After nine and a half years with Envoi Design, I’m moving on to lpk – a Cincinnati-based agency with multiple offices and influence around the world – where I’ll take over at the Design Delineator Position. The hardest part of all this might be remembering to turn right down Race instead of taking Central Parkway all the way to Main on Monday morning. It’s hard to know what to say. For nearly a decade, I’ve called Envoi home. Even when I was in Columbus for more than three years, it was the mother ship. We were a small tight-knit group who continually overcame challenges to meet deadlines and wow clients.

This move will be good for the both of us. Shake things up. Stir the pot. Spur growth.

I’m looking forward to being in a big office. I’ll see unique faces everyday. And I like people. When I was in Columbus, I thought I’d make a go at working from home. I went mad… or went to the coffee shop, stayed too long, drank too much coffee and went mad. I’m not suited for a lonely existence. I also want to see what types of challenges exist in this design environment. I feel like I bring a lot to lpk’s table. I hope that’s still true in three months. And I owe some of that to Envoi. I worked through many solutions on my own, start to finish, essentially because I had to. There wasn’t much time to discuss direction or develop a plan of attack. “Get in there and get it done” was our battle cry on most days. Not necessarily the way I would’ve preferred to go about things, but it certainly helped me in the end.

When I graduated from school in 2002, I compiled a list of things I’d learned over the course of my five years at UC. So in the name of one chapter ending and another beginning, I’ll see what’s I got and depending on how many nasty iChats I get, I’ll then determine if they were even slightly effective.

Designing for designers is called a hobby.
Designing for clients is work. Do both.
Make it beautiful and functional or don’t sell it.
Do your homework so that you might be more than just opinionated.
Fight fair for good ideas.
Look embarrassments in the eye. Then move on.
Listen. Listen. Listen.
Try your best to answer your phone when someone calls you.
As great as gossip is, it always leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
Copyright something.
Take on at least one humungous project.
Gain perspective for everyone’s sake.

That’s all I’ve got for now. I’m sure I’m missing some. Like… Don’t pee on the seat. Or… Turkey sandwiches Monday, Roast beef on Tuesday.

Adios Envoi. New adventures await us all.