Should Brands be Aspirational or Inspirational? by Will Novosedlik

Rather than making us feel inadequate, brands should celebrate the beauty we hav

Taking the Mystery Out of Brand Storytelling by Suzanne Pope

Brand storytelling isn't new. But some of the risks are

The Rebranding Blues by Will Novosedlik

Canadians should be seeing red over the way Harper is turning us blue.

In Social Media, Silence is Definitely Not Golden by Suzanne Pope

The RBC outsourcing fiasco reminds us that consumers always have

Canada the Dirty by Will Novosedlik

Our country's brand has been mismanaged, as we back away from our environmental commitments.

Not Pretty as a Picture by Michael Lynch

If we don't actually interact with interactive designs, can we really judge their merits?<

Are Publicity Stunts Becoming the New Ads? by Suzanne Pope

If it's a media-neutral world, why don't ideas rule?

Keeping the Competition at Bay by Will Novosedlik

By refreshing its 343-year-old identity, Hudson's Bay shows that it is ready for the future.

Do You See What They Are Saying? By Hans Kleefeld

Pictures may excite but words can smite – when they deliver memorable messages.<

Write If You Get Work by Suzanne Pope

Copywriting is needed more than ever in an Internet age with an insatiable need for information.

Gun Control Needs a Brand by Will Novosedlik

It's time we counter the propaganda perpetrated by a minority of loudmouth bigots.

The Importance of Not Being Earnest by Suzanne Pope

Creating ads we forget that Joe Public knows what he likes and doesn't want to be patronized

What's Old is New is . . . by Will Novosedlik

We'll drink to a package design for a Canadian whisky whose 1990s retro label is still fresh all thes

Should I Stay or Should I Go? by Karen Howe

The Clash put to melody the question we all ask ourselves some time in our career: Is it time to move on?

Time to Raise Your Rates by Ilise Benun

As the holidays approach, it's an ideal time to introduce higher fees.

Lessons from the Revolution by Will Novosedlik

A North African mobile company earns the love of its customers by giving away service.

Cultural Sharks by Karen Howe

Anyone who wants to be successful in this business has to operate with their cultural antennae up

What to Give Away and What to Sell by Ilise Benun

For marketing purposes, it's wise to give away your content and expertise, within reason.

The Revoluion Will Be Televised by Will Novosedlik

A French artist and local ad agency strive to give power to the people in Tunisia.

When Image Relatonships Go Bad by Hans Kleefeld

Forming new relationships between unrelated images doesn't always yield the right results.

Don't Burn Bridges by Karen Howe

Be nice to people on your way up, because you're going to meet them on your way down.

Should You Be Blogging? by Ilise Benun

Well, first, do you have something to say? Then start with a rant about your clients.

Mixed Signals by Will Novosedlik
Microsoft's and eBay's new logos underwhelm and show that business creaks along as usual.

Manage Your Own Brand by Karen Howe

Make sure your personal brand conveys what it should.

Prisons, Prudence and Pasta Sauce by Will Novosedlik

The quiet transformation of Brand Canada.

Are Your Words Ready? by Ilise Benun

Prepare your words now to take advantage of writing and speaking opportunities that come your way.<

Strategy is Dead by Matthew Milan

What matters is real insight, yielded by a clearly defined and repeatable process.

The Right Boss by Karen Howe

Look for a boss who nurtures creativity, welcomes questions and has a sense of humour.

Read or Just Excited? by Ilise Benun

You shouldn't mistake a propsect's enthusiasm for readiness to hire you for a job.

In Celebration of Distraction by Will Novosedlik

A impromptu contemplation of Louis Fishauf's storied design career.

What Fuels Innovation? By Bob Hambly

Curiosity. And to nurture this we must start at an early age. 

An Alternative to Writing a Proposal by Ilise Benun

Here's one wat to avoid the hours of headaches and lost profits of writing proposals.

The Digital Sword of Damocles by Will Novosedlik

Should or shouldn't designers learn coding for their web designs?

Your Other Marriage By Karen Howe

Your creative partner can make or break your career.

How to Avoid Robotic Marketing by Ilise Benun

The best wat to network is face to face. Here's how to elicit useful responses.

Reinventing the Ecosystem of Design by William Novosedlik

Emily Carr University makes a compelling case for the integration of design disciplines.

Internships: Slave Labour or Priceless Aprenticeship? By Karen Howe

It's important to pay interns. It assigns value to their contribution, literally and figuratively.

Do They Understand What They're Buying? By Ilise Benun

Before you respond to an RFP, make sure it's worth your time.

BP: Resurrection of a Brand, or a Requiem for Branding by Will Novosedlik

BP's exercise in "greenwash" branding may bring the profession into disrepute.

Designing on the Edge of the Obsolete by Marta Cutler and Vanessa Eckstein

In a digital age are business cares relevant? Yes. But they must provoke a powerful response.

Training. In All the Unexpected Places by Karen Howe

Learning isn't just at school. The learning for advertising is anywhere. Anytime.

Are Your Clients Qualified? by Ilise Benun

It's not snobbery to decide if a postential client is a good fit for you.

Brandarama by Will Novosedlik

Don't dismiss the $24 logo; you may be missing out in billions of dollars of business.

Where Have all the Mentors Gone? By Suzanne Pope

Who is going to look after the next generation of ad people?

Great Ideas Don't Sell Themselves. That's Your Job by Karen Howe

Selling your ideas requires a perfect trifecta of strategy, showmanship and popularity contest.<

Hey! Why Doesn't That Firm Need to Focus? by Ilise Benun

Positioning my be  less important if you act as your company's business lever.

Mr. Rogers Meets Mao Zedong by Will Novosedlik

When art eats brands for lunch, the result is almost always sublime.

Responsive Design, Adaptive Design and Content Strategy by Michael Lynch

"Responsive design" may be the latest buzzword, but "adaptive design" is equally important

Celebrities I Have Not Known by Karen Howe

A career in advertising is one that opens doors to truly extraordinary experiences.

Becoming an Expert (in the Eyes of Your Clients) by Ilise Benun

With more companies looking for "specialists" it's time to play up your expertise.

Three Screens. One design by Will Novosedlik

Designers have to take into account the different demands of computer, tablet and smartphone screens.<

Failure is Success by Karen Howe

Falling flat on your face is brutal. But it provides the most profound and indelible learning of your life.

Your Simple 2012 Marketing Plan by Ilise Benun

Here's what you should be doing on a daily, weekly and monthly basis to get the kind of work you really want.

Unnatural and Uncomfortable by Will Novosedlik

Human being prefer fitting in over standing out. Standing out can be lonely, scary, painful – even dangerous.<

Save Your Clients From Their Sins by Karen Howe

By saving your clients from themselves, you're really saving yourself, too.

Marketing Predictions for 2012 by Ilise Benun

Consistent marketing will give you tangible results.

Celebrating the Christmas Brand by Will Novosedlik

Christmas is the product of the mother of all brands – one that commands loyalty and shows amazing staying pow

So, You Want to Get into Advertising by Stuart Thursby

As a newbie in the ad business, he knew it would be hard. But no one told him how much fun it wo

The Importance of Doing Nothing by Karen Howe

Unstructured playtime can be worth its weight in creative gold – statues, awards and the kind of gold clients love.

Hit the Road, Jack by David Coates

When your integrity is called into question, it's time to kick someone out the door – even if it is the client.

Forging Stronger Links by Ilise Benun

LinkedIn may be the best way to reach business prospects. Are you putting your best foot forward?

State of the Design Nation: Are We There Yet? By Will Novosedlik

A vision of Canada's design future, from 1996, shows us how far we have to go.

A Facebook-Free Future by Eric Karjuluoto

Too many marketers are hopping into the sack with Facebook – without using the right protection.

The iEffect by Ian Mirlin

Let's learn the lessons of Jobs: simplicity, single-mindedness and impeccable execution.

Make Yourself Useful by Karen Howe

Finally got your foot in the agency door? Here's how to keep it there

Once Upon a Plane by Neil McOstrich

The chief storytelling officer of Cleansheet shares advertising and communications stories not in textbooks.

Three Strikes and You're Out by Ilise Benun

Wonder why you never hear back about your proposals? Perhaps you are making these mistakes.

Do the Right Thing by Michael Lynch

Advertisers should use their tremendous powers of persuasion ethically – before the public forces them to.

Quality is the New Quantity by Will Novosedlik

Turning the brand-development ass-backwards and get the client involved early

From Wannabe to Player by Karen Howe

Here's what you should do to get your foot in the door of the advertising business.

Who's in Control of Your Business? by Ilse Benun

Controlling your pipeline, your pricing and your cash flow.

Decoupling Design by Will Novosedlik

Design needs to separate itself from the industries it has been historically associated with

One Step Behind by Dawna Henderson

Art colleges aren't preparing their students for the rapidly changing digital space.

Targeted Websites That Don't Alienate by Ilise Benun

The trick is to focus your site without cutting off prospects

Your Career is Going to Fall Off a Cliff by Brent Choi

Why all creatives must embrace digital

Are There Any Humans Here? by Chris Da Sie

Why we have to focus on the visual human element of web design

Opening the Kimono by Will Novosedlik

Why design thinking shouldn't just be done by designers

The Challenges of Designing a Portfolio Website, part 2 by Michael Lynch

Further tips on how to design a successful portfolio website

The Challenges of Designing a Portfolio Website, part 1 by Michael Lynch

Planning to create a portfolio site for yourself or a client? Here's some thoughts to consider before you j

The 5th P by Matthew Diamond

Why passion is the most important part of marketing

Whose Role Is It Anyway? by Eric Karjaluoto

There's no shortage of excitement when it comes to social media — pity that most of it fades away once the work begins

What You Need to Launch Your Freelance Business by Ilise Benun

A checklist to help you prepare for a new freelance career

Secrets of Selling by Matthew Diamond

What they never teach you about in school

How "Sticky" is Design Thinking? by Will Novosedlik

Design thinking needs to be about making the world a better place, not a prettier place

Listening for (Brand) Dummies by Dave Girolami

Whether you're planning communication strategies for the present or the future, listening to your customers should always be key<

Can You Make a Successful Living Doing What You Love? by Ilise Benun

Yes, you can — but only if you decide to take it seriously and treat it like a business

Getting to Know by Doug Dolan

Why is it so hard to tell a client you simply don't want to do something?

Life, Death and Graphic Design by Peggy Cady

The critical role of information design in emergencies

Do We Have To Be Such Asses To Each Other? by Chad Borlase

Creative director Chad Borlase suggests ways that we can work together to make our industry better

Why Creatives Should Throw Out Their Timesheets by Chris Staples

The weekly time sheet is surely one of the most despised chores in advertising

Please Retweet! by Eric Karjaluoto

With the deluge of online info, we're left asking if some well-edited content is what we really need.

Pet Peeves & Portfolios by Patrick Griffin

Whose portfolio is it anyway?

How to Brand YOUR Brand by Matthew Diamond

Tips on how to stand out when breaking into the marketing world

Copyrights and Wrongs by Steve Pigeon

Just because something's easy to copy doesn't mean it's free

A Toast to Wedding Photography by Brent Lewin

Don't dismiss shooting weddings – they may just boost your creativity for other projects

Still Following Mom's Advice? by Ilise Benun

New rules for creative professionals

Gamification: You're Already Playing by Ryan Wolman

Using gaming behaviour to engage consumers in our social world

What Does "Designer" Mean Today? by Barry Quinn

Separating "design doing" from "design thinking" in a world full of designers

Your Very Own Crystal Ball by Patrick Griffin

Seven things your design teachers are loathe to tell you

Branding the "Branding Agency" by Will Novosedlik

Branding isn't only design and design alone isn't branding – why we must distinguish between the two

School vs. Street by Hans Kleefeld
Whether you're teaching visual communication to students or apprentices, the crucial challenge is to guide them toward finding their own design solutions.

A Singular Career by Brian Howlett

John McIntyre has worked for the same agency for 40 years and created something remarkable in his own image.

Let's Be Realistic: Logos Will Never Die by Scott Christie 

If there is no logo, then there is no company recognition, plain and simple.

How to Avoid Greatness in Advertising by Ian MacKenzie
There's a way to protect yourself from the sorrows of greatness: Don't strive for it. Fly under the radar

Education for Dummies by Andy Rutledge

A formal education in web design is not what it's made out to be. Students: blaze your own path to success

Designers, Tear Down These Walls by Mark Busse

Design is in chaos, and leadership is sorely lacking. It's time for us to haul the industry into the modern world

The Long Haul by James Wilson

One experienced designer's words of wisdom on how to make a go of it in the field of design

The Gap Revisited by Stuart Thursby

The Gap debacle displayed a stunning lack of direction and commitment, in both the retailer and ourselves

Why Change and How Much? On Logotype Design by Adam Rotmil

The importance of details is rarely as obvious as it is in the world of branding

As Easy as 1-2-3 by Hans Kleefeld

The way to cut through today's communication clutter is to embrace simplicity

From Apple to Windows, My Journey to the Dark Side by Kevin Airgid

Forswearing herd mentality in favour of common sense, one designer makes a case for much-maligned Windows

“Graphic” vs “Communication” Design by Matthew Clark

An argument in favour of keeping the "graphic" in Graphic Design

Squaring Soapboxes by Patrick Griffin

Common sense solutions versus spotlight parading

Don't Do Another Three-Way by Eric Karjaluoto

Design is a profession dedicated to providing outstanding solutions. So why the half-baked creative?

Creativity in the Age of Web Analytics by Mitch Joel

We're in an age where everything can be measured, presenting a golden opportunity to unleash creativity

Tribal Voices by Brad Breininger

Members of decentralized "brand tribes" are shaping the new commercial landscape.

The Challenges of Teaching Digital by Jamie Kosoy

The industry is changing faster than you can say "go" and students are struggling to adapt. Who's fault is it?

How to Ruin Your Career in Six Easy Steps by Chris Staples

Advertising is a brutal business, made more brutal by some erroneous decisions youngsters can make

Sustainability in Action by Wendy Jedlicka

Ten hot tips — and one really cool one — all change agents need to keep in mind

The Sorry State of Advertising Education by Karen Howe

For all their glitz and glamour, ad schools are simply not preparing their students for the real world

Branding: What Kind of Firm Does It Take by Barry Quinn

It's been said that ad agencies can't do branding. Far from it, it's the titles we use that are irrelevant, not th

Creativity and the Written Word by Steve Zelle

Design blogs are a dime-a-dozen, but despite this, the value of the written word has never been higher

The Middle Class is Dead by Brent Choi

Say good-bye to the middle tier of ad agencies. Don't cry; it's a good thing

Why Branding Is Still The Domain of Brand Design Firms by Matthew Clark

Part three of a not-so-thinly-veiled diatribe in favour of brand design firms’ le

Why Consultants and Decorators Still Can't Do Branding by Matthew Clark

Part two of a three-part diatribe that examines the dominant players in branding and their suitability to th

Why Ad Agencies Still Can't Do Branding by Matthew Clark

Part one of a three-part diatribe on the intertwined nature of ad agencies and branding — to the detriment of b

The Agency: Academy vs. Bureaucracy by Andy Rutledge

It's all too easy to fall into the trap of a selfish culture, but the future belong to those who nuture, teach and innova

Flash vs HTML5: Should The End User Care? by Stephen Beck

Stephen Beck of Engine Digital takes on the thorny issue of Adobe's Flash vs. HTML5

The True Value of Conferences by Stuart Thursby

In an age of bigger, better and faster, the value of conferences in shaping our creative thinking has never been higher.

Awards Are Stupid. I Want One. by Ryan Wolman and Keith Prestwich

The following transcript represents the nearly factual tweet-alogue of the authors' experience at an awards show

Dominant Agency Models Face Extinction by Chris Staples

One ad agency veteran makes the case for a Third Way

A Case for Type Design Education, by Patrick Griffin

Type can be a designer's best friend, but it's nearly impossible for students to learn how to design their own typefaces.

Have Ideas, Will Travel, by Scott Morrison

The breakneck pace of technological developments has spurred the rise of collaborative, independent creatives.

The End, My Friend by Peter Giffen

Coping with a crashing economy, crumbling barriers and the Internet, can creative agencies reinvent themselves?

Who's Your System? by Jeannette Hanna

Looking to nature for inspiration in uncertain times for the creative profession is not as crazy as it initially appears

The Licensed Designer by Eric Karjaluoto

Should there be a more rigorous accreditation process for practising and recently-graduated designers in Canada?

The New Applied Arts Website

An in-depth look behind the features and highlights of the new Applied Arts website