Having spent nearly twenty years in a career that’s centered around design and technology, it should be no surprise that I talk with a lot of designers. These days I work closely with several design schools. Just last month I was visiting a school in New York and during a portfolio review a student asked me a question that I often hear from creatives who are in the early stages of their career:

“What one thing should I focus on that would help me grow my career?”

To which I usually answer — “just keep making stuff.”

Which usually begs the follow up question — “okay, but make what, and how?” …

Location: New York, Copenhagen, and Aarhus

As a design/partner manager for Google, I spend a lot of time expanding my network to better understand the nuanced offerings of both individual designers and agencies. While it would be noisy for me to profile them all, I‘d like to share some of my favorites in hopes that others may benefit from my perspective on what makes each of them unique… starting with Hello Monday.

Hello Monday is a digital agency that focuses on consumer-facing, highly conceptual experiences. Their meticulous execution of craft is best-in-class for such companies. …

“Our startup needs design help. Should we hire a big agency, a small agency, or a freelancer?”

In my career — which includes running an agency, working as a freelancer, and helping startups as an advisor and investor — I’ve heard this question countless times. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Here’s a framework I use to help startups decide what kind of outside design help is right for them.

(Warning: you’ll see a lot of questions, and it might seem overwhelming. …