What I Learned This Year 2011 #53: Ryan Bramwell

1) Collaborate. In Denver, we say this a lot and do it less. To be blunt, Denver has been a scene where we all “want” to collaborate and in reality there has been some apprehension in actually “doing” so. This year, however, we have seen an immense change in collaboration. Companies are beginning to work together, using their own strengths and creating better work. What I have experienced (apart from the work), is mainly the increase in inspiration which follows with collaboration. When you work with others outside your day-to-day office paradigm, you open doors to those peoples' experiences.

2) Simplify. Be nimble. Ask for help when you need it.

3) Make healthy, creative living a priority: We all live and breath what we do and every once in a while it can become too much. So, take a fucking break, do something different and change something…daily. Make sure the people in your daily lives are healthy and happy and if they are not, change something, communicate and act on your communication.

4) Don’t do spec work (unless it's worth it)…But really try not to do it. The thought behind asking a firm or person to provide style frames for a project without a pitch fee should not be an acceptable practice. This rarely happens in the network industries of which our company runs as “the agency.” The problem with this is that when designing or creating the spot, brand, promo or commercial, the design/concept/idea is 90% of the project. It is your vision, your unique knowledge and your creative solutions within that 90%. Why would you do that for free? No project is worth that. Asking for even a nominal amount for a pitch fee shows the client that you are serious about the work you do and it will show you that the agency is serious about wanting to work with you. If you are an agency, please think about ending this practice in your pitch processes. Trust me, you will see your potential vendor’s work qualities increase dramatically.

5) Diversify, yet continue to build on your strengths.

6) Get away from your computer, pick up a sketchbook and draw something. It will lead you new places.

7) Denver (and Boulder) is one of the best places in the US to work in our industry. We are (as a community) on a steep climb in continually putting Denver on the creative map in terms of clients, production capabilities and overall work quality. Be part of the growth and don’t despise it.

8) Casually network with your creative friends both new and old. Come to the next Sauce Society and do so. (Shameless plug, but a very fun one.)