Articles from FORGE in Dayton, Ohio

heyforgepleasehireme.com by Rob Tarr

About four years ago I decided to make a career change, turning a web development hobby into a career, with dreams of working in a sweet office where creativity flowed like sweet honey and we produced amazing sites for amazing clients.

After an internship and a couple of contract and full-time corporate positions, my hopes of working my dream job seemed to be slipping away. I found myself victim to yet another corporate layoff and working a contract job. I was with a great team of people, but the work just wasn’t very exciting. I was bored.
Read More

Rework by Jän Ostendorf

I read the book Rework, by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson, recently and wanted to get a few subjects that stood out to me in a blog post before I forgot. Repetition helps you remember, so maybe I am doing this more for me than I am doing it for anyone else. But if you’re reading this, enjoy, and then go buy and read the book. It’s well worth the read and allows your mind to marvel at the freedom the digital economy has brought.

So Long, Farewell by Liz Dwenger

I sat down to write this post as a farewell to a company that I have grown very fond of during my time here. Clients, friends, and colleagues reading this may or may not know that this crazy ride we call life is taking me down a new path, and I will be leaving FORGE at the end of this year. I’d be happy to share details with you over an email or a good cup of coffee.

The story of how I came to be the Office Manager at FORGE is nothing short of amazing. And while this post is likely not the venue to expound upon that story, suffice it to say there is no other company at which I could have been happier working than FORGE. Such a paradigm makes my departure from FORGE bittersweet and emotionally jarring to a degree that I did not anticipate. In the handful of employers for whom I have worked in my life, never once have I felt that I was unable to just detach myself, at any time, and walk away unscathed. But FORGE has been an altogether different experience. So forgive my seemingly personal and cathartic post, but I wanted to briefly explore three attributes which make FORGE such a phenomenal workplace, and thus a difficult one to leave behind:

The Wheels on the Bus

When I interviewed with FORGE’s partners in the spring of 2009, I distinctively remember Jän telling me that FORGE’s goal was to “get the right people on the bus and then figure out where we want to go.” I was admittedly shocked to hear such a rash mantra from such a newly-founded company. I asked myself, “Shouldn’t they figure out where they’re going first, and then ask people to climb aboard if they’re interested in the destination?” But despite any uncertainty, and the fact that no one could put into words exactly what my duties would be, we all acknowledged that I was a good fit for this company. What I didn’t realize then, was that by allowing me to just “get on the bus” they were empowering me to define where it was that I wanted to go. I was able to get my hands dirty, find out what needs weren’t being met, and determine what route I wanted to take to meet them. In turn, my job developed into something that I truly enjoyed and was proud of.

So what does that mean for the other passengers on the bus? It means every individual is here because they have amazing potential, and I am consistently humbled by the talent that is present in this company. FORGE recognizes that talent, brings it on board, and then lets its employees grow and develop in a career path that is satisfying and exciting to them. We are given the opportunity to positively affect and shape this organization. FORGE isn’t just drawing a blueprint for its success and finding people on which to build the foundation; they are finding people who will make the most solid foundation and then laying out those blueprints together. Risky as that may sound, it has given me a sense of pride and ownership in a company that I imagine is seldom found elsewhere.

Kumbaya

I think what is most striking about working for this company is the fact that we all genuinely like each other. We, the FORGE team, are not just co-workers, but a family. We cook lunch together; we laugh and joke with each other; we lend a hand when there’s a need; we show concern when there is hurt; some go to yoga or the movies together; others attend the same church and have play dates with their kids. And that’s just scratching the surface! I’m not saying we all sit around a campfire and hold hands, but we care about each other, and that makes the workplace a whole lot more enjoyable.

Given the collaborative nature of our industry, this camaraderie is crucial to the overall health and morale of our work environment. When projects pile up and deadlines are looming, we aren’t stuck with our nose to the grindstone next to someone we distrust or don’t get along with. We get to work alongside people we like and respect. And in the end, when we look back at our accomplishments, we can celebrate those victories with people we care about.

This Little Light of Mine

When the metaphoric lightbulb flips on at the FORGE office, one can hear the sounding of trumpets and the singing of angels . . . okay not quite, but it is a pretty cool phenomena. This is the kind of work environment where ideas are not only heard, but where they are encouraged, and take shape. The common workplace complaint of “my boss won’t listen to me” or “I wish our office would do things differently” just doesn’t exist here. At FORGE there is always an open door and a listening ear. FORGE encourages its employees to speak up when we have ideas, concerns or suggestions.

This attribute is what helped A Modern Eden acquire its success. When Ryan said he wanted to design the AME animals for his son’s nursery, FORGE could have said, “That’s a great idea!” and sent him on his way with a pat on the back. But instead, they fully embraced the idea, supported it both with time and finances, and together created a brand that we can all be proud of. Now, maybe Ryan wishes he was on some tropical island, with a big cigar, raking in the earnings from his designs, without having to share them with FORGE, but my guess is that he gets more enjoyment from receiving the support he needed to make his idea come to fruition and sharing that success with his teammates.

So Long, Farewell

So, it is really difficult for me to leave behind a job that I love, with people I care about, at a place where employees feel like they are an important part of a whole. And even though I may be moving out of state and beginning new endeavors, in my heart I will be a FORGE-er for life.

I sat down to write this post as a farewell to a company that I have grown very fond of during my time here. Clients, friends, and colleagues reading this may or may not know that this crazy ride we call life is taking me down a new path, and I will be leaving FORGE at the end of this month. I’d be happy to share details with you over an email or a good cup of coffee.

Read More

Second Annual Very FORGE Thanksgiving by Rob Harr

Erma Bombeck once said, “What we’re really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?”

We agree. Which is why we decided, for the second year, to flout the tradition of basting and slow-cooking our turkey to deep-fry it––and everything else. The green beans were spared by the fryer, but were hugged by a bacon blanket, instead.

We FORGEify our other Friday meals (think: lots of bacon, potatoes, and the like) so why not FORGEify Thanksgiving?

Making Ideas Happen at MYOB 2010 by Jeremy Loyd

Recently my business partner and I, Chad Mullins, had the opportunity to attend the HOW Mind Your Own Business conference in New York. Around 125 small to medium design firm owners were gathered to learn more about effective ways to run their businesses. The sessions were incredible, each offering their own set of valuable information. One of the most interesting sessions in my opinion was the Opening Keynote by Scott Belsky, founder of the Behance network.

Scott’s session was titled “Making Ideas Happen: Insights for Creative Execution.” The session proved to be a welcome beginning to the conference for me, as one of the roles I play at FORGE (besides Partner) is Creative Director. Anything that helps me be more efficient on the creative side is welcome!
Read More

FORGE’s Workspace Featured by Rob Harr

Four creative businesses in Dayton have taken the first steps to start revitalizing Dayton, beginning from the ground up by adapting existing downtown spaces to fit their needs.

“We like the feel of the historic building,” Jeremy Loyd explained. “The old, raw material of the building fits with the concept of Forge.”

“It’s got a creative vibe and interesting architecture, with all these nooks and crannies,” Jeremy said.

These success stories can do nothing but encourage other businesses to move into Dayton’s core. With spaces abundant and affordable, a good central location in the southwestern Ohio region, and a chance to show a little personality, it’s not hard to see the appeal of downtown. And Dayton can only benefit from more creative minds in its midst.

A creative workspace can help produce creative work. FORGE’s space was featured in a Dayton Creative Syndicate article to express just that belief.

The author, Marisa Becker, wrote, “Four creative businesses in Dayton have taken the first steps to start revitalizing Dayton, beginning from the ground up by adapting existing downtown spaces to fit their needs.”

MYOB Conference 2010 by Chad Mullins

While it’s easy to dismiss conferences purely as fun, the 2010 MYOB conference was one of the most enlightening and challenging times of my career. The conference offered a unique opportunity to gather with professionals of a similar nature and discuss our relative businesses.

My partner, Jeremy Loyd, and I traveled to New York with the realization that the graphic design industry has been hit hard by the recession. While we are not alone in this reality, it is real nonetheless. However, since FORGE began in January of 2009 (not the best time to begin a business) we have experienced relative success and tremendous growth.

Our strategic goals as a company were probably shared by many other firms across the globe––namely, to create great work for great clients––with the hope that the rest would take care of itself. As it turns out, business doesn’t always “take care of itself.” While this may seem obvious, when you are in the day-to-day of running a company it’s easy to lose track of why companies would want to work with you. It’s easy to get caught up in the thought, “If we are great, then we will attract great clients.” While this is a true statement in its purest form, it doesn’t replace the need for a firm to clearly communicate who they are and why clients should pick them.

The MYOB conference presented an amazing collection of talent at our disposal. From David Baker of Recourses to fellow business owner David Smith at Envision Creative Group, there was always something to learn. HOW magazine created an unexpected environment of learning and sharing. In fact, I was astounded by the amount of sharing between companies. We were free to discuss the hardships of employee relationships, cash flow issues, and more––all in an non-competitive and open environment.

Three Things I Learned

It’s ok to make a profit. In fact, it’s recommended.

While this may seem like a given, we are constantly faced with issues that negate current profits in favor of a potential for profits later. I suspect that many businesses like ours share this problem. For example, is it better to allow a big, new client to introduce scope creep into a project in order to “prove to them that we’re a team player”? The idea here would be that if we make them happy now then we’ll have a great client and make profits in the future.

But is this really how things work? Honestly, I’ve seen shadows of this idea work, but in rare circumstances. Typically, early behavior in a client relationship does nothing but set precedent. It communicates that you are a company that is willing to do work for free. And giving your work away for free is no way to make a profit.

Both David Baker and Darryl Salerno offered insight into the profitability of creative firms that was incredible. David performed a “live agency review” of Skidmore Studio from Detroit, MI. While Skidmore Studio president Tim Smith squirmed in his seat (not that I blame him. . . what a trooper), David analyzed and shared details of his business that were incredibly valuable to the audience. Many of the things that I learned from this session will help FORGE for years. (Thanks, Tim!)

Ideas and Critique

The concept that ideas and progress are not synonymous hits particularly close to home, as a company whose tagline is “Where Ideas Take Shape.” Scott Belsky, founder and CEO of Behance discussed creative tendencies in the first session of the conference. He explained how ideas get in the way of execution by replacing the satisfaction that comes from the fulfillment of an idea with the high of coming up with new ideas. It’s much easier to just come up with another idea rather than to carry out the execution of a previous idea. Scott went on to explain how creating a culture of progress only leads to more progress.

Scott also discussed the concept of feedback. He reminded us of the importance of critique, yet suggested that the initial round of critique be only positive. This is a very powerful concept, as it is easy to fall into the idea of “getting rid of the negative” first. I hope FORGE is able to embrace this concept and integrate it into our culture quickly.

From the trenches

Tim McAlpine of Currency Marketing , Sarah Durham of Big Duck, and Mary-Lynn Bellamy-Williams of Suburbia, with Bryn Mooth of HOW presented an informative roundtable discussion on the habits of successful creative firms. Each person represented an incredible success story and were gracious enough to share their wisdom to help the audience.

All three guests discussed the concept of thought leadership in a general discussion expertly led by Bryn. Each guest offered insight into the correlation between specialization and thought leadership. Since all three companies are thought leaders in their areas of expertise, it was a valuable lesson for everyone.

My Head Hurts

The information presented at the 2010 MYOB Conference will take me years to digest. Ideas need to be implemented and concepts need to be integrated into our culture.

But I also learned that we are doing pretty good. FORGE has persevered through one of the most difficult economic times in the history of our country. Many companies were comparing the last couple of years with the good times, but as a company we only know bad times. We have not only survived, but we are looking at the future with high expectations and excitement.

So thanks to all the people who worked so hard to make the Mind Your Own Business Conference 2010 a great success. It was a blessing to me personally, and FORGE will be a better company because of it.

While it’s easy to dismiss conferences purely as fun, the 2010 MYOB conference was one of the most enlightening and challenging times of my career. The conference offered a unique opportunity to gather with professionals of a similar nature and discuss our relative businesses.

My partner, Jeremy Loyd, and I traveled to New York with the realization that the graphic design industry has been hit hard by the recession. While we are not alone in this reality, it is real nonetheless. However, since FORGE began in January of 2009 (not the best time to begin a business) we have experienced relative success and tremendous growth.

Welcome to the FORGE Team by Ryan Clark

A quick post to welcome the newest member of the FORGE Ideas team: Anvil the Letterpress. Anvil is a Craftsmen Platen Press, and hails from a machine shop in Boston, MA. He decided to join the team after a stint at a local print shop, and we are more than happy to have him heading up our new Printing Division.

Mind Your Own Business Conference 2010 by Rob Harr

Two of FORGE’s partners, Chad Mullins and Jeremy Loyd, just got back from the Mind Your Own Business Conference 2010 in New York City. Presented by Bryn Mooth of HOW Magazine and David Baker of ReCourses, Inc., the management conference was October 12th through the 14th.

According to the MYOB site, the conference contained “3 days of close-up, nuts-and-bolts problem solving combined with big-picture, long-term planning.” Stay tuned for some blog posts from both Chad and Jeremy about what they learned.

To see pictures of their expedition, check out FORGE’s Flickr stream.

A Modern Eden at Starbucks by Rob Harr

We wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to see the beauties for yourself (the A Modern Eden posters, that is). Lucky for you, they’ll be at the Brown Street Starbucks in Dayton for the month of October. So come and check out the posters while you sip your latte.

Archives

Categories

heyforgepleasehireme.com by Rob Tarr

Rework by Jän Ostendorf

So Long, Farewell by Liz Dwenger

Second Annual Very FORGE Thanksgiving by Rob Harr

Making Ideas Happen at MYOB 2010 by Jeremy Loyd

FORGE’s Workspace Featured by Rob Harr

MYOB Conference 2010 by Chad Mullins

Welcome to the FORGE Team by Ryan Clark

Mind Your Own Business Conference 2010 by Rob Harr

A Modern Eden at Starbucks by Rob Harr