A Quick Q&A with a few of the Northwest’s Leading Graphic Design Firms

Flint Design Co.
Catherine Healy,
Principal/Creative Director

What do you feel it takes to be an elite graphic design firm or designer?
Being at the forefront of design innovation, materials and marketing strategies.

Is there a project you’re working on currently that you’d like to tell our readers about?
We are working with Adelsheim Vineyards in Oregon, now celebrating their 40th anniversary vintage.  This is a family-owned business and we are working with them to design new packages that honor their history while incorporating a more contemporary look to appeal to the next generation of wine drinkers. It is a great challenge for us as designers to find the right balance between the brand’s legacy and the future potential.

What is one recent graphic design trend you are excited about?
I am very excited about seeing traditional print publications moving to the iPAD/ tablet format. The content is richer and I find it really engages me on so many levels.

Some have said that as design continues to move into the electronic sphere, the term “graphic design” is becoming antiquated. What are your thoughts on that?
Possibly. But everything is blurring so much now and most designers are multidisciplinary these days. Maybe ‘designer’ is enough.

What is your TV guilty pleasure—the show you watch religiously but don’t tell anyone about?
I love award shows—but I don’t necessarily hide that fact. I find the glamour and spectacle of these shows very addictive.

Quesinberry and
Associates, Inc.
Wendy Quesinberry,
Principal/Creative Director

What do you feel it takes to be an elite graphic design firm or designer?
A commitment to your core strengths.

Is there a project you’re working on currently that you’d like to tell our readers about?
We recently completed a series of Web sites for Consolidated Restaurants that included their corporate site and fine dining restaurants: Metropolitan Grill and Elliott’s Oyster House. It was a great opportunity to help bring these two landmark restaurant brands to life. We’re particularly proud of the content strategy, especially in the case of Elliott’s, which emphasizes our client’s dutiful commitment to sustainable practices.

Some have said that as design continues to move into the electronic sphere, the term “graphic design” is becoming antiquated. What are your thoughts on that?
I agree. I think communication design is a better term, but until the mainstream understands what we do (or at least embraces that we do more than magically make things look good), I think we’re stuck. Some businesses still think “branding” means logo design.

What is your TV guilty pleasure—the show you watch religiously but don’t tell anyone about?
What I’m more embarrassed to admit is that I can’t remember what night any show airs or what network it’s on. That makes it tricky to follow anything religiously. But when I’m flipping channels I definitely stop on TMZ, Cheaters, or anything with Tyra Banks.

Dumb Eyes
Michael Ellsworth,
Managing Director/Founder/Principal

What do you feel it takes to be an elite graphic design firm or designer?
Our achievements come from having innovative and creative ideas and the ability to realize them for our clients.

Is there a project you’re working on currently that you’d like to tell our readers about?
We’re working on a Department of Energy funded Web site devoted to educating and empowering residents of the Pacific NW  to make commitments to environmental sustainability, but that’s about the extent we can divulge at this time. We’re very excited about our ongoing design projects with Shabazz Palaces, especially their new album release on Sub Pop.

Some have said that as design continues to move into the electronic sphere, the term “graphic design” is becoming antiquated. what are your thoughts on that?
We disagree. The manipulation of image and text to convey information is ‘graphic design’, whether it be digital or analogue. It makes no difference.

What is your TV guilty pleasure—the show you watch religiously but don’t tell anyone about?
If you enjoy something, then it is good… Why would you feel guilty about it? If you enjoy something then it is simply a pleasure… Not a guilty one.