In the latest installment of our Columbus Creatives: A Day in the Life series, we talk with Deron Husak, a Design Director who founded his own agency to “create strategically sound brand[s]” for his clients in the Columbus community + beyond.
My name is Deron. I’m the Founder and Design Director of Major Interactive, a digitally focused micro-agency. That means I’m responsible for everything: business development, client management, project planning, estimating, invoicing…more work than you might initially think, but very fulfilling and rewarding.
I enjoy a variety of projects and clients. Most of my work is digital design, but I’m happy to work on print and environmental projects. Regardless, it all should point back to and support a well-defined, strategically sound brand. I’m lucky when I get to create those from scratch.
I’m not an expert at everything, however, so it’s important to partner with and outsource to other independents and smaller shops for content, development, photography and other services–and working with my peers helps to keep me on my toes.
Morning
Two words: coffee. Especially if I’m trying to get my boys (9 and 7) to catch their school bus on time. While this can be one of the most stressful parts of my day, I feel very fortunate to help them prepare for success.
Once the boys are off, I’ll begin my workday by responding to emails, then tackle my prioritized projects. I’m lucky to be able to work from home when I like—especially when I really need to concentrate and crank out some hands-on design. That said, sometimes it’s good to be around other people. Conversations in person can be so much more effective than over the phone, or via email. Depending on the client and their needs, sometimes I’ll work onsite—which again makes communication much faster and easier.
Other times I’ll opt for a change of scenery at One Line Coffee, The Roosevelt Coffeehouse or Mission Coffee Co. Tasty goodies at Fox in the Snow or Pistachia Vera make up for their lack of wifi. Non-design work where an external monitor isn’t necessary—like estimates, proposals, scheduling and creative briefs—are all perfectly suited for working remotely on my laptop.
Afternoon
If I’m working from home, I’ll fix myself a quick lunch and go outside for some sunshine and fresh air, even if the weather isn’t ideal. Stepping away for 30 minutes can do wonders for refreshing your creativity.
Afternoons at home are when I can really maximize my productivity and hit my stride (especially when I turn up the music to 11). Dual external monitors give me all the screen real estate that I need.
Sometimes I’ll take a little break by posting to Twitter (@majorinteract), usually between 1 and 3 PM. My LinkedIn account gets updated less frequently, but with higher profile news. I usually post to Instagram (@deronhusak) in the later evening… yes, you should follow me!
Evening
On days when my boys are with me, I’ll pick them up from latchkey. I encourage them to burn off their energy by playing outside while I make dinner. After prepping for the next day, it’s the usual bedtime routine for the boys. Reading helps them to calm down, and I love that they are both voracious readers!
On non-parenting days—and if I’m already in the city—occasionally I’ll treat myself to a fancier meal than I might prepare myself. Sycamore Café and Flatiron are some of my favorites. Service Bar and The Keep are next on my list. Other times I’ll join some friends to catch a film at the Gateway or set new high scores at Old North Arcade or Pins. As an independent and single dad, it’s important to keep in touch with your friends. I appreciate them maybe more than they know.
If necessary, I’ll work a little in the evening, but these days I try to keep that to a minimum. Flexibility is key, there’s no substitute for a good night’s sleep. At the end of each day, I try to reflect on my accomplishments and how I could have done a little better. Regardless, I’m thankful to start the next day with a clean slate.
Photo credit: Mike Pierce www.mikepiercephoto.com