Articles

“There ain’t no future in the past.” That line from a Vince Gill song has it right — especially when it comes to fresh ideas. Creativity lives in today and aims for the future. Even the guy who wrote The Beatles’ “Yesterday” — arguably the world’s most famous song about embracing the past — eventually […]

In my last piece I discussed the traditional path of a creative career that we learn in school of first being an apprentice to a master to learn your craft, mastering your skills on your own, and finally becoming a master in your own right which often includes taking on apprentices of your own (typically […]

As is my tradition before an InSource event, I like to take the featured speakers out to dinner the evening before as a way of thanking them for their time and insights. I try to find a higher-end restaurant where we can enjoy a great meal (not just a good one) and an ambiance that […]

As I mentioned last month, it’s hard to believe I’ve been at this for 25 years. Few people in my network of friends and colleagues have stuck with the same career for so long. Many of those I attended SVA with gave up on design a long time ago for something else completely. As I […]

It’s hard for me to believe I’ve been at this—being a design professional—for nearly 25 years, since I’m the first one in my family not to go into some more traditional field of study or business. I grew up around relatives who worked on Wall Street, in the legal profession, sales or other business pursuits. […]

In our final interview with Michael Beirut he shared some solid advice: “You don’t learn anything by talking; you learn by listening”. Robin: “You’ve been managing design staff for the bulk of your career. Any management advice or tips for the design managers and leaders out there trying to hone their skills?” Michael: “The advice I […]

Check out part two of our exclusive interview with Michael Beirut and learn what frustrates him most in the design industry. Robin: “One of the things that made me smile at the very end of the book was the statement: ‘And Paula Scher is the person that I’m endlessly trying to impress.’ You guys sound like […]

I can’t think of a better way to sum up an inspirational list than “The Hit List” written by Chase Jarvis, a world-renowned photographer. What I like about it is its brevity, clarity, and boldness. www.Chasejarvis.com So, taking some insight from Jarvis and mixing it up with my own vision–adding 10+ years of in-house experience—out […]

In 2016 Michael Beirut launched his new book How To. Check out this exclusive interview capturing book details and career tips. Robin: “There were a couple things that really stood out to me when I read How To. I loved hearing about the pile of notebooks, a career deep, that you keep. Tell me a little […]