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.
Leadership
Camilla
What do project management and tennis have in common? Not love!
Project Management seems simple enough, but the role is like being in a sporting match—when you are on, you are on. Project Management seems simple enough, but the role is like being in a sporting match—when you are on, you are on. Your continual task is to catch and strategically hand off projects to the […]
2024-09-20
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Design thinking
Geneviève
The winning formula: what do design and Formula One have in common?
At first glance, the world of Formula One racing and the creative hustle of a design studio might not appear to have much in common. However, both realms share a surprising number of similarities in their pursuit of performance, innovation, and excellence. Geneviève is a consummate Formula One racing fan, and a graphic designer at […]
2024-09-13
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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 […]