Moar Betterer: Thank You, Odvod, and Goodbye

After an illustrious five years of service, my tenure as art director at Odvod Media is sadly coming to a close. And what a time it has been. From a fresh-faced graduate of the London College of Communication, Odvod has molded me into the sharp-eyed falcon of design that I am today.

That might be over-salting it somewhat, but my time here has definitely been an education, and with a degree of certainty I can say that I am not the first, nor the last person who has benefited greatly from working here. If ever there was a place that nurtures talent, inspires growth and fosters collaboration, it is surely Odvod.

So what are some of the lessons I have garnered here? Let me tell you, dear reader, in what I like to call…

Rory’s Nuggets of Design Wisdom

Lesson 1: There are no bad ideas in brainstorming

Maxim of all creative meetings (and one Odvodian in particular), this little mantra allows any and all to contribute with the confidence that nobody will be shot-down, lampooned or worse still, dumbly stared at, no matter how seemingly bizarre a suggestion may be. That kind of thinking has enabled some of the most creative solutions to a problem.

Lesson 2: Don’t be married your designs

Design, it has been said, is a service industry as much as it is a creative one. If you are designing for yourself or even for other designers, you aren’t really a designer. At the end of the day it’s our jobs to find the best way to communicate the client’s message. Take pride in your work, but as the old adage goes: if you love something set it free.

Lesson 3: Be excellent to each other

Okay, to be fair I learned this from Wyld Stallyns back in the day, but it still stands true. Working closely with your colleagues means not only can we share amusing cat GIFs but we can also help each other out if we become a little stuck. Above all, it makes working a pleasure and a constant learning experience.

Miscellaneous tidbits:

• Pet the dogs
• Laugh out loud
• Get good headphones
• Watch type casings
• Order lunch early
• Learn from others
• Quoteth The Simpsons
• Make it moar betterer
• Forgive my spellinh

Thanks, Odvod. It’s been a pleasure, a privilege and an education.