Musings Archive

A red wooden door in the shape of Ottawa. The door is slightly open, revealing a blue sky and sun on the other side.

Culture Design thinking Ayla

The door that leads to creative curiosity

This September will mark four years since I moved to Ottawa. I’ve always been an adventurer at heart, drawn towards exploring new places, learning as much as I can, and simply being curious about the world around me. With being endlessly curious, it’s led me to wonder where it lends itself to my creativity. Is it because I am creative that I am drawn to a thirst for knowledge? Or is it because with curiosity comes the ability to be creative?

2026-06-15

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Two flowers against a dark background, helping one another.

Leadership Jennifer

Grief at work: Leadership reflection

For all the things we learn to prepare for at work, such as measuring productivity or performance, the immobilizing weight of grief and its impact on yourself and your team are not among them. No one warns you that it will sit beside you in meetings or that it can alter focus. It shortens tempers and can make the chattiest of us silent. Just when we think it’s done with us, it reminds us that we are permanently linked.

2026-06-01

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A brightly coloured book and pencil using gradients. With a page slowly turning, revealing an empty page that signifies the next chapter of my design journey.

Culture Ayla

Learning to design my future

I just landed my first job as a Junior Graphic Designer — and I’m still in shock. Here’s what six weeks at a real agency taught me about design, growth, and figuring out where I’m headed.

2026-05-29

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A red toolbox filled with the CC Adobe programs, along with Figma.

Industry insights Michael

The skill you’re not talking about

Most creative teams are good at talking about the work. The brief, the concept, the execution, the feedback. It’s the other conversation — the one about where our own skills are heading — that tends to go quiet. Here’s what happened when I brought it to my team.

2026-05-29

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An abstract 3D digital illustration in soft pastel colors depicting a faceless person sitting at a white desk, typing on a laptop. The figure's body features semi-transparent overlays that highlight the spine, wrists, and a knee joint in glowing, wavy lines, symbolizing joint hypermobility or chronic pain. Behind the person is a large, circular arch with a black-and-white zebra print pattern. On the desk, a small zebra figurine sits next to a teal mug that reads "REST." The whimsical background is filled with soft pink clouds, stars, and a pastel rainbow color scheme, conceptually representing the management of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or chronic illness in a workspace.

Industry insights Linden

The invisible work behind invisible illness

Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), MCAS, and POTS means my body occasionally treats everyday tasks like extreme sports. But it’s also changed the way I approach design, problem-solving, and work in ways I never expected.

2026-05-26

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An abstract illustration featuring several colourful, elongated arms and hands reaching toward each other over a dark navy blue background.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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.