As society and technology change, so does graphic design.
In 1981, MTV launched onto our TVs and into our psyche with round-the-clock music videos that made the music we loved more visual. At that same moment, the introduction of computers into our studio sparked a revolution that incited the design team to push their drawing boards aside and begin processing creative concepts via a mouse and keyboard.

HB Design was centered firmly within this social and technological transformation. We opened our doors as a graphic design firm in 1978 and began serving our first large corporate client in 1980. In 1981 we added a second, much larger, corporate client to our roster and began to experience the glory of growth—adding more clients, more staff, more equipment, and gradually more structure to our studio.
Back then at the crossroads of change there were businesses with two different mindsets—those that chose to embrace new technology and change, and those that did not. HB Design chose to ride the wave as we began to explore new technologies with our clients. Over the next two decades that ride was exhilarating—for us, our clients, and the other talented Northwest businesses with which we share these rich experiences.
By 1996 it became obvious to most publicly traded companies that a Web presence was no longer optional. By the time I joined HB Design in 1999, the company was already well-established and recognized as a leading Northwest design firm capable of navigating the vast, new technological resources necessary to remain current and lead our clients effectively. As we continued to grow our tech-based clients during the ‘90s, we also branched out to work with leading brands from other industries, including manufacturing, sports apparel, finance and banking, real estate, and healthcare.
I’m often asked what worked well for HB Design as a company during the workplace metamorphosis between 1980 and 2011. To accurately answer this, it’s important to capture the success of the good times along with the challenges of several significant economic downturns. These are the things that come to mind:
• We remained true to our culture—working hard, having fun.
• We continually invested in the best—talent, equipment, and infrastructure.
• We stayed close to those important to us—our clients, our staff, our families, our friends.
• We remained focused on what we do best—strategic design.
As we recognize Media Inc. for their 30-year commitment in keeping us up-to-date with regional industry news and information and promoting our respective businesses, we look back at the highlights of our voyage as a Northwest design firm, now over 30 years in the making.

Gail Snow is VP Strategic Development at HB Design, a strategic visual communications company that unites design with technology to help companies achieve their business goals. We help clients drive sales, effectively communicate with their employees, educate their audiences, and bring their visual brand to life. With over 30 years of industry experience, HB Design has come to be known for its innovative design solutions, successful business relationships, and “best practices” processes in successfully managing projects.