Dwayne Grech - caught without his sunglasses
Dwayne Grech and his iconic beard came to talk to us about interactive design and what to expect after school. Dwayne is an Interactive Designer at Momentum Advanced Solutions and also is the Owner/Designer at Sultan of Beard.
ABOUT DWAYNE
- Dwayne is the owner/founder and lead design at his company "Sultan of Beard".
- Check out his webpage here: http://dwaynegrech.com
- Dwayne shoots films/video - specifically music videos
- He also loves tactile design, and builds sculptures out of foam
- He went to Seneca College for graphic design, graduated in 2004
- Couple years later he attended the Sheridan Web Design program and graduated in 2009 just in time for the recession to take full effect
- His first job right out of school was at Organic Online Media where he worked on projects for Jeep, Dodge & Crystler.
- He moved onto work at Young & Rubicam as a flash designer working on a project for the Ford Flex.
- Next he moved onto The Marketing Store - a print based shop that just opened up a digital branch
- Worked on the user interface for Sirius Satellite Radio, worked a lot with the IT team on building it. Was so interested in this area this really launched is UI career
- Now teaches UI classes at the Sheridan Brampton campus to developers
INTERESTING FACTS
- Backpacked through Australia for a year
- Speaks Japanese
- Started Facebook Group - The Toronto Surf Club - they surf from October to January...brrrr
MOMENTUM
www.momentum.com
- They are a digital agency - part of OnX
- They do a lot of banner ads, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds - any content from the client that touches the web goes through them
- They do work for Jeep, Crystler, Dodge, Ram, Fiat
- They develop mobile applications for Mercedes
- Online support for Mazda & Foresters online support
- Online loyalty support for AMEX - trying to increase online supporters
- They are rated Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies
MOMENTUM WORK
CRYSTLER
- They're banner ads get updated every moth for new campaigns
- Hired Swayd out of Windsor to do the 3D to build then
KOKANEE - CRANKWORX & JEEP RANGLER
dwaynegrech.com
- Jeep was a sponsor of Kokanee Crankworx event, Momentum made their microsite
- Crankworx is a downhill biking competition - takes about 11 hours to walk up the mountain and takes these guys about 7 minutes to get down
- At the bottom of the mountain they had a Jeep to test drive
LIFE AFTER SHERIDAN - WHAT TO EXPECT
1) It will not be easy. Toronto is the center for design in Canada and there is a lot of competition.
2) Lack of sleep. Last minute projects will be your responsibility, you will be the "new guy" and you have to pay your dues to get ahead.
3) How do you stand out in an ultra-competitive market? Go to networking events and parties. In the end it comes down to your personality, have a good one!
4) This a small industry, everybody knows everybody. Do NOT burn bridges. Never throw fellow designers under the bus, never leave halfway through a project. Be mindful of first impressions, gossip will travel.
5) There will always be CRAZY office politics anywhere you go. Learn to take criticism, this is a cut-throat business and there is no time for hurt feelings and egos, learn to let go.
6) Toronto has heaps of agencies to choose from. Large agencies will work you to the bone where smaller agencies are a little more gentle, but you do get a lot more responsibility.
DWAYNE'S LIFE LESSONS - INTERPRETED COMMANDMENT STYLE
1) Thou shalt not burn bridges.
2) Thou shalt attend all holy networking events.
3) Honour thy brain, never stop learning.
4) Thou shalt have no other Gods besides: www.theFWA.com
5) Thou shalt sacrifice many weekends.
6) Our Saviour is Red Bull, hallow'd be thy name, drink away.
7) Thou shalt be kind, pay it forward.
8) Thou shalt honour thyself, love your work, always.
9) Spirits are no sin.
10) Thou shalt Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, forever and ever.
CONTACT DWAYNE
dwayne.grech@momentum.com
twitter:@sultanofbeard
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