Hasta La Ideas

Cinco Design isn’t like a lot of other design firms; but a lot of design firms are starting to look more and more like Cinco. The cross-platform branding/media/product studio has grown from a small, marketing-oriented graphics shop into a dynamic, mid-sized firm that’s weathering the economic downturn surprisingly well, adding digital, interaction and product design to its list of services in the meantime, and counting Microsoft, Fox Racing and Nixon watches among its repeat clients.

Kirk James, who founded Cinco in Portland several years back, after stints at Nike and JDK, has been the unifying element on this diversified team, and first drew our attention last year as a proponent of the product-as-brand-extension trend that’s been slowly altering the branding landscape. He’ll be serving as counterpoint to some of the larger, more established firms represented at tomorrow’s Creative Confab in Portland, with a unique point of view that comes from building creative teams where everyone has to know a little bit about everything. His two questions:

1. You’ve mentioned that you sometimes find designers through past or current clients — how does that usually work? Are there any pitfalls to be aware of when going this route?

Over the years we’ve had some great talent referred to us by our clients. In some cases it comes as an extension of their own creative network, other times it comes from good talent that is reaching out to work with them — often as freelancers — who are showing interest in projects or programs that we’ve lead. On several occasions they’ve directed those candidates our way when there wasn’t a need or fit within their own teams. It’s lead to some great collaborators and, in at least two cases, staff positions.

For us the key is to keep it casual. We’re not typically seeking out contacts in that way, it’s just that our clients know what we’re all about and that we’re always interested in meeting new talent. Sometimes a fit just seems natural.

Of course not everything is a fit. Sometimes candidates are drawn more to the idea of working with our client’s brands than in joining a diversified team on the consulting side. So that indirect referral path doesn’t always lead to a cultural fit.

2. Cinco has been expanding from graphic and identity design into a wider array of digital services lately. Do you find that you can rely on the same professional networks as before to fill your hiring needs in these areas, or does it require building new ones?

We’ve been known for some time as a branding and graphic shop, and get a steady stream of portfolios in that space. But more and more we’re looking for hybrid designers who are able to deliver across disciplines, and think more strategically. In years past that’s meant looking mostly to graphic designers with the skills to stretch to environments, trending or product styling. Today that is as likely to mean product designers with the ability to create visual and branding strategies. It’s not one type of creative versus another — it’s more about diversifying our thinking and being open to more possibilities.

In the last couple of years that’s lead us to search for talent by exploring recruiters who specialize in ID and digital experience, using sites like Coroflot that speak to a broader range of designers, and placing ads in cities beyond Portland. We’re continually looking to expand our network and reach into territory that’s new to us.

The hour-long panel that Kirk will be sharing with directors and recruiters from Nike, Ziba, and Intel forms the core of the afternoon-long informational and networking event. It’s shaping up to be an unusually great conversation, and an outstanding opportunity for designers, creative directors and recruiters from the product, apparel, branding and interaction design fields to meet, learn, and connect. Tickets are still available, and this is the only such event in the Pacific Northwest this year; check out the Confab page for details and registration info.

Coroflot’s Creative Employment Confab
Thursday, June 11th, 2:30-6pm
University of Oregon, Portland – White Stag Block
70 NW Couch St. @ NW 1st Ave, Portland, OR

Other panelist interviews, and more background on this thing we call Confab:

2 Questions for Nick Oakley of Intel
2 Questions for Beth Sasseen of Nike
2 Questions for Chelsea Vandiver of Ziba

Fast Company coverage of the Austin Confab in March

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