Switch Studio in Tempe Hosts “Inside the Designer’s Studio”

Valley designers and students got an insider's view of magazine production at Switch Studio in Tempe on Thursday August, 9th. The sold-out event was the latest installment of the "Inside the Designer's Studio" series sponsored by AIGA, the professional association for design.

Jim Nissen, owner of Switch Studio and self-described ADHD / OCD / Dyslexic, started with a tour that highlighted some of the more unusual aspects of his studio, including TVs at every desk, a homemade ping pong table, a full kitchen and the loft where Nissen used to live. Never short on words or enthusiasm, he took the audience through the process of producing a variety of titles, including Amnesty International's member magazine.

Managing 15 - 20 different titles across a wide variety of demographics is a challenging exercise in brand management. Every issue has to feel coherent to the publication's image, but needs to look different from the last issue.

Nissen talked about the importance he places on relationships, especially with his four employees. They turn off the phones for an hour each day and have lunch together, generally with a game of Jenga happening on the lunch table. The team plays ping pong to bounce ideas off each other and a movie is usually playing across all the TVs to take some of the monotony out of the tedious work of production.

The entire Switch Studio team was on-hand to share their insights and talk about their challenges. The intimate size of 20 attendees allowed them to speak freely and discuss some industry knowledge and company secrets unknown to the public.

During the Q & A session, Nissen gave some advice to new business owners in the audience and recommended some books, including The Brand Gap and The E-Myth. His number one piece of advice: run your business like you plan to sell it.

AIGA Arizona hosts Inside the Designer's Studio every two months, always featuring a different business to offer insight into Arizona's design community.

About AIGA
AIGA, the professional association for design, is the oldest and largest membership association for design professionals engaged in the discipline, practice and culture of designing.

The Arizona chapter of AIGA, founded in 1989, supports the interests of professionals, educators and students who are engaged in the process of designing. The association is committed to stimulating thinking about design, demonstrating the value of design and empowering success for designers throughout the arc of their careers.

For more information, visit http://arizona.aiga.org

About Switch Studio
SW!TCH Studio has been specializing in the delivery of branded content for over 13 years through publication design, identity and art direction.

By providing appropriate target-specific creative we enable clients of all shapes and sizes to reach their audience, achieve marketing objectives and improve their bottom line.

For more information, visit http://www.switchstudio.com