internal projects we tackled this year was switching project management systems. The system we had been using for fifteen years had taken us as far as it could go. The growing number of users, clients and projects required something more robust. After much research and some debate, we’ve settled on Monday.com. […]
2025-04-07
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Culture
Owen
Graphic design and the folk process
My biggest passion is music. I love nothing more than strumming the banjo, playing guitar, and singing in my choir. You may wonder, “It’s 2025? Why play the banjo?” It’s all because of folk music! When I was a child, my granddad handed me a set of jingle bells to accompany him while he played […]
2025-03-28
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Leadership
Jennifer
Break the mould: Embracing what makes women great leaders
On the anniversary of International Women’s Day, I have reflected on some of the issues I’ve faced managing a team of mostly women over the course of the past six months as I develop them for future leadership roles. I think they are perennial issues, and the more we can share the more we learn […]
2025-03-06
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Design thinking
Francesca
The hands-on secret to my creative flow as a UX designer
As a UX/UI designer, I solve problems and enhance digital experiences, but when I need to recharge or find inspiration, I step away from screens and turn to my hands. Here’s how my passion for making fuels my design creativity. Jumpstarting work skills with personal projects My mornings are dedicated to focused design work—wireframing, prototyping, […]
2025-02-25
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Leadership
Jennifer
Even capable leaders need spaces to be heard
Leaders need to maintain professional boundaries, and certain decisions, concerns, and vulnerabilities cannot be shared openly. The higher the position, the fewer people can fully relate to the weight of the role. This loneliness, though rarely discussed, is a reminder that even the most capable leaders need spaces where they can be heard, understood, and […]
2025-01-31
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Design thinking
Kevin
The genetics of creativity: a personal exploration by our Digital Art Director
I have always been creative, and I always knew I wanted a career in which I could use my creativity. I wanted to be a cartoonist. I wanted to invent, draw and animate my own unique characters. I wanted to work on Saturday morning cartoons and Disney movies. I wanted to produce visual effects for […]
2024-12-20
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Culture
Danni
Initiate’s first summer intern reflects on a summer of design
Emilie-Danni was our very first summer design intern here at Initiate. We asked her to reflect on her journey with us. As I sit down to reflect on the final days of my internship, I feel both nostalgic and exhilarated. It’s incredible how swiftly the past few months have flown by, each day brimming with […]
2024-12-06
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Industry insights
Jennifer
The authenticity piece: are you bringing your true self to work?
Is it your graphic design skills that matter most when applying to work at Initiate Marketing? Is it your attitude? Or playing well with others? All of the above. Be Who You Are—Everywhere There’s something powerful about being the same person in every part of your life. Whether it’s on stage at the gym, like […]
2024-11-08
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Industry insights
Jennifer
The art of hiring: balancing creativity and culture in a design agency
Is it your graphic design skills that matter most when applying to work at Initiate Marketing? Is it your attitude? Or playing well with others? All of the above. Not a designer in a designer’s world Let’s talk about an interesting dynamic: when you’re not a designer but you’re leading a design agency. It’s a […]
2024-10-28
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Leadership
Bree
Trust your gut, and trust the process
My transition from studying at Algonquin College to working at Initiate Marketing ‘Great things don’t happen in your comfort zone’ Going from university right to college, I made it a point early on to push past my comfort zone and truly take advantage of my time at Algonquin in the Graphic Design program. I became […]
2024-10-04
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Design thinking
Bree
To degree, or not to degree, that is the question
Finding my place in the world Being a creative has been something I have always held near to my heart. I am the only member of my family in the creative industry, so not having anyone to relate to growing up was tough. I found joy in things other people in my life didn’t find […]