People ask me a lot of questions. These are just a few. The hope of this section is that you might get a deeper insight into the world through my eyes. I dedicate this section to you, the curious observer. Much like the Process page, I plan to add more here in the coming weeks.

What’s with the Platypus?
A Cherokee shaman once told me it was my power animal. It’s a pretty unique animal, much like myself.  The Platypus the only mammal with poisonous claws, which I think is pretty cool. Why is it angry? Wouldn’t you be pretty pissed if you woke up and couldn’t figure out if you were a duck or a beaver?

How do you deal with difficult clients?
I’ve learned that you need to pick and choose your battles wisely, but above all stay calm. Forgetting your ego when the client is shopping an idea that his 9 year old had at dinner is a part of the business. Take it with a grain of salt; it’s going to happen over your entire career. People second-guess doctors too, it’s not just us. If it’s a color change or a larger logo, let it go. If it fundamentally changes the concept, mount a logical–not emotional–battle.

Design by committee is wrong, but it happens. It’s your job to massage the opinions of the group and establish point. After all, you’re the visual expert. If all else fails, get a macro stock photo, drop some Helvetica on it, scan in a texture, put it one of those elements on multiply or overlay, and run like hell.

What is your favorite literary device?
Metaphors. Mine are dope, how are yours?

What would be your dream job?
A government contractor! Ha, just kidding, it's not so bad. Either running a creative team with an organization that does something stylish and cool on the cultural avant-garde, or something that helps humanity would be my dream gig/s (both cliché I know), and preferably a company that operates on a large scale.

I’m called on frequently for my abilities to make things cool and keep track of trends (it's good to be aware); I feel I work best in those environments. Working with the music and clothing industries have been some of the best points in my career. Suits feel like costumes to me, I’m more of a jeans and blazer guy, and I’m allergic to corny copy.

As far as my philanthropic aspirations, I always catch extreme home makeover and feel like I should be helping out my fellow man. I then subdue that feeling by watching the rest of the show and pretending that I helped. I’d really love the opportunity to actually help someone with my skill set besides pro-bono jobs here and there. Maybe later in life, who knows?

I put in an application for Sr. Art Director at Playboy Enterprises not too long ago, and that’s probably as close to my perfect gig as I can think of. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Do you take on spec work?
Absolutely not, nor should you. Spec work is an absolute con. I also don't set up email on smartphones. On occasion I'll do pro-bono or steeply discount projects when they promote a cause that I support (mostly Autism), but I always let the client know up front that they are getting a killer deal — and payment is never contingent on acceptance.

If you were a drink, how would you be made?
1 part vermouth

2 parts awesome sauce

Dash of cinnamon (Tigers hate it)

Stir and serve over ice (in a geode of you’ve got one)
Please drink responsibly

Why do people like bad design?
People tend to like/identify with what they recognize and are familiar with; right or wrong. It’s the reason why Times New Roman has been in newspapers forever: people are so used to reading it. They use PowerPoint presentations not because it’s the best possible option but because that’s what they did in college and that’s how the person before them did it. Also, the public confuses good products with good designs (i.e. - Google, Yahoo, Amazon), and the lay-businessman is drawn to copy the industry leaders as opposed to fulfilling the needs of their specific product.

Reflections and drop shadows are design crutches, but people effing love them both like Comic Sans and IE6, so use them with subtlety as best as you can. Warning! If you use them in any grad school projects your professor will fail you immediately (especially if they are Bauhaus Era AD/CDs). I’ll tell you because no one told me.

If you could have any other career what would it be?
I would be a Comedian or a Dentist. A lot of people say I missed my calling as a comedian. I am kinda funny and ridiculous things happen to me constantly. I would be a dentist because they make a ton of money for a seemingly simple task (scratching teeth with a metal spike = easy). If they screw up they can just pull out your teeth and give you fake ones! How cake is that?

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