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Maurice Cherry is an accomplished creative strategist who received the AIGA’s Steven Heller Price for Cultural Commentary in 2018 and in the same year was listed as one of The Root’s 100 most influential African Americans. We talked about Maurice’s mission to increase the profile of Black people in the creative industry through his podcast, Revision Path, his thoughts on diversity in the creative industry and how he went from the captain of the math team in high school to pursuing a career in design.

Maurice Online:

• Website
• Twitter
• Tumblr
• LinkedIn
• Duane on Revision Path
• Revision Path: Ben Lindo
• Revision Path: Eddie Opara
• Revision Path: Hannah Beachler
• Revision Path: Ari Melenciano

"When it rains, it pours". 

We had some major technical difficulties this week, so instead of our scheduled interview, you'll be hearing from US instead! 

This week, Jayvn and I reminisce about what we've loved (and sometimes not loved so much) about the podcasting experience, and what other side hustles we've been putting our time into. We also talk about what kinds of guests we want to see in the future, and what we hope this podcast will do for the community, and for you as one of our listeners. 

Special thanks to our friend Dustin for helping us figure out some temporary tech, and thank you as always to Critical for the awesome music. 

Jason and I discuss his former role at the NEA, the role of creative placemaking, and how he is embarking on a journey to redesign the largest design school in the world. 

Subscribe on iTunes. 

Rich Hollant's body of work is just...amazing. As the principal, strategist, and design director at CO:LAB (a firm he started in 1988), he has done work with everyone from Fortune 500 corporations to cities and municipalities with enriching social value projects. He's won awards from AIGA, CADC, Print, HOW, and many other organizations. Rich is also going to be a new national board member for AIGA...and there's even more!

While we did spend a good bit of time on the work that Rich and his firm does, our conversation touched on a lot of other points. Listen as Rich shares the secret to his business' success and longevity, his philosophy on work and life, and learn how he says designers can get involved in social value projects. You'll definitely want to take notes for this interview! Enjoy!

• Rich Hollant on Facebook
• CO:LAB
• CO:LAB on Facebook
• CO:LAB on Twitter

Nate Voss (@Vossome) has lived numerous lives as a designer and creative. First a traditional graphic designer, he spent several years as a freelance illustrator and designer before joining digital marketing & advertising agency VML. Since then, he’s moved into mobile and app design, exploring software development workflows and agency culture up close.

Our conversation meanders across a variety of topics, discussing the transition from agency life to freelance (and back), the culture shock of working in a large organization, and even the type of architecture that best suits a mixed team.

The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 20, Building and Growing a Small Design Firm, w/guest Josh Miles

Josh Miles (@JoshMiles) founded Miles Design, an independent graphic design firm in Indianapolis, Indiana, after organically growing his freelance practice. Following some hi-profile work in a narrow sector, he’s grown his team to nine employees, taking care to build a healthy workplace culture along the way.

Josh and his team at Miles Design

In this discussion, Josh shares some of the challenges for growing and maintaining a design business, as well as some of the tools and tactics he uses to keep the team in sync and doing great work.

Show Notes & Links

• Prescott met Josh at the Brand New Conference in San Francisco, 2011
• Josh began as a freelancer, working with clients such asPurdue University
• Josh knew he’d eventually be an independent designer
• The selling side of graphic design isn’t told much in school
• Win Without Pitching by Blair Enns
  
• David C. Baker, Recourses
• Miles Design is a nine-person design firm in Indianapolis, focusing on Professional Services (architecture, engineering, interior design, etc.)
• The award-winning website for Ratio Architects
• After about 1 year in, Josh realised the company would succeed. He needed help getting the design work done.
• Josh is the geek within the agency
• Tug McTighe on being a creative director
• Failure in graphic design isn’t “failure” as such. The end of the sentence is the end of the conversation.
• AIGA Indy Kickball League
• “No one is immune from psychology. Especially psychologists.”
• Bold Brand by Josh Miles
  
• Miles Design allowed a client to reap 7x return on investment for a new website design
• Josh is equal parts introvert and extrovert
• The Cult of Overwork
• Previous Busy Creator interview with Debbie Millman
• Pronunciation of “nitch” vs. “neesh”
• Miles Design on Dribbble

Tools

• Workamajig, total agency software for project management
• Harvest, for time-tracking
• Slack, for intra-office chat
- GTD Methodology
• Scrum meetings
• OmniFocus

Techniques

• Bring in people who are better than you
• Put workplace culture first, especially if you feel it’s missing. Maybe start over.
• Give your team permission to fail. Allow them to present their work, come what may.
• Invent company rituals. Celebrate small stuff.
• Test new workflows and tools
• Follow up with clients after 3 or 6 months to track results
• Be known for one thing and be good at it

Habits

• Arrive in the office early. Get stuff done before the gang arrives.
• Head out early on Fridays as a team. Decompress together.
• Take a few hours to work solo and clear things