Jaime Lack , Marketing Manager - Austin Bridge & Road

I have worked with several talent placement firms over the years and can confidently say that Aquent’s customer service and selection of candidates is unparalleled in the industry. I can sleep at night knowing that if when I arrive at work in the morning I discover that we are short on staff for a large project, Aquent will have my back.

Dave Larson , Creative Director - Catalina Marketing

As I reflect on our accomplishments this year it's true to say Aquent has definitely played a part in helping our team achieve its goats. Needless to say it's great having partners that can add value to the sometimes crazy side of Catalina. As with every business, next year will bring a whole new set of challenges, some known and others still unforeseen. Whatever the situation, I took forward to working with AQIENT.

Lance Elliot , Brand Manager - Hunter Industries

There have been moments when I needed talent within an unreasonable timeline, and my Aquent partner Matt has delivered every time with calm professionalism. Nearly all of my staff has come via Aquent, and I have never once regretted bringing them on as members of the team. I will look to Aquent to support all of my future needs.

Charlie Reagan , Senior Project Manager - Marriott Hotels

My experience with Aquent has been simply stellar. As a business manager in a creative environment, finding the right mix of creative chops and business savvy can prove quite difficult. Aquent has consistently provided excellent talent for my organization, and is the first staffing company I call when I need help.

Keith Sedlak , Managing Director - Meredith Corporation

My experience working with the talent from Aquent over the past several years has been great. The talent, service and experience have been nothing short of outstanding.

John Tosner , Sr. Manager Creative Services - Office Depot

Thanks for all your help this year. Aquent’s hard work and dedication help make our success possible. Looking forward to continuing our productive working relationship.

Tara Banks , Creative Services Manager - Orlando Regional Healthcare

As always thank you so much for being such a great partner to us! We would be lost without you!

Stacey Ollis , Project Manager - South Florida Water Management District

Thanks so much for all your staff’s assistance on the South Florida Environmental Report Project! All of Aquent’s efforts are greatly appreciated for the outstanding editorial and art direction support throughout the past eight months and glad that you all were able to be part of this year’s Production Team. You have been so supportive and responsive throughout this entire process – all deliverables and invoices were provided diligently and timely, and your can-do attitude made working with your company a pleasure.

Jennifer Santiago , Human Resources - WellCare Health Plans

I am in the Human Resource department at Wellcare Hearth Plans in Tampa and one of my responsibilities is to coordinate temporary staffing throughout our organization. I've been working with Aquent for the past two years and the vendor relationship we currently share has been extremely rewarding. I rely on Aquent to provide our managers with excellent candidates whether they are part of a Creative Service or Marketing background and I hope to continue to work with AQUENT to assist us with our staffing needs.

Taking Stock... Are The Penalties for Abusing Image Rights Too High?

It's Fontastic (Or Not)

A Method to their Method

Be A PanelPicker

Ugh, resumes

Successful Creative Briefs: Linking Business Objectives and Creative Strategies

Call them what you will—“creative briefs,” “design briefs,” “marketing briefs,” “communications briefs,” or even “objectives and strategies statements”—the actual name is less important than helping creative and marketing professionals to fully understand and appreciate their potential value to any design initiative within your organization. Many designers and their clients have yet to completely embrace the creative brief as a vital part of the design process to share valuable information, build consensus, align expectations, and set clear objectives. This paper details how to create successful briefs and provides samples.

Having worked with hundreds of creative professionals to hone their business skills in order to improve communications and relationships between them and their clients, I am confident that the creative brief—when properly developed and adhered to—is one of the most valuable tools in the design process, providing a vital connection between business objectives and creative strategies. For clients, account managers, and creatives, a clear and well-prepared design brief can help make a project, just as a long-winded and unfocused brief can lead to its ultimate demise. While briefs should be customized to each individual discipline, company, and project, there are some common techniques that you can use to help ensure that your organization is not only creating impactful briefs, but is also getting the most out of them.

Building the Dream Design Team

Aquent provided the strategic design expertise a global consumer products company needed in order to reduce spending and increase utilization rates for its design group. Since Aquent was first engaged, the operations manager has established workflow processes that have reduced client spend levels and the entire design team has maintained an impressive average utilization rate of 86 percent.

Customer retention materials

Aquent design talent helped a leading financial services company shift gears rapidly and defend business in a down market.

Specialized Creative Services Team

Aquent provided a leading entertainment satellite company the creative services talent it needed to produce differentiated point-of-purchase and in-store advertising to support its national retailers.

10, Sep, 2010

Communications Arts: Typography Competition

Promote your talent—enter our inaugural juried competition celebrating the best use of typography as the primary visual element in design and advertising, plus original typeface design, calligraphy and hand lettering.

If selected, your award-winning work will be beautifully reproduced in the 2011 Typography Annual, and on the Communication Arts Web site, assuring a prominent place on the premier stage of the industry.

10, Sep, 2010

AIA/LA Design Awards 2010

Annual exhibit of all the submissions for Awards competition. Opening event on September 10 will include a Round Table discussion and reception.

14, Sep, 2010

ThinkLA: AIEF Charity Golf Day

Charity golf tournament benefitting the Advertising Industry Emergency Fund (AIEF), along with other programs of thinkLA.

Since 1972, AIEF has granted over $2 million in emergency money to individuals in the Southern California advertising and promotions community, including fire, earthquake and landslide victims. Those with life-threatening illnesses have been helped with medical bills and other expenses. When your colleagues have no other means of support, AIEF provides funds to get them back on track.

14, Oct, 2010

Gain: AIGA Design and Business Conference

Design has the power to change the direction of businesses, provide fuel for economies and even change lives. Provocative thinkers from a wide range of disciplines will inspire and reinvigorate at “Gain: AIGA Design and Business Conference” this fall in New York City.

Hear business, design and thought leaders share their innovative approaches to generating greater return on investment, fostering emotional connections and providing positive brand experiences for customers.

Continue the discussions beyond the stage with networking receptions, evening events and more to engage with ideas and with each other.

Learn how industry leaders addressed business challenges through design—and how they reinvented their businesses, their strategies and even themselves.

23, Oct, 2010

Adobe MAX 2010

Adobe MAX is a unique opportunity to connect with thousands of designers, developers, and business leaders as we shape the future of digital media together. Discover how to realize the full potential of your content and applications. Find new opportunities presented by rich experiences across screens. Explore new methods for monetizing content. Learn about innovative technologies that enable designers and developers to work together more effectively. Join us and get inspired.

14, Apr, 2011

AIGA National: Design Ranch 2011

Design Ranch is an intimate, three-day, hands-on, workshop-driven design retreat in a rustic setting on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Central Texas.

This isn't one of those conferences: No slide presentations, no lectures--just small groups (20 or less) gathering up close and personal with workshop leaders. It's about putting down your mouse, getting your hands dirty and reviving your creative spirit.