We are the Sultans... | Dwayne Grech

Forget Swing! Crank that heavy shit... this is the Sultan of Beard! Throw away your razors and slip into something a little more aviator Dwayne Grech is here.

MINIBIO

Dwayne's done his time in the trenches. Starting at Seneca College's Graphic Design program (with yours truly) post grad saw him off to Australia (without yours truly) for a year of working, backpacking, designing, surfing, living. Back in Canada and back in school. This time Sheridan's now famous Web Design program. Fresh out of school again Dwayne bounced around from Organic to Young & Rubicam to The Marketing Store to Sirius Satellite and now to Momentum. All the while freelancing as and evolving the alias The Sultan of Beard. (Not to mention cultivating a rather solid face sweater). Today though, his big personality and his big beard are back at Sheridan; this time... to impart wisdom.

THE WISDOM

This isn't going to be easy. You're going to lose sleep; you're going to compete. You're going to have to ditch the ego and fight your way through tough times, and you're going to love it. Love what you do and where you do it because it makes all the difference in the world. Don't work for the money; work for the work. Work for the pride, for you. Most of all, no matter what you do or where you do it: Do More! Improve your self, improve your worth.

DWAYNE SAYS
BURNING BRIDGES IS EMPLOYMENT SUICIDE
Never a wise move, even more so in such a small industry
Your boss has friends at that agency you want to work at, don't rage quit

NETWORKING EVENTS ARE YOUR EASIEST WAY INTO AN INTERVIEW
Events are essentially informal interviews
Free booze, free schmooze

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO STOP LEARNING

If you feel you've learned enough, chances are you're an idiot
Read a book, scour the web, take a night course—keep yourself inspired

THEFWA.COM IS THE BIBLE

Just go

YOU'LL HAVE TO SACRIFICE A WEEKEND OR SIX
Sometimes the proverbial fan needs a lot of cleaning
Take a weekend to get more work done, show initiative
Work on your own terms and don't sweat the stress

RED. BULL. THE SAVIOR OF LAST-MINUTE ALL NIGHTERS

Working all night? Yep.
Be a hero, get that promotion

PAY IT FORWARD

Lady luck can be a bitch, play your karma right
Mentor a student or two
Volunteer at the Tall Studio Tour
Teach

NOT ENJOYING THE WHAT AND WHERE? CHANGE.

You have to love where you work
Stay loyal and motivated
There are shitty places out there and you will pay your dues
Know when to get out and move up

BOOZE IS YOUR FRIEND

Alcohol is a part of the industry
Whether your seeking advice from old man Jack Daniels or spinning ideas with your good buddy Heineken no one is judging you

SOCIAL MEDIA
Info Out—Info In
Stay connected, it's your life blood

WORKS

Dwayne's a man of many sunglasses, and his ability to switch from classic aviators to... uh... another equally cool pair of aviators comes through on his badass online alter ego's site The Sultan of Beard. Check out some music vids, learn about the new Porsche, follow a gnome through the streets of Japan. It's all good.

SO?

Pulling punches isn't the Sultan's style and he certainly came out swinging. Dwayne's a big personality and a big talent. He talks straight and loves his craft. I've know Dwayne for several years now and I'm always impressed by his approach to life and design and his attitude towards work. Industry friends are always nice to have. So... drinks?

Speed of Light | Catherine Baird

Put some jazz on the radio, buckle in, and get inspired cause we're moving at the speed of light with Dashboard ACD Catherine Baird.

MINIBIO
Swooning over the nuances of Monet's Water Lilies at U of T; Calling the shots at little guy ecentricarts, Following an idol to Paris, Running with the big guns at Henderson Bas; Yeah, Catherine Baird has done that. Not to mention surviving the gauntlet that is Sheridan Web Design. Now she brings her wealth of knowledge, experience, and talent to the Dashboard family... and to us.

THE WISDOM
Inspiration and Passion. 'Get Inspired' and 'Do what you love'. Love design, love technology, love your work, love who you work with, love to learn, and love to work. If you work hard and love what you do you'll always be inspired and engaged. When you love what you do, it's not a job it's an adventure. 

CATHERINE SAYS
BE A REALLY REALLY GOOD DESIGNER
Even when your overwhelmed with technology, you are first and foremost a designer and you will be getting applying for a design job
Creative directors don't care about your coding, they care about design

UNDERSTAND (AND LOVE) TECHNOLOGY
The tech world in an ever changing environment, embrace it

Play. Get excited for new toys and new tech.

LEARN FOR YOURSELF

Learn video editing, flash animation, proper social media design techniques

The more you know the more adaptable and hireable you are

UNDERSTAND UX & IA
User Experience and Information Architecture
First things first, your design has to work

Most importantly, design for the user

WORK HARD, BE FLEXIBLE, AND KEEP UP
Embrace the changing, evolving, moving industry you're in

Stay late when needed
Prove yourself

WORKS

If a varied portfolio is the sign of a well-traveled hard-working designer put two checks by Catherine's name. She's saved you money, she's saved christmas; she knows what's happening in Toronto and she want you to too. Whether it's for peanut butter of the Olympics Catherine's checkmarks keep piling up: talented (check), passionate (check), inspiring (check).

SO?
Big affable grin in tow Catherine came with a message of inspiration and passion and she walked the walk. She also has some pretty solid advice: learn, love, design, grow, succeed. So I'm coming along for the ride. Lightspeed. Punch it.

Enjoy the Ride | Steve Coomber

Today we were treated to the rock and roll styling of designer, advertiser, TAXI driver, Sheridan grad, and sole Coomberville resident: Steve Coomber.

MINIBIO
Recently the feature of an Applied Arts Article (well... a feature) Steve, Guelph BFA in hand,  cruised out of Sheridan's Web Design Program in 2005 and promptly landed feet first at some of Toronto's Ad giants: namely Organic, Young & Rubicam, and is currently picking up fares for TAXI (How many more taxi metaphors can we throw in here? Who knows?) 

THE WISDOM
The big message Steve laid at our feet? At it's core: learn, work, and socialize. Pretty simple. Below are Steve's actual words but in essence it's all about being willing to grow and evolve through a willingness to learn, to work hard, and to still have fun. 

STEVE SAYS
SPEAK UP
Make your passions known
Jump at opportunities when they present themselves

FIND A MENTOR
They know your job better than you do
Learn from them at every chance you get
Then... be a mentor

NEVER TAKE SHOTGUN
Always sit in the drivers seat (His metaphor, not mine)
You should be in control of your career
The company needs you as much as you need them
Go to Seminars and get your company to foot the bill
Get involved in the projects you want to work on

TWEET
You don't have to love Twitter, but...
Twitter is a great marketing tool
@mashable, @theNextWeb, @TaxiCanada, @ConanObrien

DRINK BEER*
*Or your delicious beverage of choice
Socialize and network
Network and socialize
Beer. 

DON'T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY
It's not brain surgery, it's fun

BE PASSIONATE AND HAVE FUN!

SO?
With mantras like 'Drink Beer' and 'Don't take yourself too seriously' it's safe to say Steve's message resonated with many of us. Be passionate? Steve clearly is. It shows in his work. With The Canadian Tire House of Innovation, a favourite project for Steve, playing on our big screen Steve beamed with pride; clearly happy to show off his work. His passion. So I think it's time for a little social drink... Taxi!

Weeks One & Two | The Adjustment Period

A few weeks into school now and I'm only now getting around to writing my first blog post. It's been a bit of a whirlwind two weeks or so with me starting school, moving to Oakville, freelancing, and just wrapping my head around all the changes going on. Now though, I have settled in and am excited for school to ramp up. I'm definitely looking forward to the guest speakers on whom this blog will be centered.
With so many different backgrounds among my classmates and the chance to pick industry professional's brains the opportunities to learn and develop skills, which ultimately is why I'm here, certainly will be many.