Contributors
Parse is lucky to have support and contributions from a bunch of smarties. Check out the backstory on the creators of your favorite posts here:
Editors
Jenn Visocky O’Grady is the Chair of the Art Department and an Associate Professor at Cleveland State University (even though she looks like a graduate student). She’s also a Principal and Creative Director at Enspace, the co-author of A Designer’s Research Manual and The Information Design Handbook, and a member of HOW’s Board of Advisors. And while she never really identified with them in high school, Jenn now spends most of her time acting as a cheerleader for design—whether that’s in the classroom, in a conference room, or in her pajamas writing for Parse.
Ken Visocky O’Grady is an Associate Professor at the School of Visual Communication Design at Kent State University. There he works with students in classes ranging from basic typography to graduate courses in design thinking and qualitative research methods. Beyond his duties at the University, Ken is a Principal at Enspace, Inc., a company he co-founded in 1998. He is also the co-author of A Designer’s Research Manual and The Information Design Handbook.
Research Assistants
Research Assistants
Jason Bacher is a master of fine arts (MFA) candidate at the School of Visual Communication Design at Kent State University. As a graduate research assistant, he continues to seek new ways of implementing research into design practice. His experience in professional world as well as academia has set him on a path of teaching while owning operating his own freelance business.
Chris Faykus is a designer and front-end web developer at Retronyms, an interactive software studio based in San Francisco. There, he primarily focuses on creating rich interfaces for audio software and developing social web applications. When he’s not pushing pixels you can generally find him wandering around outside testing location-based apps.
Writers
Writers
Justin Ahrens is the Principal of Rule29, a strategic creative firm located in Geneva, Illinois. In his 10+ years of producing award-winning and strategically motivated work, Justin has developed a passion for “making creative matter®”. His work has been recognized by Communication Arts, HOW, PRINT, Graphis, Create, Rockport Publishers and STEP, and Graphic Design USA chose him as one of the top designers to watch in 2004. Justin is frequently spreading his “making creative matter®” mantra while speaking at various events and has served on the AIGA, HOW and now Create Advisory board. But for all his accomplishments, Justin’s greatest passion is being home with his wife, Sarah, and their four amazing kids who think Dad’s job is listening to music, drawing pictures, and playing on the computer.
His new book Life Kerning will show you how to live a life that fuels your work, and work in a way that fuels your life, one minuscule step at a time.
David C. Baker is principal of the consulting firm ReCourses. His entry into the field involved a typesetting job on a Varityper 4560, which led to a stint as head of marketing at a publisher. Shortly thereafter, he started a marketing communications firm that grew to a dozen team members over six years. During those years, he was asked to speak to and write for peers—activities that grew into a consulting career. Since founding ReCourses in 1994, David has advised hundreds of independent firms and in-house departments in advertising, design, interactive, and PR, typically working with 40 new firms every year. He has been a frequent speaker and contributor to nearly every industry event and publication . He founded RockBench Publishing, and recently published his first book, “Managing (Right) for the First Time.” David is co-founder of HOW’s Mind Your Own Business Conference
Cece Bell is an author and illustrator of children’s books, including Bee-Wigged, Itty Bitty, and the Sock Monkey series. She works in a red barn, and she lives in an old church with four dogs, two children, and one husband (kid-lit author Tom Angleberger, of Origami Yoda fame).
Ilise Benun is a national speaker, founder of Marketing Mentor and, with HOW Magazine, of the Creative Freelancer Conference. She coaches creative professionals who are serious about growing their business, privately and in groups. And she is the author of several books for creatives, including The Designer’s Guide to Marketing and Pricing and The Creative Professional’s Guide to Money: How to Think About It, How to Talk About It and How to Manage It (HOW Books, 2011).
Sunny Bonnell is co-founder and creative director at Motto, a brand strategy and design firm that works with innovative and inspiring companies to help launch, grow and reinvent their brands.
Brian Breth is a staffing professional who has been recruiting creative talent for over a decade. A committed design evangelist, Brian was a creative recruiter for American Greetings in Cleveland, Ohio, where he supported a studio of over 700 artists and designers. While at American Greetings he also spent an extensive amount of time traveling top art and design schools across the country recruiting talented students for AG’s studios. Prior to American Greetings, the former Vice President of AIGA Cleveland was a recruiter for Aquent, the largest creative staffing agency in the world. He now resides in Los Angeles, California working in the employee and organizational side of human resources. He also provides resume writing services. You can contact him at brian@brianbreth.com for more information.
Ian Dapot is the Communication Design Director for IDEO’s Boston office. He helps companies articulate ideas and strategic vision for programs ranging from retail experience, customer loyalty, and brand expression. He has collaborated on projects with clients including Target, Lilly, Converse and Sappi Fine Paper North America helping them to align concepts, brand, and business strategy.
Megan Fath is an empathetic designer who practices research to understand user need and identify design opportunity. A passionate, avid matchmaker for research and design, she is Design Director at Conifer Research as well as adjunct faculty at IIT Institute of Design. Clients include McDonalds, McGraw-Hill, Yahoo!, and American Greetings.
John P. Forrest Jr. is Chair of the Department of Design at California State University, Sacramento. He is also President of the Art Directors and Artists Club of Sacramento and a Partner in Interval Press. His professional work has centered on helping small business and non profit organizations reach their audiences via digital and analog design solutions. His teaching centers on preparing students to work with clients, understand the importance of the audience and to find beauty in form while communicating.
Von Glitschka is principal of Glitschka Studios and has worked in the communication arts industry for over 23 years. His work reflects the symbiotic relationship between design and illustration. Glitschka Studios, is a multi-disciplinary creative firm. The studio shines as a hired gun for ad agencies, medium to large design firms, and in-house corporate art departments working on a diverse range of illustrative design projects. Contrary to popular belief Von does not have a clone and can often be found on Twitter sharing random creative thoughts and rants.
Steve Gordon Jr. is ‘RDQLUS Creative‘; a one-person design shop, creative consultant and self-described “independent creative mercenary” specializing in identity, branding and creative direction. With 12+ years in the industry and well-rounded as a artist, he also brings experience in audio production, writing and promotions. RDQLUS Creative work has been featured in many design industry publications and prominent annuals such as the LogoLounge, LogoLounge ‘Masterwerks’ series, ‘Logolicious’ and ‘Best of Business Card Design’ series. Steve is also the author of 100 Habits for Successful Freelance Designers, as well as a having presented at national conferences such as the HOW Design Conference, the Creative Freelancer Conference, and regional “Meet the Pros” and BarCamp events.
Sam Harrison is the founder of Words-Ideas-Action, author and popular speaker, Sam has worked in many creative arenas: in-house, agency, freelance, consultant and teacher. His client list includes the NFL, Major League Baseball, American Express and Hallmark. He’s also the author of Zing: Five Steps and 101 Tips for Creativity On Command, Ideaspotting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea and Ideaselling: Successfully Pitch Your Creative Ideas to Bosses, Clients and Other Decision Makers.
Marcia Hoeck has owned a Toledo marketing communications firm for 25 years, living what she now teaches. Constantly asked by clients and colleagues how she developed such a terrific team and a business that seemed to almost run without her, Marcia began documenting her business building strategies. Now a consultant after having sold her business, Marcia shares her secrets, showing how it’s possible to create a business that works — both spiritually and productively — to keep you on the right path, get problems off your desk, and free you to do what you love. Personally, Marcia’s talent for juggling won her husband’s heart, and in the fourth grade, she was the Hula Hoop Queen of the whole block.
With over 25 years experience, Dave Holston has worked in the fields of design management, advertising, marketing and public affairs for organizations including General Electric, Lockheed Martin and The University of Texas at Austin—helping them take a strategic design approach that integrates planning, research, implementation and evaluation. Dave is the author of the book The Strategic Designer: Tools and techniques for managing the design process. Based on over 100 interviews with designers, researchers and educators, The Strategic Designer provides an overview of design process best practices. When he’s not thinking about design he’s playing slide guitar in a blues band, or crooning songs on the ukulele to his wife and two daughters in Austin, TX.
Blake W. Howard a Nashville, Tennessee native, and University of Tennessee graduate, is the creative director and co-founder of Matchstic that he started at the age of 23. He leads the creative team with responsibilities in brand strategy and identity, art direction, and client presentations; as well as executing award-winning design. From a long lineage of entrepreneurs, Howard has helped build a smart, enthusiastic, courageous firm, with national recognition, that has served clients like Chick-fil-A, VH1, ESPN, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Compassion International. He speaks nationally on the subject of branding for business results, design thinking, and leading creative teams. Howard was also named as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Business Leaders in Atlanta by The Atlanta Business Chronicle, making him one of the youngest members of the Top 40 club.
Randy Johnson is a solo and in-house designer at the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE); a small business association in Cleveland, Ohio. Randy has been active in the design community serving as Communications Chair and Advisory Board Member at AIGA Cleveland and contributing regularly to the HOW In-HOWse blog.
Sheri L Koetting is the co-founder and CEO of MSLK, a boutique marketing and design agency based in NYC. MSLK strives to create 360° design solutions that produce maximum results for brands yet leave a minimal impact on the environment. In addition, Sheri is the co-founder and the president of Spark—an organization dedicated to the education and support of small, creative business owners—and also serves as the director of outreach for AIGA’s Center for Sustainable Design.
David Lecours helps creative businesses soar. David serves as Creative Director at LecoursDesign, a brand communications firm helping professional service firms to attract and retain great clients and talent. David uses LecoursDesign as a laboratory to discover what works in running a successful creative business. He then generously shares this knowledge through coaching, speaking and free advice. David is married and also loves surfing, pickleball and practicing yoga in his hometown of Encinitas, California.
Richard Mantel has been Art Director of Epic Records, Columbia Records, Atlantic Records and CTI Records. For five years he was a member of the Push Pin Studios. He has also been the Special Sections Design Director for New York Magazine, and has worked with Milton Glaser Inc. Richard is the recipient of a multitude of design awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Record Jacket and a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators. He has had a one-person show at the Tyler School of Art, and his work is included in the permanent poster collection of The Library of Congress. Richard currently maintains his design practice in the Cleveland area.
Marty Maxwell Lane is a graphic designer, educator and researcher. Her active role in the design community has recently led her to conferences in Berlin, London and the US where she has lectured on her interests related to design pedagogy, media literacy, collaboration, and speculative interactive spaces. Marty strives to promote design that facilitates community, learning and delight. As an Assistant Professor at The Kansas City Art Institute, she currently teaches Typography One and Multimedia Experience.
Stefan Mumaw is the Creative Director and Provider of All That Rocks at Reign, a Kansas City-based ad agency. He has authored four books, the most recent being Caffeine for the Creative Team, which he co-authored with Wendy Lee Oldfield. The sequel to the popular creative resource Caffeine for the Creative Mind, ‘Team Caffeine’ explores the creative process as it exists within groups and teams. Along with the Caffeine series, Stefan has also written Redesigning Websites and Simple Websites and a sprinkling of articles for HOW Magazine, Step by Step, Dynamic Graphics and The Creative Group. He has spoken at numerous industry gatherings over the years and been known to embarrass himself and those around him if given the opportunity.
Ken NeiheiselKen Neiheisel is Principal, New Business Development at Marsh, Inc., an independent design agency concentrating on strategic design for consumer-packaged goods, retail and restaurant clients since 1938. With nearly three decades of strategic design experience in identity, graphic and package design for large corporate clients, Neiheisel spent twenty-years as Chief Creative Officer for Marsh, and was responsible for visually elevating some of the world’s most recognized food and consumer packaged goods brands such as Steak ‘n Shake, CKE Enterprises (Hardee’s & Carl’s) and Reckitt-Benckiser. Today, Neiheisel brings a holistic approach to his work, drawing from his passion for art, sustainable design practices and consumer trends to develop innovative approaches for Marsh’s client and community work.
Mark O’Brien is the president of Newfangled, a web development company that has been helping marketing firms plan and build websites for their clients since 1995. Mark speaks regularly at marketing events for MarketingProfs, HOW, Recourses, Win Without Pitching, and Second Wind. Mark’s first book, A Website That Works: How Marketing Agencies Can Create Business Generating Websites, was published by RockBench Publishing in June.
Doug Powell Doug Powell is a Minneapolis-based designer, entrepreneur, business strategist, and single-speed cyclist. Together with his wife Lisa, Doug founded HealthSimple® in 2004 to bring better design to the experience of living with chronic health conditions. In 2007 HealthSimple was acquired by a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, and now Doug helps organizations in the health and nutrition category think like designers. He also curates the blog Merge: Thoughts on the convergence of design and entrepreneurship, and is a frequent conference presenter and commentator. Doug is a former national board member of AIGA, and currently serves on the board of trustees for College of Visual Arts in St. Paul.
Jess Sand is communications manager for the San Francisco nonprofit Net Impact. She’s also the content lead for Re-nourish, an online resource aimed at helping the graphic design community take control of its footprint. Re-nourish offers independent tools and resources to build a more sustainable practice today.
Rochelle Seltzer is an advocate for Design Strategy and is passionate about the power of design for every organization.
Rochelle founded Seltzer in 1984 with a mission to build strategically focused, powerful design solutions. She served as President and Creative Director of the firm until the spring of 2011, when she transitioned to pursue her dream of advocating for Design Strategy through speaking, writing, teaching, and consulting. She frequently speaks to business audiences on topics related to branding, marketing, and the power of design for business success. She was delighted to speak about Design Strategy at the HOW Design Live Conference in June 2011. She is in the early stages of writing a book and has been invited to speak to design audiences about the topic in the year ahead.
Terry Lee Stone, is a writer, design management consultant, and creative strategist. She has worked with top U.S. design firms including AdamsMorioka, Margo Chase Design and BMW Group DesignworksUSA and their clients. For over 12 years, she has taught the business of design at the California Institute of the Arts, Otis College of Art and Design, and currently, at Art Center College of Design. She is the author of several books on graphic design: the recent 2-book Managing The Design Process series, Logo Design Workbook, and Color Design Workbook. Stone writes for design magazines such as HOW and Communication Arts, as well as Felt & Wire. She blogs design business issues as “Ask Design B*tch” at rockpaperink.com. Stone has served on the Board of Directors of the AIGA in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Miami; and has presented lectures and workshops for numerous organizations. She’s also the co-author of Booze Cakes published by Quirk Books, and blogs knitting and pop culture at sknitter.com. Proving that Stone isn’t all business all the time.
Peleg Top is a professional mentor to creative entrepreneurs. He works exclusively with design firm owners and creative entrepreneurs who want to take their business and lives to the next level. Peleg coaches creatives on how to position and market their services, price and negotiate their work, grow their leadership and communication skills and create the life and business they desire. A creative professional at heart, Peleg is a national speaker and a frequent contributor to HOW Magazine. He is the author of The Designer’s Guide to Marketing and Pricing (How Books) and other fine design books.
