Thought Leadership

We’re not in business to make money.

We’re not in business to make money.

Steve Smallman, CEO and co-founder, challenges us with a unique question: "Are you in business to make money or are you making money to stay in business?" We all have the opportunity to engage in business for good.  Say what??? Money is ok. Ok, it’s pretty nice. 100%...

Don’t read this if you want a quick fix for your brand

Don’t read this if you want a quick fix for your brand

Ryan Hall, Fifteen4's Director of Brand Strategy, shares why there is no such thing as a quick fix for a brand, but the dreaded "P-Word" (process), when done right, will become your dollar bill, with both destination and decisiveness falling out of the vending machine...

And how does that make you feel? The design of digital experiences

And how does that make you feel? The design of digital experiences

Emily Wolf, web designer, shares why digital experiences must be crafted with just as much thoughtfulness and intention as our in-person, day-to-day experiences (not just left to chance). The design of the online store you made a purchase from this morning is no...

Why it’s OK to fail (as long as it’s fast)

Why it’s OK to fail (as long as it’s fast)

Ryan Hall, Director of Brand Strategy, shares how and why it's OK to fail quickly: if you incorporate some relatively cheap and easy testing functions at each step, then you can validate as you go. What keeps a creative team up at night? Upcoming client meeting?...

Yes, even your B2B tech company needs a great website

Yes, even your B2B tech company needs a great website

Matt DeVille, VP of Digital, shares why your B2B website and digital presence validates your commitment to building a company, and why it needs to speak to users on an emotional level. Over the course of my 20-year career building digital experiences for tech...

Creative Managers: Changing Your Relationship to Time

Creative Managers: Changing Your Relationship to Time

To continue his Creative Managers series, Steve Smallman, CEO and co-founder, shares three suggestions for how to change your relationship to time: get in, listen carefully, and offer input to creative teams. When I first started as a creative professional, I...

Creative Managers: Stop Feeling Threatened and Start Hiring

Creative Managers: Stop Feeling Threatened and Start Hiring

In his Creative Managers series, Steve Smallman, CEO and co-founder, shares what it means to start hiring people that are "better" than you and why it's crucial for the success of your team. Who’s More Talented Than You? “Hire people who are more talented than you.”...