Five Dot Design • Blog

This year marked some big milestones for me: being published in print for the first time (thanks Kentucky Bride!), being a part of a photo shoot I’m unbelievable proud of- and not just because it was picked up by Greenweddingshoes.com (one of my favorites), but because the team I worked with let my mind step out of the box… Nathan, Michelle, Katie and Corey- you guys are awesome. Then, my biggest accomplishment… Glitter Central… which lead to being featured on Design*Sponge (I still get giddy over that). It’s been a pretty wild ride for me and I put a lot of what I was able to accomplish into some major refocusing… which I owe to a lot of that push for change to those of you reading this.

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Let me elaborate a bit on Design*Sponge (because it’s just that damn good, in my book). I would equate waiting to see our names pop up on the blog to Selection Sunday in NCAA basketball. You wait and wait… and wait and when you finally see your name pop up, there’s an eruption of applause, yelling, hugs, high-fives and all-round giddy excitement that can’t be contained. Had we all been together, I’m sure we would have popped a bottle of champagne, sat and stared at the post for the rest of the day.

All five of us were sitting at a computer, with cellphones in hand, refreshing every few minutes to see if our post would be next.
9am: nope.
that’s cool- we have 4 more hours…

10:30am: nope
“so, we have to be next, right?”

11:something am: not us
“seriously?”
“did the email say FOR SURE we would be going up”
“where are we?!”

noon: nope.
A flurry of texts and emails back and forth
“Is that it for the day?”
“where are we?”
“WAIT- she posts 4 a day sometimes!”

refresh… refresh… refresh…

1pm: a frenzy of texts, emails, Facebook posts, tweets, phone calls- you name it. We all let out a sigh of relief and I’m not sure we stopped smiling the rest of the day.

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So what’s in store for 2012? I have a lot of ideas cooking- some in the prep stages and others are just about done. I do know that I’m really excited for what’s ahead of me. An extension of Five Dot will now be in Lexington with the awesome girls of Simply Love Studio, which was a goal I secretly set for myself. Two locations will be a challenge, but I’m prepared for it. I can’t help but believe if I continue to focus two steps ahead of right now, keep asking questions and pursuing opportunities that are either presented to me or I seek out, I have no option but to succeed.

I’m not gonna lie- I have no idea what happened at the beginning of this year. I honestly don’t (though I’m sure with Facebook’s new timeline, I could go back and look, but that thing kinda freaks me out). What I do know is I’ve ended the year much stronger than I began and with much more confidence in my ability to really make this whole adventure work.

My constantly-in-motion lifestyle has definitely tested my limits this year, but as they say, “find your limits, then push past them” so I don’t know that I necessarily have a choice but to embrace that mentality and do whatever it takes to get myself to the next level, personally and with my business. I know I have plenty of support behind me to push me thru when times will be rough (and I know they will… it’s inevitable with the way my life is structured). So with that, I know I will have to sacrifice some blog posts, miss a few events or work a few hours later, but taking one more step when I’m ready to quit will only help me get thismuchcloser to realizing a dream.

So, here’s to 2012… may it be the best yet.

Last week I put a call out for old, unwanted books for a project I’m beginning and, surprisingly, I wasn’t met with too much resistance to “repurposing” old books (i.e. “destroying” them.) BUT, for those of you that might have gotten a little squirrelly at the thought, I pulled two from the stack that I didn’t feel I COULD “repurpose.”

See? I have a heart.

HOW left me with not only a lot to think about as it pertains to my business, but a lot to get me re-energized about designing. We all hit slumps and it shouldn’t be anything we hide- those are the best times to reach out to other designers and just get excited about designing again. You’re surrounded by all these intelligent, creative brains and it can get overwhelming- especially when you find yourself being introduced to them on a social level instead of a professional level. Nonetheless, it was what I needed. I’ve begun thinking about ways to improve my client experience (which will all start with a new office space and a website face lift coming in the next week or so) and ways to infuse more of me into my work instead of falling back on what’s safe.

So, without further adieu… more info from the sessions

Don’t wait for inspiration–
Are you inspired or tired?  One great quote from Sam Harrison from his Revelations for Inspiration talk was, “Throw out your first 3 ideas–everyone else had those ideas.” Ultimately we’re responsible for what we put out into the design world, so if we’re constantly going back to what we know “works,” eventually it won’t work anymore. Stephen Doyle made a great suggestion in his talk Where Ideas Come From and Where to Go, “Ask yourself what everyone else will do and do the opposite.” Sure, it sounds easier than it really is, but at the same time, even the smallest change from the norm can lead a design into a completely different direction.

Fail early to succeed early–
We must be expandable or become expendable… meaning we need to stretch our minds to new ideas. A lot of those ideas are going to be really bad… and that’s okay. But bad ideas get you to good ideas faster. Start with exploring… Stop. Look. Listen. then Focus. Let an idea go on its own and then let it go one step further. You can always take a step back if it doesn’t work out. But if it does work, let it keep going until all paths have been explored.

Talk to people–
Conversation begins creativity, but the conversations mean nothing if you don’t act upon them. Use your network of creatives to bring your ideas to life and work together to realize each others ideas. Brainstorming often becomes my idea, your idea, my idea, his idea… working together to build upon each others ideas is what really pushes the creative envelope.

You bring in what you put out–
Make a connection with your clients and show them that you really enjoy what you do. Find ways to give clients an experience that’s new and different to make yourself memorable. Be innovative and be spontaneous. Stand out.

All in all, a good portion of the conference was motivational speakers that just so happen to understand the design world and the challenges designers have come across- especially in the last 5+ years. I would imagine it was more than just me that needed those words, too.

As some may have read on my Facebook status last week, after 7 years of waiting, wishing and hoping, I was able to heed the advice of one of my Graphic Design professors (Kathy Kargl) and attend the HOW Design Conference (lovingly packaged in the HOW Design Live week, along with InHOWse Managers Conference, Creative Freelance Conference and The Dieline). Over the next few blog posts, I’ll be recapping what I was able to take away from the sessions I attended, along with my own thoughts on their presentations and how I can apply their thinking to my business.

Sounds kinda nerdy, huh? It is a bit. We kept saying it was amazing how one set of revolving doors and a lanyard could determine your cool status in a matter of seconds. Inside the doors, a lanyard with your HOW Design Live badge made you out to be pretty effing cool- you were an attendee at one of the top design conferences… and then the minute you went thru that revolving door and out into the world, you were just a loser wearing a lanyard. I have to admit I was a loser in a lanyard more times than I preferred.

After all the sessions were said and done, I found 3 main messages that seemed to be a constant amongst the speakers, whether spoken or implied.

1.  Keep conversations going. Design is an extension of a conversation that then leads to more conversations. Find a trusted circle of creative minds that can keep the conversation going and add new information to the mix.

2. In the words of Mig Reyes, “Make shit.” Spend 15 minutes a day just making something- anything. In letting our minds think creatively in whatever way we choose, we find solutions to past, present and future design problems. Passion projects are a chance for us to create something we WANT to create and we tend to show our true colors (and often our best work) in these projects.

3. Keep trying and when you finally think you have it, try one more thing. Push your mind to think past what you feel is the “right” solution to a design problem. Ask one more question when talking with a client- a question that reveals more about who the client is and not what the project is about.

So hopefully over the next handful of blog posts, not only will you have an idea why this conference was so important for me to attend, but I hope that you’ll learn something as well. The best way I can describe what I felt leaving Chicago this morning is that… I don’t feel like I’ve come back to take over the world, but instead I’ve come back equipped with the right information, the right resources and a plan being thoughtfully put in place to take over the world.

Next up… Email Marketing + Design

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An excellent wife who can find?
 She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
 and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good, and not harm,
 all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
 and works with willing hands.

She is like the ships of the merchant;
 she brings her food from afar.
She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it;
 with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
 Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
 and her hands hold the spindle.

She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
 for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

She makes bed coverings for herself;
 her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them;
 she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
 and she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, 
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; 
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently, 
but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, 
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, 
and let her works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31

Today you rest, Aunt Judy, and join those that were laid to rest before you.

I’m a number 5 girl, if you couldn’t guess. But the way things fell this year, good things are coming by way of the number 3.  The more I start planning the year out in my head, it’s hard for me to fully accept the concept of this number 3… but I’m beginning to warm up to it. It’s playing very nicely with my bestie, the number 5, so as long as it continues it’s rule (remember the rule of 3?) for good and not evil, I’ll embrace the number 3 as a new friend of mine.

This year is a milestone year for us in a few different ways. You see, my little one turns 3 this year. And I turn 30. And T turns 35. Two out of three are divisible by 5. We appear as a family of 3, but throw in 2 dogs and we’re a family of 5. See where I’m going? These two numbers are playing nicely this year. It’s also our 5 year anniversary this year, which will fall on 11.11.11 and if you REALLY start to break it down, all those 1′s add up to 6- divide that by the 2 of us and you get 3. How’s that for a little mind twister?

Aaaaand, you’re welcome for a mere glimpse into my thought process of gestating numbers just so I can make sense of it all.

I’m sure I’ve lost some of you to either confusion or boredom, but I’m done trying to explain my numbers obsession- anything from here on out is pure coincidence. When I think of where I want to be in the new year, I can’t help but focus on the 4 main events that will be happening in my little world (no pun intended) and get wrapped up in the excitement of them all.

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Last year I began setting goals for myself (3 focuses with 3 strategies and 3 methods of execution)- both personally and professionally. Last year I wanted to focus on building a bridal collection, collaborating with other designers/photographers/artists and I wanted to dabble in alternative materials for my work. I’m pretty excited to say I was able to fulfill all of those goals for myself (2 of those goals came as a package deal) and I plan to showcase those accomplishments in 2011. (I also created personal goals for myself and I’m happy to say that, though vague, we kept right on track.)

I revisted that same method of goal-setting at the beginning of the month, but my head just wasn’t in the game yet. I had not fully digested 2010 and I had a lot of questions lurking as to what I wanted to do and what I needed to do to make sure all of these grand personal milestones ahead of us weren’t subdued with sub-par events throughout the rest of the year.

Goals have always been a funny thing to me. I’ve always felt like the responsibility of a goal’s completion should weigh heavier on the one setting the goal and less on outside participation. Sure, we’re all going to need help along the way, but it’s ultimately our responsibility to seek out the appropriate help, explain what we want to accomplish and get our outsiders excited to see us thru to the end, even if the end goal has little to no impact on that outsider’s life.

The best and most obtainable goals come when you only have a split second think about them. Like with most things, if you sit, think and question too long, it just means you’re trying to analyze everything in the very beginning, thus defeating the purpose of goal setting. If you know how to get where you want to go before you even start the journey, that’s merely a destination. Goals take time. Goals take trial and error.

This is also where I remove all traces of numbers. Marketing gurus will tell you to make sales goals, and monetary goals and client number goals. But when it really comes down to it, if you do all the work behind the numbers, the numbers even out in the end. Sure, those numerical goals are good to have, but it’s also important to have a solid base to support the numbers you want to put up on the board. Too many numbers, you’ll implode on yourself. Not enough numbers, you’re simply a stepping stone.

[Focus]
- collaborations
- materials
- details

[Strategy]
- expand
- delegate
- educate

[Method]
- communicate
- participate
- visualize

So, all in all, let the numbers motivate you- not make or break you. If the numbers are working out in your favor like they’re working out for me this year, use that to fuel your fire. If the numbers just aren’t adding up, regroup and try something new- a roadblock doesn’t mean the road ends, it just means you need to find a new path- a path with new sights, new opportunities- new scenery. You’ll find what works for you as long as you commit to it.

(and since when have I started writing like a self-help book. geeeeez.)

This is the post that I usually write 2, 3, 4  times and then on the 5th time, I sit down kind of late at nite and write the whole thing start to finish in one setting. Excessive and a bit weird? You bet. Necessary to write? Absolutely. (A little mushy, too, so don’t say you weren’t warned.)

Though I can’t speak directly from experience, the only way I can think to describe this past year is swimming with dolphins. You see these people hanging on really tight to the dorsal fin, pulling themselves up with all their strength so they don’t get pulled under water, all while it’s splashing in their face, blinding them from what’s ahead. They end up watching with one eye shut, spitting water out every few seconds because they can’t help but smile thru the whole ride. They finally let go, tired and winded, and yell “Let’s do it again!”

Yeah, that’s how I describe 2010.

O.M.G

Everyone says it and everyone means it, but it’s definitely something that can’t be said enough…
My. Clients. Are. Amazing.
Seriously. If any of you girls are reading this, I can’t thank you enough for your willingness to do things a little differently and to think outside of the box. All of you allowed my creative mind to wander while creating something for which both of us could be proud and really, that’s all I ever really want at the end of the day.

I did a lot of talking, a lot of listening and a lot of observing this year… which lead to a lot of learning. Business is definitely not something you can and should do alone. Outside perspective, no matter who is giving it and what profession they are in, is valuable information. With that, however, my belief in standing on your own two feet, having your own identity, thinking for yourself and relying on your own hard work was reaffirmed to a whole new level. I truly believe by owning that notion to the fullest extent, I made my business and myself much stronger. Walking into a new arena is tough. It’s intimidating and it’s scary. But once you get in the ring and you start talking, you confirm what you already knew- that everyone in the ring had been in your shoes once before.

Whenever you enter a new circle, such as this, you expect to make friends, but you never really expect to come across people that are rooting for you and honestly and truly want to see you succeed in your business- especially for not being in the game very long. Many have sat and talked with me, be it over drinks or until 2am on the phone, answering my questions honestly, offering ideas and suggestions on ways to better myself and my business and helping me to work thru roadblocks and frustrations. Most of the time, all it has taken is someone listening to me talk out loud to find the solution on my own, but being there to validate and support the solution that came to the surface. You are invaluable to me and in sharing what you’ve learned and experienced, it’s a gesture I truly appreciate.

Every day is like shaking the 8 Ball, anxiously waiting which prediction comes to the surface. Some days it’s in your favor, some days it’s not, but my support system stays strong no matter what hand I’m dealt. I’ve made sacrifices that I know will ultimately pay off in the end and my family and friends remind me to stay focused and driven- they’ll be there when I finally reach my goals and that’s what keeps me moving forward. You’re always going to have people pop up and situations arise that make the road a little rougher, but I’ve found that by staying focused and following my instincts, the road eventually smooths out. As I gear up for my next trip around, I feel much more prepared, much more calm and overall ready to learn even more about the wedding industry, my business and more importantly, myself.

P.S. A huge thank you to the talents that allow me to post their images which showcase my work. Without you, I would rarely get a chance to sneak a peek at the end result in a day-of setting or just have photos that make me proud of what both you and I are capable of creating for our clients. Another huge thank you for those that helped me pull my table together for my first bridal show this year- I hope to be able to repay the favor sometime. And lastly, thank you to my vendor-friends that have hired me for my talents. It’s always an honor to do work for someone in the wedding circle, so I hope to have the opportunity to repay your kindness… and to work with you again!

For our birthdays, my brother and sister-in-law bought T$ and I tickets to the Notre Dame/Purdue game. This was my first time on campus and the best description I can give is that it’s very humble. I didn’t see much of campus, but what I did see was beautiful and consistent architecture that was not only true to the history of the campus, but very non-intrusive (can you tell I’m married to an architect?). You could walk campus and not feel overwhelmed by brick and mortar or be distracted by different styles of buildings- instead you felt the history and the tradition around you.

On August 26th we welcomed a new addition into T$’s side of the family. The entire day was filled with mixed emotions, seeing as how the last time we were all in this same hospital, we were mourning the loss of the girls’ brother. My sister in law asked me to take some photos of her two girls meeting for the first time, so of course I couldn’t say no.

For me, it was nice to observe not only Little Miss and her response to the newest little addition (Mommy, she’s so coot!)– and then her immediate disinterest for all things baby and complete focus on the toys MiMi brought for her and the balloon she bought herself in the gift shop– but to breathe a sigh of relief that this little girl came out healthy, plump and according to the doctor, given “two thumbs up.” The notion that one sibling was physically missing wasn’t lost on anyone, but we’ve always taken comfort in knowing that the girls’ brother will watch over them from above.

So… welcome to the family, little girl… we’re so happy you’re finally here.