Category: Design Thinking

How Shopify Helps College Students Learn About Opening A Business

Leave a comment

I recently opened a shop on shopify for my handcrafted jewelry.
While learning the interface I discovered a lot of useful information that I can apply to my classes. One of the projects that we have done in the past involves finding a client with a product to sell and then creating an online brand presence for that client. Last time we did it the student used Wix, but I think Shopify is a great resource because it is all about eCommerce.

It turns out I am not the only Professor that thought this is a good idea. I read this blog post on shopify:

Picture 7 “Matt Hill is a CEGEP business professor at John Abbott College in Montreal, Canada, and he’s using Shopify in a very unique way. He and many others would argue that you learn the most about running a business by actually doing it. Textbooks and case studies can teach you great lessons about startups, marketing, and accounting, but nothing can prepare you for the real world like taking a chance and turning your great idea into reality.” Read the entire article by clicking this link.

It is good to know that other professors think the way I do. I recommend that anyone opening a online eCommerce site visit Shopify and look at some of the case studies and resources that are available.

The Sum is Greater…when we bridge the gap.

1 Comment

The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier which was published in early 2000, talks about how when creative professionals and business strategists can have a "meeting of the minds" or bridge the gap, on a given project, brand magic can occur. This is the phenomenon called synergy and has been the mission of Synergy Creative since 1998. I think these visuals from The Brand Gap sum up why synergy is so important to a brands success.

Picture 7

Witness the magic when 1 + 1 = 11

Picture 9

Strategy by its very nature is linear. First we do this, then we do this and then we do that.

Picture 8

Creativity by its very nature is non-linear.
We could do this or we could try this or maybe we should do the other thing???

Picture 11

This is a problem beacuse…

   Picture 10
and brands are all about trust.

Well said, Mr. Neumeier!

What Jazz Soloists Know About Creative Collaboration

Leave a comment

I found this article by Scott Mc Dowell and had to repost it because it makes some great points about the power of creative collaboration – no matter the medium or discipline . Here is a excerpt from the article:

“In jazz, creative input is egalitarian and meritocratic. If you can “blow” you can play regardless of background, personal style, or anything else. Miles Davis famously wrote in his autobiography, “I don’t care if a dude is purple with green breath as long as he can swing.” Do you add spice to your creative team?  Do you contribute to the process of the whole?” – Scott McDowell

Read the entire article at Behance

Picture 1

Read the entire article and listen to the cool mini mix by the following artists:

1. Miles Davis – “Seven Steps to Heaven”
2. Charlie Parker – “Koko”
3. Oscar Peterson – “Cottontail”
4. Lennie Tristano – “Line Up”
5. Ornette Coleman – “Lonely Woman”

 

Setting Your Standards as a Freelancer: A Few Suggestions

Leave a comment

I came across this article and I thin k it is worth reading, I hope you enjoy it.

"Having standards is important when you’re trying to find and work with
clients on your own.

Picture 3

It's surprisingly tempting not to stick to your
standards: a quick project that you wouldn’t normally take can look
pretty appealing if you’re having a slow month. But sticking to your
guns can be important in more ways than one. If you take that
problematic job, not only are you doing something that you don’t want to
do, but you’re also likely to hand in work that you know isn’t as good
as you could do. Even worse, that sub-standard job can take up the time
you need to find higher paying clients, sticking you in a position where
you can’t afford to move forward."

Here is the link to the original article:

Setting Your Standards as a Freelancer: A Few Suggestions.