Brandon Murphy, Principal and CD at Caliber Creative in Dallas, TX answers some student questions.
What kind of atmosphere to do you try to promote at your office?
Right now, it’s new and with only the 4 of us — it can be a bit stressful. When I was more of the “head honcho”, I actually took more ownership in trying to create “good atmosphere”. Playing music, ordering food once in a while. Organizing happy hours or whatever. Mainly, just making the rounds to talk to people about things other than their specific projects. It was loud and active at Squires —- good vibe. Now, we’re pretty stressed and working very hard. I’ve stepped back from the “lead role” to a partner role. Therefore, I don’t try to direct it as I did before. But I think I need to get that going again.
What would you like/expect from new designers to bring to your company to help it succeed and be profitable?
The basics of good concept and good execution. I can’t have someone who is too much of either and not enough of the other. If that makes sense.
What personality characteristics do you look for in a potential graphic designer?
Good worker. No complaints.
Give me a person who understands the value of a dollar and has had to earn what they have in life. That’s the kid I want.
In what order do you place work in your life?
Now, work is crucial to my life. If work does not succeed, I loose the house, the car —- it’s all on the success or failure of this venture.
Did it take you a while to work out the balance of life and work? Have you found it to be easier to compartmentalize- work at work, home at home, or do you let yourself think about work projects all the time?
When I first started, I had no ability to turn it off. Would always bring it home, scratch out ideas and never stop thinking on jobs. After about 15 years, I had gotten really good at a better balance (when I was just a CD at Squires) to where I was good at leaving it at the office. But now as a partner in Caliber, and we live or die by the next months’ billings —- I take more stress home than I used to. I’m not stressing about design, but billing and new business.
Describe your ideal employee.
Me. Ha, kidding. No really – me (but funnier, better illustrator, better at motion graphics)
How involved are you in the direction ideas flow in your office?
Equal. We all have our respective says about our respective areas of expertise. Team was put together because each person brought something to the table. We cross over in some areas —- but we know who “is boss” on other subjects.
Do you think of yourself as being your own boss, or is the client the boss in your eyes?
In this market — client is boss. We’ve taken jobs, direction and pay —- with far more “smiles” and less complaints — than in the past. Before, you knew that another job would be coming in or you could go get another. Or, at the least, the client would have difficulty “getting a better deal”. Now that everyone is cutting fees so low —- and clients are only caring about price —- there is going to be someone right there ready and desperate to beat your price and not complain about silly things like concept, style or communication. “oh, client you want a green chicken with a US flag around him? Sure, no problem — Rooster or hen?
How important is taking direction from the client to you, and how do you weigh the client’s input against your own?
Depends upon the client —– the money — and your history with them. Too many factors to list here.
Do you find yourself constantly battling compromising your design to the point that you are “selling out”?
There have been many times that we fight only to get told what to do —– and know that the product we are producing is sub-par and if anything, harmful to world by it’s very “crappiness” it contributes to the masses. But, as I said before “house, car, kid in daycare” — got to do what you got to do sometimes. However, we always try and do the extra idea the extra effort in the hopes they the client will see the worth of it. We don’t give in — not without a fight. The trick (especially now) is know how hard to fight and for how long. Also, we do a lot of pro-bono jobs to get the “better work” in the book. We show the good stuff —– hide the crappiness as best we can.
What do you do to keep your work from becoming just that- work- and to keep it fun and interesting?
Going after things of personal interest. Doing pro-bono.
Do you have any go-to solutions for inspiration that work every time?
Nope. Wish I did. Wish I had that “go to style” and could just whip out the work —– always been a labor for me. Hasn’t changed yet. Only thing, is that I don’t panic as much at the onset of a job like I used to. (fear of failure and all that). I’ve done enough to know that I’ll deliver something good —– and hopefully great if all things align in the right way.
What side of design have you found the most success in (both personal fulfillment and financially)- more “arty” or more commercial/corporate?
Had success in both arenas. I’ve done some arty stuff that I really got to do the kind of design I always wanted to do in school and others (peers) dug it. Whereas, I’ve had success within the confines of the corporate world and have gotten away with some great projects there (where peers dug it too). Sometimes. those wins (where boring is expected) are a little sweeter, because you know how difficult it is to get away with something good. I mean come on — if you can’t do a great pro-bono band poster —- then you better hang it up. But if you can pull off a conceptual project for an energy company or financial company in the red state of Texas —- that’s saying something.
In your opinion, what are the pros/cons of working free lance, and working for a design firm?
Freelance is hand to mouth unless you have a steady-eddy client base. But, the more you work, the more you make. Employee at a studio and hopefully you are guaranteed your job and a steady check —- but they can work the crap out of you with only a limited hope of raise each year. Pros and cons to both.
In your opinion, what are the pros/cons of working by yourself, and working with a partner or team?
Never done the by yourself thing. As a partner, I know they can count on me an I can count on them. We’re all pitching in together to pull this off. Con (for me) is that I have to learn to get along a little differently than I used to in my former position. But, some of the pressure of decision making is now split more ways.
In this internet age, do you really think it matters if you live in a design-savvy city, or can you find the cool jobs if you look hard enough and get your name out there?
We’re still seeing that some “being local” counts with clients. Same with even doing freelance for other larger agencies. They want to meet you, talk to you and shake your hand. However, we do work for clients that are out-of-state too —- so I don’t know. I think that if you are just starting out (either as individual or as a small start-up) your best chances for success is to immerse yourself right in the middle of the busiest whirl-wind you can. Clients, vendors, rumor mill, etc. Once you’ve established yourself, a reputation, a portfolio of business and clients —– then I think you can bounce out and move to that cabin in the woods with the T-1 line running to it. Because by that time, you know where they are and they know you. Can’t do that off the job — no one will know where to find you (the internet is great — but a good word of mouth will beat it every time).