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.

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Design thinking Owen

Becoming a graphic designer

Time Traveller, Astronaut, Opera Singer, Hockey Announcer, Graphic Designer. What do all the jobs on this list have in common? These are all the jobs I’ve dreamed of having in a world where anyone can be anything and there are no limits on where you can take your career. It’s also a list of jobs […]

2024-09-06
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Design thinking Owen

Overcoming the blank page

Recently, I asked to be put on a project I’d always dreamed of working on. Lucky for me, I got it! As soon as I opened it up, my mind went completely blank. I had no ideas and was totally overwhelmed. Here are the five strategies I used to overcome my creative block and create […]

2024-08-16
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Leadership Camilla

Age in marketing: does it matter?

In the corporate world, boards of directors are primarily over the age of 50 but anyone over 40 is considered too old for marketing positions.   How is it that years of experience are valuable for the board members, but not for a potential CMO?  Age diversity in the workplace  Ageism is a significant issue […]

2024-08-12
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Culture Jennifer

A musing about perspective

One of the few good things to come out of the pandemic was more time at home with my husband and business partner. Specifically, more time to go outside for walks was a daily highlight. More often than not, nothing exciting happened in these times. Sometimes, we’d walk for over an hour without exchanging words; […]

2024-08-05
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Culture Leadership Michael

Hello, my title is not graphic designer

Disclaimer: I’m not trying to offend anybody’s profession, personal opinion or love of the term graphic designer. A lot of people might aspire to be graphic designers. The whole premise is that over the years I’ve seen a lot of people with a lot of roles that are called a graphic designer—a senior graphic designer […]

2024-07-22
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Leadership Michael

Guiding your design team on a path of excellence

What makes a strong creative leader? A proficient design leader skillfully identifies and nurtures the potential within their team. They establish clear boundaries and offer guidance, creating a space where designers can experiment and grow within these parameters. This approach strikes a balance between direction and autonomy, empowering designers to explore their creativity. Such leaders […]

2024-07-15
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Culture Jennifer

A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet

As my father’s daughter, I’m not shy, quiet, or demure but confident, exuberant, and outgoing. Instead of being described as such, like my dad often was, I was mostly labeled “aggressive.” I can’t remember with absolute certainty ever being told by our father that he wanted sons instead of daughters. But I am confident that […]

2024-07-08
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Design thinking Jamie

Designer spotlight: Jamie’s creative process

Can you share a pivotal moment or experience in your life that ignited your passion for design? How has that influenced your creative journey since then? I was always fascinated by graphics from an early age. Things like the livery on toy cars or camouflage patterns on toy tanks. Later in my pre-teens, I got […]

2024-07-04
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Leadership Michael

Fostering a Culture of Curiosity

At Initiate, curiosity is the cornerstone of our creativity. We cultivate an environment where every idea is valued, encouraging our team to think beyond conventional design norms. This approach fosters a dynamic, collaborative atmosphere, enabling us to explore innovative solutions and grow together as creative professionals. Curiosity is the foundation of creative problem-solving, much like […]

2024-07-01
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Leadership Camilla

How to choose and implement a new project management software

Getting somewhere you’ve never been requires doing something you’ve never done.  Every organization has faced the frustrating challenge of deciding how to improve its project management process. There are two main decisions: which software to choose and how to seamlessly incorporate the new software into the team’s daily routine. The goal is to be more […]

2024-06-24
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Design thinking Geneviève

A Day in the Life of a Graphic Designer

Geneviève is a graphic designer at Initiate. One of my absolute favourite parts of working in a creative field is how diverse my day can be. It’s a bit like that wise saying: you can’t step into the same river twice. That being said, I tend to thrive on routine–paradoxically, it’s predictability in the structure […]

2024-06-17
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Leadership Michael

Leading Through Transition and Loss of Talent

Navigating my team’s personal and professional choices has been a significant part of my leadership journey. Realizing that it’s tougher to see a skilled employee become disengaged than to lose them has shifted my focus. I’ve learned to prioritize their growth and aspirations over my preferences, which has been crucial for my development as a […]

2024-06-10
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