About Us

A CHAT WITH OUR FOUNDER

Creative Director & Owner

Speedway J Graham

I’m here to discuss your project before you commit to our services. I’ll bring every bit of my experience and advice to our first discovery call. I am here to assist your team throughout each project once we get started creating designs for you.

When did you first get started as a designer?

My first design for consumption was probably a t-shirt I drew for my high school tennis team. I just remember there being way too much neon green.

Agency founders tend to come from different backgrounds, how would you describe your range of design skills?

Overall, I am a creator with the ability to concept and strategize. I tend to split my time between helping clients determine which design direction to pursue, instructing our team with specific design objectives, and taking a hands-on role with advanced/complex illustrations projects.

Where is Ascend Creations positioned in the broader design industry?

Ascend is positioned to help with established small to medium sized companies and educational institutions. We are typically a bit too expensive for companies not looking to make serious, researched advancements with their branding. However, we tend to be much more affordable than large agencies.

What types of roles / talent do you have on your team?

Ascend Creations is a full-stack agency. Our support for clients receiving the full design experience includes: market research, design/market strategy, messaging, inspiration boards, logos & brand guides… then we have talent on the team that helps implement new designs and brand standards across all printed and digital media.

Knowing Ascend Creations has a range of talents, can you rank your company’s top three skills? Where does your team absolutely shine?

We are definitely the strongest with logos, rebrands, and supporting advertising campaigns.

What’s the single most common type of project that businesses need help with?

Creating new materials that are on-brand. Most of our new clients are experiencing inconsistencies with their previous brand usage or are trying to refresh the look across all their materials.

Can you describe the perfect client for Ascend Creations?

Clients that have an in-house marketing point person and/or a project manager tend to work best with our team. Especially when it comes to brands looking to differentiate their marketing within their respective industry. We love to push the envelope, so when the client is on-board with having fun, it yields stronger work.

What’s the difference between clients that effectively leverage new designs vs those are are unsuccessful in implementing new designs?

An ”investment” mentality, trust, and transparency. We often have a front row seat, watching different companies as they navigate the brand creation process. Without fail, the most successful companies are willing to spend money in the right places, will rely on our advice and then work to keep all of their people on the same page regarding the new designs.

If you could outline the most ‘basic’, essential set of designs every company should put into place, how would you explain that?

Easy! Every company needs to have a well designed logo and a properly assembled set of Brand Guidelines. Without these items, it’s impossible to mobilize teams and marketing campaigns. Most companies have a logo but you’d be amazed at how few operate off of Brand Guidelines. That’s a PERFECT place to start.

What are the hidden challenges you regularly encounter behind design projects?

I think the actual design process can be a surprise to less experienced clients. Clients sometimes assume they’ve solved the problem before we start doing the work. Great process equals a great experience and, in my opinion, will end up helping teams better define…then ‘hit the mark’ with their design investments.

In your opinion, how do you define “great design”?

Simple, to the point, and memorable.

How important is project management in the type of design work you do?

Essential. Time spent on project management versus design is about a 1 to 3 ratio. Which is surprisingly high if you think about it. But such a huge part of the problem solving is including the client on the journey.

What advice do you have for clients when they find their ideas at odds with what a designer is recommending? Should clients always defer to a designers advice?

Not necessarily. Differing opinions make the world go around. It’s on a designer to incorporate valid aspects of a client’s desires into at least one design option. Any designer can come up with “cool stuff” that ignores the client’s ideas. But oftentimes, we find that when we try what the client envisions and put it next to a solution they hadn’t thought of, they wind up preferring the latter.

What's the easiest way for someone to get help from Ascend Creations?

We freely give some consultative advice on the front end of all new client relationships. Feel free to reach out and set up a call. We’ll spend 30-60 minutes outlining the best way for you to proceed with your design needs, whether it’s through Ascend Creations or other routes.