What's Behind Our New Look

Lessons Learned 

We've launched a new brand with a new focus, built on the proven foundation of our core team. I'm excited. Like, going to six flags as a kid excited. This is also a great time to reflect on how we got here. What are the lessons learned to pass on? Whether it’s your own business, a new product, or just taking the 9-5 leap; you will always have a major challenge to overcome. Bet on an event which forces you to question everything you’re doing. Something which forces you to evolve. An inflection point. Here’s how we dealt with our first major inflection point.

Why The Change?

The explanation is a pretty simple. Summer brought choppy waters at Design Cloud. A few major challenges drummed up tough questions. Honest to god truth: We got fired from our largest project on July 15th. Just a week prior, we fired a client. Yes, we fired a client. Here’s the thing, I saw it coming. Months in advance, actually. Things just were not working internally, for me as the founder, our clients, and everyone else involved.

We Made Shit Better

Before mid-July, I was already planning for the next iteration of what Design Cloud could be, or rather, should be. Of course when July did hit, we were frustrated. All of us. We challenged each other. We fought. I was a little scared, and angry. I questioned my own leadership. But, in my gut I knew there were so many compelling reasons to remain optimistic. Changes were afoot, some new ideas were hatched, and some tough decisions were made. Then, some great things happened. Our core team came together. We refined our process. We sharpened our focus. We discovered our inherent advantages. Best yet, we DID NOT waver on our mission. We got to work. We made shit better. And we did it in sixty days.

What’s Better

Our Focus Until now, my expertise of being able to navigate creative ideas through complex business structures was under-utilized. What we discovered is not many, if any, boutique design studios have this key asset. So unlike a lot of other design studios or agencies of our size, we can marry expert business strategy and research with compelling expertise in branding and interactive design. Look for Design Cloud to get back into the built environment. Retail, residential, restaurants. It’s my love, my passion, and with Design Cloud I can bring a fresh perspective.

Our Process It was painfully obvious to me that more leadership was necessary on a day to day basis for our client projects. Too many people trying to be chief, but not having the mojo. I saw that Josh and Mike, working in tandem, could better manage multiple projects more cohesively. The results were overwhelmingly positive and immediate. Now, with Josh, our core values are baked into every project. Mike is our accountability hawk. Our team is more cohesive, and our work more focused.

Our Studio The best designers eventually take the leap and start their own companies. For the last 18 months, I‘ve worked with these types of people. So, I’m expanding and formalizing this structure. DC Studio, our new coworking platform launching this month, helps the best independent creatives thrive by providing a proven platform of resources and culture not available in any coworking facility in Chicago. Coworking specifically for designers, by designers.

Our Art Gallery Angela and I put together the idea for our curatorial residency, MOUNT, and launched it to overwhelming success. MOUNT is the flagship of DC Art Gallery. Again, this was about realizing our inherent advantage as a design studio and art gallery. We’re building programming and events around MOUNT which help aspiring artists and curators benefit from the same platform of resources to better themselves, connect, and thrive.

Finally, Our Brand Design Cloud looks different today because we act differently; we think differently. It’s not like we just changed our wardrobe. We are a better company at the core, more dynamic, with a whole new attitude. DC Art Gallery and DC Studio elevates our team and our work. Opening our doors (and walls) means we can better support Chicago’s creative community. Our brand reflects this.

What’s Proven

Our Culture My blog post from almost two years ago pretty much sums up who we still are today, at our core. It’s our essence and our purpose. Every word still energizes me. Truth. Our core values continue to serve as our foundation, our lighthouse, our flashlight in the dark. These intangibles make us unique. They make us better. And by expanding our coworking and gallery programs, I want to share the benefits.

Our Team Nothing was more rewarding to me in the last 60 days than watching the core team become stronger, more diligent, invested…instead of fracturing. It validates everything Design Cloud represents. Driven, ambitious, independent designers banding together to be better, do better, feel better. Thankfully, Bigsby hasn’t changed a bit, either. He’s still the same rambunctious little boy zipped up in a dog costume.

Is Creative Freedom Dead? Of course not, silly. Creative freedom is conquering the fear of taking a risk. Doing your thing, what you feel in your gut and heart. If you’re a risk taker, you know exactly what I’m describing. Design Cloud helps risk takers by making big leaps seem possible. It stems from my original Design Cloud business brief…going way back to 2010. Check it out here. It’s the new way to work, a new collective model, a platform of resources. Everything that happened in the last 60 days helped us be a little more intelligent about it.

Conclusion

I hope this experience can help you look adversity in the face, and maybe slap it. You will doubt yourself, but if you’re a risk taker then you’re inherently optimistic. Celebrate this characteristic; find others who share it, as I have. And honestly, I really hope you like the changes. I really do. In my gut I know it’s better for everyone. I'd love to hear your opinion. Check out the new website here.

Nick Stocking is founder and principal of Design Cloud, your new favorite place to find inspiration in Chicago. From a family of artists, designers, engineers...and maybe a few attorneys, Nick has always balanced creative entrepreneurship and business smarts. Got a new idea or project? Want to provide feedback on the new brand and website? Want to stop by and see the studio and gallery? Email Nick  to connect over coffee.