Compass

Jason Bouwman of Compass Creative
www.compasscreative.ca

jason@compasscreative.ca

A very tall and soft-spoken man entered the room. 


Very down to earth and open with our class; no designer elitist mentality here. Jason is the owner and founder of Compass Creative in Burlington. Jason graduated from Sheridan’s illustration program — I have to wonder if we shared some teachers from Graphic Design. I remember Frank Reynolds and marker rendering....  

Compass Creative is a boutique agency helping small-medium sized businesses and organizations re-position themselves for success. 


“I always had it in my head that I was going to do my own thing.”
Jason's lecture included sharing his life story and experiences which has brought him to 
where he is now with his business. 


The name Compass Creative is a commentary on their creative ability to be strategic thinkers. Jason stated we do not just make a website look pretty but we think of the strategy and positioning behind it.



“People don’t want websites”
Businesses want sales, donations and results. A website is a means to an end.
Jason's perspective on the design industry was honest. A website is a way for businesses to sell something, but he asked that we remember consumers don't owe the business anything.


Jason explained that businesses need to tell their story, inspire, showcase how they are different than competitor. Know how why they exist as a business and what they are trying to do to change the world ....in any way big or small...


To succeed in our industry, Jason stated you require the below 4 assets:

• Passion. Passion is not enough, you need to suffer for your passion, but it will burn you out.
• Skill. You need skill, the market won't reward you if you have no skill.
• Market. You need a market for your passion and skill
• Integrity. This should be in your work and life.

“Have integrity in what you do”

Jason also still maintains his identity as an illustrator in the digital world by designing tangible Canadian Collector Coins. Unique and contemporary designs.

Jason spoke about life and work balance. In our industry, this is always a challenge with crazy deadlines and demanding clients.  How to do this? Jason talked about the book "First Things First" By Steve Covey and its discussion on time management. 


Discover and know what is important to you.
Dedicate time to what is important. 
Identify what is important. 
Live your life as a compass with direction
and not by the ticking of a clock.

Alex Pejcic

a.pejcic@sonicboom.com
www.sonicboom.com


We met Alex today from Sonic Boom – a man with ground up experience in the digital industry. I found his persona very refreshing at 10am on a Friday morning, he sure woke me up with his insightful thoughts and use of colourful language!  Then Alex began his story.... 

Alex just graduated from a degree in psycology and he did not know what the hell he was going to do – He used that internet thing – so learned some html – made a hockey pool site — Guess we can try and make some money doing this.... " were his thoughts

Alex pounded the streets in Hamilton — sold his services for $400 to a clothing store, drank some beer and created the site in a weekend... I found this very inspirational and thought provoking how a weekend, case of beer and a creation of a hockey pool planted a seed for a business.



Professional experience
Executive Member
Society of Digital Agencies
June 2011 – Present (7 months)


Executive Member, Worldwide Digital Leadership Team
NATIONAL Public Relations
January 2009 – Present (3 years)


Co-Founder, VP & Managing Director
Sonic Boom Creative Media
October 2008 – Present (3 years 3 months

More sonic seeds for thought from Alex

• Print and web design different thinking
• The WEB is on line DNA 
• World is turning more to insight – more difficult and daunting to marketing — beyond agency level
• New jobs being developed – creating opportunities – social media

Sonic Boom helps clients understand embrace and optimize massive potential of digital media

• The agency works with client to understand their business on a deep strategic level
• Delivers meaningful solutions
• Worldly view – used to partner with agencies
• Taking Social media to another level

Sonic Clients

Timex, Sirius, citi, kohler

To explain in plain English what Sonic Boom is about, he provided an entertaining story about love and lovers, WOM and how one promotes him or herself in the complex language of love (you rather had to be there for this—but a diagram is below)

Marketing is a one way dialogue

• Advertising is about yelling the loudest
• Branding is when you're audience speaks about you to you
• Public Relations is when your audience talks about you to their friends and you don't even have to be there.

The above chart illustrates what makes up marketing today,

Sonic calls this e-merge 

Digital Marketing

Alex also mentioned that many agencies use freelancers and “Crowdsourcing” – to find the best of the best – keep our options open do a lot with what you know and expand your knowledge. Alex stressed that even though we are studying Web Design, our talents and careers may take us to other avenues within the agency world, as in management, sales, strategy or social media.

What will I need to understand

• Multifaceted understanding of company's DNA
• Soul culture of company
• Meaning of Role of brand — more than a logo
• Marketing basics — direct & mass
• Latest Trends & techniques --Social design– beyond QR codes

What should I possess

• Proven skill in your discipline
• Strong portfolio
• References
• Positive attitude  - a lot of a@@-holes! – be a positive person with a “can-do” attitude and team oriented -
• Willingness to learn

When Alex thinks he knows everything – he has to relearn everything, so just a tip.

Forget your know it all attitude or ego



"Get noticed, Recognized and Respected"

• Join interactive media groups
• Submit your portfolio to an online community
• Create your own space
• Ask for advise at interviews
• Take opportunities as they come
• 
  

and most of important PASSION

Be passionate about what you do and who the company is.

Jay Schacher

Jay Schacher

Aka Jay Shack
Cool name, cool guy.
Senior Art Director, Henderson Bas Kohn
jschacher@jaysshack.com
http://jayshack.tumblr.com/

His parents were elated to hear that he decided to turn his love of Magna Doodle and Light Bright into a serious career...

He is a graduate of the Sheridan Web Design program and is currently a Senior AD at Henderson BSA in Toronto. 

In his words Henderson Bas Kohn – awesome place to work, jam and eat!

All sound good to me. A very creative guy. Jay studied Visual Arts and Certificate in Multimedia and New Media at York University and then took his post-grad at Sheridan College in Web Design. A story to date of his career below (sourced by LinkedIn), and as you read on for a young guy he has been a lot of places and has rapidly moved up the design ladder.

Art Director
Senior Designer
henderson bas kohn

• Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry 
• March 2011 – Present (9 months) 
• Clients include: Mercedes-Benz, LG, CAA & The Weather Network 
• Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry

Senior Designer
OSL Marketing - Interactive Division

• Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry 
• September 2009 – May 2010 (9 months) 
• Clients include: Pepsi, Sher-Wood Hockey, GE & Gatorade

Senior Designer
Intermediate Designer
Sonic Boom Creative Media | a division of NATIONAL Public Relations

• Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Internet industry 
• October 2008 – September 2009 (1 year) 
• Clients include: Sirius Satellite Radio, Timex Canada, Honda & Jamieson Vitamins

Interactive Designer
Organic

• Privately Held; 201-500 employees; OMC; Marketing and Advertising industry 
• May 2006 – February 2007 (10 months) 
• Clients include: Sprint, Jeep, Dodge & Bank of America

Paid to be creative all the time is biggest challenge

What Jay does at work....

• Brainstorming 
• Conceptual and Creative thinking
• Designing 
• Overseeing work 
• mentor 
• meeting timelines 

Common traits of a good Art Director 
(a sense of playfulness combined with small dash of designer geek under all the coolness!)

• You love video games, doodling
• you like photoshop more than TV
• Favourite Hex value
• You really have creative network names
• Like practical jokes

Impressive Brands and Clients Jay has touched with his creativity

• Coke
• Mercedes
• Nintendo 
• Tim hortons 
• Capital one 
• Ally 
• KD (A standard college food group)
• LG 
• Nestle 
• Weather network

Inside Advice

• with your classmates
• Network A LOT!
• Stay connected in the social media mediums to find out what events are happening.Be a team player, not a Hero
• www.webcreme.com
• www.colourlovers.com

to Jay and taking time to speak to our class, and providing behind the scenes info, and the motivation to keep moving forward with our course.