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.
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.
2024-12-06
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Industry insights
Jennifer
The authenticity piece: are you bringing your true self to work?
Authenticity at work—showing up as your true self with empathy, boundaries, and self-care—is essential for meaningful connection, personal well-being, and building a positive culture where everyone belongs.
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.
2024-10-28
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Leadership
Bree
Trust your gut, and trust the process
Stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing support helped me transition from Algonquin College to thriving as a junior designer at Initiate Marketing, where I’ve found a creative family and exciting opportunities to grow.
2024-10-04
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Design thinking
Bree
To degree, or not to degree, that is the question
My unique journey through university and college combined academic discipline with creative passion, equipping me with the skills and mindset to thrive in the design industry and at Initiate.
2024-09-27
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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.
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.
2024-09-13
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Design thinking
Owen
Becoming a graphic designer
Becoming a graphic designer felt as impossible as time travel—until I realized the only thing standing in my way was believing it was out of reach.
2024-09-06
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Design thinking
Owen
Overcoming the blank page
Five strategies I use to overcome my creative block, no matter how daunting that white page can seem.
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.
2024-08-12
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Culture
Jennifer
A musing about perspective
The ability to see what others fail to see is at the heart of what designers do. This is a short personal story to illustrate.
2024-08-05
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Culture
Leadership
Michael
Hello, my title is not graphic designer
I went to school to be a graphic designer, but I learned that we are much more than that. I want to explore why I’m uncomfortable with this term, its genericism and the boxes it puts designers in.