A Publication of The Tulsa Art Directors Club January | February 2008

A Publication of The Tulsa Art Directors Club
January | February 2008

In-House

In-house design departments often get bad
reputations – especially if one believes all the
myths out there. Yes, some of the myths are
true, but most aren’t. This issue of Kern will
attempt to debunk the myths.

MYTH:
ANYONE CAN DO IT.
NO PROFESSIONAL NEEDED.
FACT:
STRUCTURED RIGHT, IN-HOUSE SHOULD
FUNCTION AS A DESIGN FIRM WITHIN
A COMPANY.
There should be a working system that includes
the functions of creative director, project
manager, account executive, art director, graphic
designers and copywriters.

MYTH:
SMALL-BUDGET, BORING PROJECTS.
FACT:
NOT ALWAYS.
In-house designers work on various aspects
of print and digital – from photography to
video production.
Working with small budgets pushes the in-house
designers to find creative ways to solve design
challenges. The designers often get complete
control over the entire project, making them
care personally about quality and giving a sense
of ownership.

MYTH:
LOWER PAY.
FACT:
NOT QUITE…
IN-HOUSE DESIGNERS HAVE GOOD
BENEFITS AND PERKS.
Flexible work hours. Good health benefits and
life insurance. Depending on the company, some
also have paid vacation, 401K options, over
time pay, tuition assistance, access to gyms,
massages, travel opportunities and discounts
with various vendors.

MYTH:
SURROUNDED BY NON-CREATIVES.
FACT:
YES AND NO,
DEPENDING ON THE COMPANY.
Some in-house departments have a wide range
of creative talents that include designers,
illustrators, photographers, marketing
managers, etc.

MYTH:
SUITS, TIES, AND CUBES.
FACT:
NOT NECESSARILY.
Presentable casual wear and personalized
cubes are options as long as it’s in “good taste.”
In-house designers are expected to be different
than the typical corporate employees.

MYTH:
HIGH BURN OUT RATE.
FACT:
THERE IS A WAY OUT.
In-house designers have the opportunity to work
on a wide range of projects in various mediums –
enabling growth, personally and professionally.

MYTH:
TOO MANY BOSSES.
FACT:
THERE ARE BOSSY PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.

MYTH:
LOW ON THE FOOD CHAIN.
FACT:
ASIDE FROM CREATIVE DIRECTORS,
AREN’T WE ALL

{ INSIDERS’ SCOOPS }
ABLE TO HAVE A LIFE
The option to leave at 5 or stay late is often the
designer’s choice.
UP WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY
There’s money budgeted for software and hardware
upgrades annually.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
There’s money budgeted for training as well, which
includes attending design conferences.

The content for this newsletter is a collective
experience from a variety of useful sources. There
are many more people and organizations out there
who are putting out great information on in-house
design. Here are just a few links that may be helpful.
http://www.graphicpush.com/in-praise-of-in-housedesigners
http://www.gdusa.com/feature/7_01.php
http://www.creativepro.com/story/howto/24727.html
http://www.commarts.com/CA/colbus/davC_232.html
http://www.dmi.org/dmi/html/education/seminars/mcdd_
inhouse.htm

2007-2008 EVENTS
September 20
James Farr
www.jamesfarr.com
October 18
Deanna Kuhlmann Leavitt
www.kuhlmannleavitt.com
October 25
Student Career Day
November 15
Bradford Lawton
www.bradfordlawton.com
January 17
Helvetica Film Screening
February 21
HammerPress
www.hammerpress.net
March 13
Visual Aid
March 27
Crispin Porter + Bogusky
www.cpbgroup.com
April 17
5×10 Local Talent
May
Graphex 39
NEW LOCATION
ADCT will hold meetings this year in one of Tulsa’s most
eclectic locations: Tulsa Little Theatre. Built in 1932, this
neighborhood theater has been renovated with an elevated
stage, quality audio/video and theater seating. Everyone
should be able to see our speakers and their work. With
easy access from the BA, it is located at 1511 South
Delaware. (Please refrain from parking in the church parking
lot, your vehicle may be towed.)

JANUARY
FEATURED SCREENING
HELVETICA
Helvetica is a feature-length independent
film about typography, graphic design
and global visual culture. It looks at the
proliferation of one typeface (which will
celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as
part of a larger conversation about the
way type affects our lives. The film is an
exploration of urban spaces in major cities
and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid
discussion with renowned designers about
their work, the creative process, and the
choices and aesthetics behind their use
of type.
Helvetica encompasses the worlds of
design, advertising, psychology, and
communication, and invites us to take a
second look at the thousands of words we
see every day.

FEBRUARY
FEATURED SPEAKER
HAMMERPRESS
Brady Vest founded HammerPress in 1994 after
graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute
with a degree in Printmaking. With a fascination
for letterpress and a motorless platen press,
he began printing CD and LP packages for
penniless art school rock n’ roll friends. Over the
years, Brady has become known for his slightly
irreverent approach to the traditional craft of
letterpress printing and has been published in
numerous design annuals and books.
Lindsay Laricks joined HammerPress in
2004, with a background in design, some
serious computer skills and a bit of letterpress
experience herself; she has contributed to the
award winning portfolio and has helped grow the
face of HammerPress in recent years.
Together, they create various hand printed
ephemera including exquisite and unusual
wedding invitations, CD packages, corporate
identities, posters and art prints, as well as evergrowing
line of letterpress stationery products.

BOARD 2007-2008
Aaron Luck
President
Walsh Associates
Libby Bender
1st Vice-President
Littlefield
Ralph Cole
2nd Vice-President
Ralph Cole
Photography
Carl Brune
Treasurer
University of Tulsa
Carly Sullivan
Secretary + VA Chair
Littlefield
Jeremy Charles
Website
New Medio
Julia Hangs
Audio Visual
Scizzortell
Genevieve Pankey
Graphex Chair
Vidoop
James McCullough
Graphex Board
Member
OSU-Okmulgee
Teresa Valero
President Ex-Officio
University of Tulsa
Charles Thomas
Membership
Pennwell
Heath Potter
Kern Newsletter
Walsh Associates
Carla Hammer
Sponsorship
Unisource
Darshan Phillips
Board Member
Live 4 This
Aaron Whisner
Board Member
Live 4 This
David Gramblin
Board Member
Walsh Associates
Billy Fox
Student Rep
OSU-Okmulgee
Kermit Mulkins
Student Rep
OSU-Stillwater
Chelsea Cornell
Student Rep
University of Tulsa
Nick Michael
Student Rep
Rogers State

SPONSORS
ADCT would like to thank all of this season's sponsors.
PRINTING
COMPANY, INC.
ROARK IS PROUD
TO BE THE PRINT
SPONSOR OF THIS
ISSUE OF KERN.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION VISIT
ROARKGROUP.COM OR
CALL 800-569-2616
PRINTING FULFILLMENT SPECIAL PROJECTS
Untitled-1 Paper: 1 Carla Hammer @ Unisource, Domtar 9/5/2007 Cougar 8:43:20 AM
White Smooth 80# Text & Cover

www.artdirectorsoftulsa.org