by
Philip Bailey
The greatest challenge in logo design is that logos are the smallest
project. A logo is a small symbol that describes the essence of a
business or organization. This is what Jeff Fisher, owner of Jeff
Fisher LogoMotives, discovered when he left the ad agency world and
focused on what he loved to do.
It all started when he read Milton Glaser: Graphic Design .
By Dan Garriott
There is something special about someone who dedicates their life to
doing one thing and one thing only. You can see it in everyone from
Violin makers to auto mechanics, an unquenchable thirst for perfection.
As a recruiter I meet people every day who are
dedicated to their creativity. From graphic designers to website code
writers, when you meet someone who is dedicated to their craft it is
unmistakable.
In this issue of The Right Brain Reader we
focus on a few Portlanders who have focused their efforts on
perfection. Goody Cable, of Rimsky’s explains how she merged her love
of music and food to create a different kind of coffee house. We also
learned how Jami and Matthew Curl of Saint Cupcake turned Portland onto
these simple but delicious treats. Finally we try to unlock the secrets
of Cheryl Wakerhauser
by
Philip Bailey
by Philip Bailey
Saint
Cupcake is the Patron Saint of Sweets, and this saint shines the most
blessing upon a much praised bakery in the Pearl District: Saint
Cupcake at 407 NW 17 th Ave , Portland . Owners Jami and Matthew Curl
make great leaders for their team. Jami does the baking with the other
bakers. Matthew does the tasting and is often behind the counter.
Before opening Saint Cupcake December 1, 2005, Jami Curl was a
marketer at the Oregon State Bar with a small dessert catering business
on the side called Cook and Clutter, but she wanted a taste of what
owning her own bakery would be like, so she began stirring up ideas.
She decided on an American-style bakery with a menu of pies, brownies,
cakes, etc.
by Philip Bailey
by Word Jones
If you could take the truly macro view, and see in one sweep all the
design work available in the Portland metro area in a given year, it
would reach so far into the millions of dollars that it would make your
toes tingle. And then you might realize: All I need to make a really
good living is maybe one tenth
By Joel Burslem
Jon
and Karen Wippich are co-owners of Dotzero Design, a Portland-based
design shop with an eclectic and distinctive style, whose work can be
found everywhere from CD packaging to beer labels to mall signage. They
kindly spared some time this month to answer a couple of questions for
the Right Brain Reader.
How long have you been into creative work?
The short answer is "All our lives". But to be more specific,
Dotzero has been our thing for 7 years. Before that we both worked in
design studios and agencies since school.
What the best thing about the work you do?
Dotzero lets us be creative and make a living at it.
If you could change anything about the work you do what would it be?
Not having to do the business part of the business.
What advice would you give someone starting out here in Portland ?
Get connected through AIGA and other events - paper company
events, for example. We started out doing pro bono work and we always
seem to have a pro bono client of some kind. It doesn’t directly bring
paying work, but the people you meet doing it remember you and may pass
your name along to someone. Also, pro bono work gives you a portfolio
piece, more freedom in design since you are working for free and a
charity gets some good design to help them out.
What are you currently working on?
We just finished a grommetted wheel sort of thing, a card deck
design, and a number of logo projects. We are currently in the middle
of design for a Pearl District eatery too -everything from logo to
signage, wall colors and menu. We are also designing holiday wrapping
paper. That’s the most exciting sounding work we have going. Much of
what we do is collateral pieces, logos and overall branding for
clients.
Whose work do you admire?
Tough question. We’d probably leave someone out if we listed
them all. There are so many good designers in many different
disciplines - logos, print, web, etc.
Can you name a few?
Oh boy. There are a lot of people whose work we admire: Sharon
Werner, logos of Paul Howalt and Rutger Goertz, Cyclone, SubPop,
posters of the Ames Bros, etc. - any group that has interesting, fun
stuff that’s well executed. Often it’s a nice combo of design and
illustration.
If you were not doing this job what kind of work would you be doing?
Karen: Interior designer/decorator or forensic scientist.
Jon: Tour guide
By Heather Marcroft
Making
the leap from full-time employment to freelance is a leap of faith:
Will you have enough clients, and if you do, enough time to complete
projects? Having a partner in this risky venture can help cushion the
potential fall
by Ronnie Lebow
In my last article, I discussed why I became a freelance creative. Since the article
ran, my inbox has been filled with emails asking the same question
by Thad Peterson |
Monster Staff Writer
Dan Garriott chuckles as he recounts the time he met a man who has
since become a good friend, and they got to talking about their
vocations. "He’s a big-time tech recruiter," says Garriot. "I met him
at a party, and he introduced himself as a
