NEW! WHAT'S NEW FOR 2010?
InSource President,
Andre Paquin
2010 is an important year for all of us but especially so
for InSource. Why? In 2010, we're making a promise to our members to get back
to basics and that means a return to the very things our members told us they
liked most about InSource. Glenn Arnowitz and Andy Epstein began with a vision
years ago to bring inhouse creative leaders together around a table to discuss
issues close to the heart of everyone. The funny thing we discovered by doing
this: the issues were common across the board. These roundtable discussions
yielded some great "best practices" that were found to be the real value of
InSource. InSource was born out of this idea of sharing.
Over the past few years, this entirely volunteer
organization has experimented with different ways to bring together creative
leaders to continue this heritage. Some experiments have been more successful
than others. In October of last year, the InSource board of directors gathered
to revisit our mission and brand. What we did leave with was a renewed passion
for a return to our roots.
With this renewed sense of purpose, we've
created a new strategic plan for 2010.
Learn More
Only those of us in the business will appreciate this Holiday proofing guide
Go ahead,
laugh, but you know how true these “client” comments are to this rather simple
design. Larry Legal, Art D. Rector and Dr. Downer all “chime” in on this holiday creative
layout.
Learn More
LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD
A letter from InSource President Andre Paquin speaks
candidly about the challenges that InSource members face these days and
the
real value in InSource as “the resource for sharing experience,
information and tools that empower in-house creative decision-makers to
run
their business.
In addition to reporting on the annual meeting of
the leadership board for Insource, he identifies the major accomplishments of
InSource in 2009 and previews a solid plan for 2010 that will enrich the
professional lives of InSource members. To find out what InSource members can
look forward to in the new year,
click here to read more...
WHAT'S OUR PERSONAL BRAND'S 3-30-3-30??
By Becky Livingston
Developing a personal brand
helps you differentiate yourself from your peers and, in some cases, your
competition to “claim” your job.
Personal brands should not be thought of only when begin
looking for a job or something you develop at 2:00 a.m. when you’re scared
you’re going to lose your job. It takes some serious thought and brainstorming
to come up with your unique value proposition and differentiator.
Click here to read the entire article
Highlights from the 9/15/09 InSource Board Meeting
The InSource Board of Directors meeting held on September 15, 2009,
focused on making preparations to convene a full-day Board of Directors
Meeting in Madison, New Jersey on October 16, 2009. Mapping out the
work of InSource for 2010 will be the focus, including logistics,
timeframes and next steps.
Content relating to professional
development has been prepared to position InSource as a career resource
for people in the in-house corporate creative world. This content will
be posted at the InSource Web site in the near future.
Learn More
WHAT SHOULD I BE WITH MY CREATIVE DEGREE?
by Becky Livingston
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, there will
be times in your professional life you’ll ask yourself if you should
work in an agency, as part of an in-house creative team, or as a
freelancer.
Read this article by Becky Livingston discussing
some pros and cons about each that might help you make that decision,
no matter what stage of your career you might be at.
Click here to read the entire article
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 8/11/09 INSOURCE BOARD MEETING
A
meeting of the InSource Board of Directors was held on August 11, 2009. Discussion items included welcoming the Creative Group (
www.creativegroup.com)
as a Presenting Sponsor, a proposed plan of programs for InSource,
Inside Track – the InSource newsletter and appreciation of support from
GDUSA
(www.gdusa.com).
Learn More
INFLUENCING UP – WORKING WITH
NON-CREATIVE DECISION-MAKERS
by Becky Livingston
There are times when work is just a four letter word. I'm sure you'll
agree, there are those moments when being effective and productive is
more painful than stubbing your toe on the bed post.
However,
what's really challenging is being a creative professional working in a
non-creative industry for non-creative decision-makers. How do you do
it? Well, that's part of the charm of being a creative person. You have
the skill set to adapt to any situation. You are a knowledge worker –
aka super hero.
This month's article focuses on how you can help
those who don't do your day-to-day work to understand what you do and
how you can positively impact the bottom line through decisions made by
others.
Click here to read the entire article
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 7/9/09 INSOURCE BOARD MEETING
This meeting of the InSource Board of Directors held on July 9, 2009, reflects increased activity going on at the board level.
Findings
from the InSource Member Survey conducted in June 2009 (with a 46%
response rate) were carefully considered and discussed. Guided by the
responses of current InSource members to this member survey, decisions
were made to revamp the approach to organizing programs that best serve
the needs and interests of InSource members.
Learn More
LEADING CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS
by Becky Livingston
As creative professionals, we are somewhat like felines in that we
tolerate and share our existence with those less glamorous than
ourselves. I’m kidding of course.
However, I am very serious
about how we are led by others, particularly when it comes to working
for non-creative professionals. Below are some guidelines I’ve dug up
about managing and leading creative professionals.
Click here to read the entire article
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 6/4/09 INSOURCE BOARD MEETING
Board members are now working out the logistics for transforming the
“Practice Makes Perfect: Effectively Managing Creative Services in
Today’s Corporate Culture” InSource event (with featured speakers Shel
Perkins and Steve Benfield) into a Webinar with each featured speaker.
Members will be informed as soon as details are confirmed.
New options for levels of membership are now posted when visitors to the InSource Web site click on the “Join” button, making it
possible for individuals to overcome any personal financial barriers to
membership due to these challenging economic times. Members are
encouraged to spread the word to others who may have an interest in
becoming part of InSource.
Learn More
Resume Tips for Creative Professionals
by Becky Livingston
When it comes to resumes for creative professionals, presentation is
paramount. But what do you do to fit your brilliantly-designed resume
into an online job board format? What keywords should you include in
your resume to make sure it gets into the hands of those you need to
impress?
According to Adrienne Burke, General Manager at
Artisan, who has placed creative talent for the past five years, "A
beautiful, well-written resume is a must if you want to stand out as a
creative professional. Cutesy graphics, unclear illustrations,
cartoonish fonts, lots of colors, and slanted type are all signs of an
overdesigned resume—definite resume don'ts.”
Click here to read the entire article
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 5/7/09 INSOURCE BOARD MEETING
The decision was made to transform the
“Practice Makes Perfect: Effectively Managing Creative Services in Today’s Corporate Culture”
May InSource event (with featured speakers Shel Perkins and Steve
Benfield) into a Webinar with each featured speaker. Due to the current
economic environment, advance registrations were lower than expected.
Making this change will allow greater participation for shared learning
about this relevant topic.
Learn More
INSIDE INSIGHTS
This month's interview features a
conversation with Shel Perkins, exploring some of the challenges that face in-house teams
today.
Learn More
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE APRIL 2, 2009
INSOURCE BOARD MEETING
A meeting of the InSource Board of Directors on April 2, 2009,
discussed final planning details for the upcoming “Practice Makes
Perfect: Effectively Managing Creative Services in Today’s Corporate
Culture” event with featured speakers Shel Perkins and Steve Benfield.
This full-day event will be held on Friday, May 15, 2009, from 9:00 AM
to 3:00 PM at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey.
Cost: $100 for InSource members and $150 for nonmembers (includes
lunch). Please register today at www.in-source.org.
Learn More
SELLING YOUR SERVICES
The legend goes that blues master Robert Johnson sold
his soul to the devil at the crossroads in exchange for prowess in
playing the guitar. Relax, you won’t have to sell your soul. But if you
want to manage a successful in-house creative team, you’ll have to
learn how to sell your services to stay competitive and let people know
you’re there. Read the article, “Selling Your Services” in the June
2009 issue of HOW magazine written by Glenn Arnowitz.
Click here to read the article
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MARCH 12, 2009
INSOURCE BOARD MEETING
A meeting of the InSource Board of Directors on March 12, 2009,
discussed the revised organization and focus of InSource, a proposed
“Membership Stimulus Package” consisting of membership tiers and fees
to encourage InSource membership growth (including reaching out to
in-house creatives who are facing job loss), and InSource
administration issues. A warm welcome was extended to two new Board
members: Laurie Brammer (Vice President, Marketing Communications at
the Marshall and Ilsley Corporation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and
Marty Lenger (Creative Services Manager at Gordon Food Service based in
Grand Rapids, Michigan).
Learn More
April 3 – 4, 2009, in New Jersey The sixth annual "Thinking Creatively” Design Conference, a two-day conference for creative professionals and students of design, will be held on Friday, April 3rd (10:00 AM – 6:30 PM) and Saturday, April 4th (9:00 AM – 3:30 PM) at Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. Organized by the Art Directors Club of New Jersey and The Design Center at Kean University of New Jersey, this conference features dozens of presentations that promote and celebrate the value of creative thinking in the workplace and beyond. Cost: $225 per person for two-day conference. For more details and to register, visit
www.thinkingcreatively.org or
www.adcnj.org or call 201-997-1212.
INSIDE INSIGHTS
InSource periodically conducts conversational
interviews with individuals who have insights to share, speaking
directly to the needs and interests of in-house creative teams. The
first interview of this series with InSource President Andre Paquin
explores the transformation of corporate creative teams into thought leaders.
Learn More
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FEBRUARY 5, 2009
INSOURCE BOARD MEETING
A meeting of the InSource Board of Directors on February 5, 2009,
focused on a wide range of ideas regarding current expectations and the
future direction of InSource. A reorganized approach – according to
functional areas – for the work of the InSource Board was discussed.
Increased involvement/ participation of InSource members is critical to
the ongoing success of InSource as a resource for in-house creative
teams.
Four priorities for 2009 were discussed:> to create a member-centered organization
> to build the infrastructure with members
> to facilitate exchange between members and
> to build community.
Learn More
RUNNING ON EMPTY
In the February/March 2009 issue of Dynamic Graphics+Create
magazine, Glenn John Arnowitz's "In-house Diaries" column,
"Running on Empty," offers practical advice on how creatives
can stay connected, energized and jazzed about design.
On behalf of the InSource Board of
Directors and InSource President, Marty Shova, thank you for your
support of our creative community in 2008. We wish you all a happy
holiday season and a creative and prosperous new year!
Learn More
IN-HOUSE INTERSECTIONS
Creative thinkers aren't limited to the design department of your company. Glenn John Arnowitz's article in the February 2009 issue of
HOWMagazine reveals how reaching out to co-workers across departments can lead to unexpected collaborations.
INSIDE JOB
Check out
Glenn John Arnowitz's feature article, "Inside Job" in the December/January 2009 issue of Dynamic Graphics & Create Magazine. The article features a variety of case studies that show how a group of innovative in-house creatives were able to leverage the talents of their teams, overcome challenges and develop compelling design work.
Click here for a link to the articleAlso featured is the first installment of Glenn's new bi-monthly column, "In-House Diaries", that will appear in the publication throughout 2009.
Highlights from MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
FOR IN-HOUSE CREATIVE MANAGERS
Glenn Arnowitz, Vice President, In-Source with
Emily Cohen and Moira Cullen More than 70 creative
professionals came together on November 12, 2008, to focus on some of
the challenges and opportunities that in-house creative teams face
these days. This InSource event was held at The Mansion on the campus
of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. With featured
speakers
Emily Cohen (a
consultant to creative professionals who provides guidance on effective
staff, client and process management strategies, work segmentation
improvements, metrics development and customized teamwork training) and
Moira Cullen (a design
strategist, writer and educator with extensive experience in the
corporate world who is now working with The Hershey Company), this
full-day event provided practical insights on effective management
strategies.
Click here for a summary of this event and a copy of Emily Cohen's HandoutThanks to
Xerox,
The Boss Group,
ColorEdge,
Mohawk Paper and the Rothman Institute of Entrepeneurial Studies at
Fairleigh Dickinson University for their support of this relevant and successful event!
INNOVATION BY DESIGN
"Irish companies that use design are
more successful than those that do not. This fact was borne out of
research published by the Centre for Design Innovation in the beginning
of 2007. The challenge was to create a practical approach and tools
that organisations could use to innovate and grow. The result was
Innovation by Design, an 18-month programme of workshops, research and
mentoring for six Northwest organisations that began in June 2007."
Read
more from this booklet published in September 2008 by the Centre for
Design Innovation in Sligo, Ireland, thanks to Justin Knecht, Programme
Manager working with the Centre who serves on the InSource Advisory
Board.
Learn More
You Want What???
What's the most unusual request you've received from your in-house client?InSource
member, Glenn Arnowitz is gathering material for an article he’s
writing for Dynamic Graphics that will be published sometime next year,
revealing some of the strangest requests in-house designers have gotten…
JOIN THE FORUM NOW!
A New Dimension to Performance Management – Part 2
Although performance management and assessment systems can be useful
(see Part 1), managers of creative teams need to determine which
approach to managing performance works best in their own particular
setting. The application of rules and measures are merely tools to
facilitate a conversation between the employee and the manager so that
performance can be communicated with gratitude and encouragement, along
with coaching for career growth and performance improvement when
necessary. Conversation is key...
Read Part 2 of this article
by Steve Benfield, Senior Director, Corporate Communications and
Creative Director, SAS Institute Inc. and Insource Board Member, and
learn Steve's unique approach to measuring performance.
Read More
2008 In-HOWse Designer Conference
Feel like you're working in a 3-ring circus?
Sometimes being an in-house design manager can be overwhelming. You constantly juggle people, processes, budgets, brands, resources, clients, production and everything in between. The In-HOWse Designer Conference is THE business event for in-house design managers. Through a combo of dynamic sessions, expert speakers and roundtable discussions, managers like you are given a unique opportunity to network, share best practices (and worst mistakes) and leave inspired.
Get to this year’s Conference, and learn how to balance your act. Just visit
The In-HOWse Conference to learn more and to register on line.
In-House Design In Practice
Whether you are an in-house graphic designer or
another member of your project's creative team, this inspiring yet
practical book written by
Cathy Fishel with a forward by
Glenn John Arnowitz,
offers effective ways to face day-to-day challenges and practice new
techniques for staying current on emerging trends within the wider
design community. Contains information relevant for every type of
company and organization. Very helpful for marketing, human resource,
and public relations professionals who may not have advanced design
qualifications but who are involved in the design projects they present
to new, existing, and future clients.
http://www.fwbookstore.com/product/1954/graphic-design
InSource Graphic Design Industry Survey
Help InSource learn more about you and your interests so we
can better serve you! Click
here to take a 5-minute survey.
Survey results will be compiled and a report will be posted at www.in-source.org in the near future.
Case Study: WinWynn Producer Contest
Read this case study from Gail Gonzales, Manager
of Creative Services for Asset Marketing Systems (AMS) that documents
how the Creative Services team developed a theme, name, strategy and
more for a Sales Contest to drive attendance at the 2007 Sales
Symposium. Click "Learn More" to download the case study and view
samples of the WinWynn Campaign.
Learn More
InSource Web Site Wins Award
Congratulations to InSource and Morris! Communications for winning the
IMA Best in Class Award in the ‘Nonprofit’ category for 2007.
The Best in Class award is the highest honor bestowed by the
Interactive Media Awards.
It represents the very best in planning, execution and overall
professionalism. In order to win this award level, the InSource site
successfully passed through IMA’s comprehensive judging process,
achieving very high marks in each of its judging criteria - an
achievement only a fraction of sites in the IMA competition earn each
year.
Newsflash from GDUSA...
GDUSA magazine recently named three active InSource
members – who volunteer their time and talents
serving on the InSource Board of Directors – as
"
People To Watch in 2008." They are recognized
by GDUSA as "creative, talented, successful,
newsworthy, and influential" individuals "who embody
the spirit of the creative community."
Learn More
INSIGHTS INTO DESIGN MANAGEMENT
Read this article by
Meredith McCain who provides helpful tips and insights to keep your life sane and make your job easier.
Meredith McCain has over five years experience in working for Fortune
50 Companies such as Procter & Gamble and the Coca-Cola Company as
a Global Design Manager.
Learn More
A New Dimension to Performance Management – Part 1
Most performance management systems
focus on tasks and outcomes, clarifying what each individual needs to
do or deliver, and what is the result. This is important. After all,
that’s why we are employed. There is work to be done, and results are
required.
However, for a creative team—and arguably for every employee— there is
a critical dimension missing from the above simplistic approach to
performance management. It’s the measure of behavior. You’re probably
thinking, behavior…we’re not in grade school anymore!
Read this article by
Steve Benfield, Senior Director, Corporate Communications and Creative Director, SAS Institute Inc. and
Insource Board Member, and learn Steve's unique approach to measuring performance.
Learn More
OCTOBER EVENT - WHITE NOISE
Click "Learn More" to read about the InSource October Event,
“White Noise – How A Predominantly White Label Created So Much Noise For Publix And Its In-House Team” and learn firsthand how this work has generated success for Publix.
Tim Cox, Creative Services Director for Publix presented an in-depth case study of the Publix private label redesign.
Learn More
Tip from InSource Board Member, Ivan Boden
A THESAURUS IS NOT A DINOSAUR
Digging around for creative inspiration can be time consuming, and all too often designers hit rock bottom. The hidden idea or meaning that connects is just not there.
No doubt we use eons of methods to inspire creativity, however there’s one tool that should not be forgotten. The thesaurus.
Design begins with meaningful words. Unfortunately we’re not always provided good ones to work with.
The thesaurus can help!
Read more about this helpful tip from Ivan Boden.
Learn More
JUNE EVENT GENERATING IDEAS THAT STICK
Creative professionals are acutely aware of the ongoing need to develop good ideas and communicate these ideas in compelling ways. However, it takes more than good ideas to achieve maximum business success. Creative teams must do their best to generate “ideas that stick,” which means ideas that “are understood and remembered, and have a lasting impact” to change the thoughts and behavior of the people who are the focus of one’s attention.
Dan Heath was the featured speaker for a half-day InSource event held on Thursday, June 21, 2007, at SAS Worldwide Corporate Headquarters in Cary, North Carolina. His lively presentation explored some of the reasons (including fear, greed and lack of empathy) why people have good ideas that don’t stick, described the 6 principles of “sticky ideas” (namely, “simple unexpected concrete credible emotional stories”) and offered practical insights that in-house creative managers and their teams can use to generate and champion well-constructed ideas in the corporate environment.
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Learn More
In-House & Online
To further the mission of InSource to enhance the understanding, impact and value of in-house design by sharing expertise, ideas and support, the InSource website recently underwent a redesign. The new InSource website offers a central gathering place for far-flung, often-isolated in-house designers to share ideas, information, concerns, questions and advice. Read this article by Laurel Saville that is featured in the June/July issue of
Dynamic Graphics about how the InSource website went from a site with limited functionality and interactivity to a new site designed by Morris Communications that reflects InSource values by being businesslike, friendly and inviting.
Learn More
Promoting Your Department
Just sit back and wait for the work to come to you? It’s easy to feel that just because your group is part of the company, all creative work will stay in-house. And even if that’s the case, does that bring inspiration and motivation to you and your staff? I say no. Read this article by InSource Board Member, John Baker, about how to promote your department.
Learn More
Driving Innovation through Design
Innovation was the focus of an in-depth discussion
for the InSource community by panelists James Barrood,
Gordon Kaye, and Bob Wagner...
Learn more
Processing the Process Process
In the midst of tight deadlines, client revisions and staff meltdowns its difficult to find the time to create and document processes and procedures for the execution of your projects. But process is important. It protects your group from performance and financial risk and may even afford you and your team more time to do what you enjoy most - design. Read this article by Andy Epstein, Director of Graphic Design and Print Production at Bristol-Myers Squibb, and find out how to make nice with workflows and work instructions.
Learn More
Talking the Talk
How to Communicate up the Food Chain
Every year a number of great ideas meet untimely deaths. The
culprit? Communication breakdowns - those frustrating occasions when
you just can't seem to connect with your clients or convince them of
the merits of your concepts. Few situations are more aggravating than
going back to the drawing board when you've just come up with the Pablo
Picasso of ideas or, worse, watering down your Picasso so thoroughly
that it begins to resemble a toddler's art project. InSource co-founder
Glenn John Arnowitz contributed to this article that appears in the
current issue of HOW magazine.
Learn More
Business Etiquette Survival Guide
Navigating Sticky Situations at Work
Workplace dilemmas crop up in every professional's career, whether you
have two or 20 years of experience on the job. But most people don't
think about these situations until they arise, resulting in hasty
decisions they sometimes regret. While there's no sense adopting a
worrywart's mentality, familiarizing yourself with common career
predicaments can help you handle them diplomatically if - and when -
they occur. To help you prepare for these sticky situations, we tapped
four industry experts, including InSource co-founder, Glenn John
Arnowitz, for their recommended strategies. Click on this link to read
the article:
TCGeZine2.pdf
(PDF, 100KB)
Creativity Rx
Coming up with clever concepts is a common challenge faced by all
creative professionals. But for in-house designers who work on the same
brand day in and day out, keeping fresh can be even more of an uphill
battle. Yet experienced in-house professionals will tell you there's
plenty of room for innovation in a corporate environment. Take it from
Glenn John Arnowitz who helped build - and now manages - an
award-winning team of six designers in the creative services department
at Wyeth, a research-based, global pharmaceutical company. He and his
team have learned valuable tactics for sustaining a strong creative
spirit no matter what hurdles they must cross. Arnowitz shared some
common inspiration obstacles and real-world cures for overcoming them
and motivating team members. Click on this link to read the article:
TCGeZine-Interview.pdf
(PDF, 156KB)
Business of In-House Design
Jeni Herberger provides valuable insight into the "Business of In-House Design" at the InSource November event...
Learn more
Top Download
InSource top download: "80 for 50"...
Learn More
InHOWse Designer Conference
The 2006 In-HOWse Designer Conference agenda was jam-packed with
informative and inspirational sessions that offered solutions to the
many challenges faced by in-house creative managers. Topics ranged from
expert ideas on how to manage and motivate your staff, to in-depth
details on how to convince upper management that cutting-edge equipment
actually HELPS the bottom line. Attendees walked away with invaluable
information on how to grow both their brand and their business - along
with their in-house group. Now that's the way to make your in-house
creative team downright indispensable to your company! Andy Epstein and
Glenn John Arnowitz presented "The Scary Side of In-House" and
discussed strategies to overcome the sometimes stifling and uninspired
corporate culture, which often includes limited access to key decision
makers, minimal advancement opportunities, and lack of respect within
the design community.
http://www.inhowseconference.com/
MAY 2006 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ROUNDTABLE : EXPOSED
On May 16, InSource hosted, EXPOSED, their first open forum event
moderated by design management expert, Peter Phillips. InSource opened
its doors to the creative community and addressed some of the
industry's hottest topics: communicating the value of design,
department structure, chargebacks, asset management and workflow. The
event was held at Wyeth in Madison, New Jersey and was attended by 50
design professionals as well as a select group of call-ins from around
the country.
IN OTHER NEWS
"Today, many of these issues are becoming more and more critical.
Corporate creative teams are under tremendous pressure to do more with
less. They are working with less time, fewer marketing dollars and
increased expectations driven by businesses with lofty goals delivering
increasingly standardized products. Many companies have recognized the
importance of maintaining the personality and culture of a brand, and
proper design management is the cornerstone to insure brand equities
are maintained. That is why groups like ours remain dedicated to help
these creative teams by providing the tools and real-world solutions
that help showcase in-house design as a strategic marketing function."
Read more of Marty Shova's comments on the state of in-house design in
the July issue of GD:USA.
GDUSA InSource Feature.pdf
(PDF, 150KB)
