Events
November 20, 2024
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Questioning Tomorrow:
Design Thinkers, Toronto 2023

Design Thinkers is quickly becoming a calendar highlight for us at Kenshō. The conference organised by the RGD (Registered Graphic Designers of Canada) takes place annually in both Vancouver and Toronto, the latter attracting over 2,000 multi-disciplinary creatives from across North America and beyond, all coming together under one roof to explore topics surrounding the conference theme ‘Question Tomorrow’.

Our industry currently finds itself shrouded by uncertainty and rapid change. We operate in a crowded, fast paced and increasingly competitive environment, one that challenges designers to innovate, pivot and diversify in order to maintain a competitive edge.

So what were our takeaways from the conference, how do we best navigate this landscape in order to thrive in such an unpredictable world?

Embrace Change

As expected AI was a big topic of conversation, we’re at a point where the majority of us have integrated both AI Chatbots and Generative AI into our daily workflow, and guess what… it’s not actually that scary! This technology has streamlined repetitive tasks, allowing us to allocate more time and energy to what really matters; conceptualisation, ideation and creation.

Renato Fernandez of TBWA/Chiat/Day Los Angeles aptly described AI as ‘the end of the blank page’ AKA a designers worst nightmare, whilst Hajj Flemings of Rebrand Cities confidently stated that in a world full of questions ‘the best way to predict the future is to create it’.

Ultimately, we need to fully leverage all the tools at our disposal in order to stay ahead. AI is here to stay, it can do incredible things and free up copious amounts of precious time. In such a rapidly evolving industry those who don’t adopt new technology will inevitably find themselves being overtaken.

Nurture your Creativity


As designers we all share a common affinity for simply being creative. Many of us experience a moment or period within which we discover that we are innately creative individuals, a realisation that opens up a world of possibility and opportunity. But the question begs, once your passion has become your career, how do you maintain or reignite that spark and curiosity?

Emmi Salonen of Studio Emi spoke on ‘how to nurture and sustain creative wellbeing’, within which she explored her own struggles with burn out and creative block. She attributes a resurgence in her career to a period of time in which she took a step back from work to explore her relationship with nature. Tina Roth Eisenberg, founder of Creative Mornings, took us on a journey to explore how creativity might be a discipline of optimism. Her mission to create organic community has been a driving force in allowing her to lead an incredible career, spanning 25 years and positively influencing thousands in the process.

Creativity is our currency, sustaining and nurturing it is our responsibility. Each individual will have their own means of doing so, be it through sketching letterforms, photographing interesting compositions, writing poetry, reading books, listening to podcasts, finding community or simply being in nature, the list goes on. We often find ourselves consumed by our work and lose sight of these small rituals or habits that truly keep us curious. Make time for them, nurture them, enjoy them.

Advocate for Design, Advocate for Yourself


Design is often an undervalued service, incorporated as a second thought and with limited budget. In an overly saturated industry many of us may resort to underselling ourselves in order to try and maintain a competitive edge.

Emily Cohen of Casa Davka was very vocal on her position, we must collectively advocate both for ourselves, and for our industry. Competitive edge is not gained by underselling our services, but by educating on the value we provide, quantifying the positive results of our efforts, and standing together to move past bad practices that hold our collective industry back. It is imperative that we prioritise ourselves, our staff and the integrity of our work above all else.

Design Thinkers also quite simply allowed us to spend time in the presence of some truly great individuals; Chris Do’s ‘Natural Born Seller’ talk was a masterclass in the business of design, the enigma that is Stefan Sagmeister captivated us with a look into his data-driven design practice, and Paula Scher, the certified Queen of Graphic Design, demonstrated at her 75 years of age that she’s still at the very top of her game.

We want to extend a huge thank you to the RGD for their hard work behind the scenes to put this all together, we’ll see you in Vancouver in May!

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Kenshō Agency & Ads.gi Joins Forces with the Capurro Group

Kenshō Agency & Ads.gi Joins Forces with the Capurro Group

After several years of collaboration, we’re thrilled to announce that the  Capurro Group has acquired a majority stake in Kenshō Agency &  Ads.gi, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership that will  propel us to new heights.

INTRO

After several years of collaboration, we’re thrilled to announce that the  Capurro Group has acquired a majority stake in Kenshō Agency &  Ads.gi, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership that will  propel us to new heights.With over 150 years of business  expertise, the Capurro Group brings an extensive network and deep  industry knowledge, enabling Kenshō Agency to operate on a more global  scale.

This partnership strengthens our ability to serve our clients,  unlocking new opportunities, markets, and strategic connections that  will enhance the value we deliver to them.

Having worked  together for nearly a decade, this move is a natural evolution of our  shared vision. With Capurro Group's backing, Kenshō Agency is poised for unprecedented growth while continuing to innovate and push boundaries.

We’re incredibly excited for this next chapter and the possibilities it  brings, not just for us but for our clients, partners, and the  industries we serve.

Stay tuned for what’s next!

News
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Two Weeks at Kenshō: My Internship Experience

When I first came across the internship at Kenshō, I was looking for an opportunity in Gibraltar before heading into my final year at university... Something that would give me a taste of life in a creative studio and a chance to finally put into practice what I’d been studying. I was lucky to find Kenshō advertising a two-week student internship on their social media, and I applied immediately.

I had already referenced Kenshō in my university work as an inspiring agency in Gibraltar, so I was familiar with their work. They had a range of different projects with a clean, thought-out style. I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. It felt like it was the perfect place to learn, contribute, and grow as a graphic design student in Gibraltar and also prepare me for my final year in University.

Before starting, I was quite nervous. It was a completely new environment, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I worried about whether I’d be able to apply my graphic design knowledge from university in a real-world setting, and even whether I’d enjoy working in a design agency despite studying Graphic Design. I imagined I might just be observing from the sidelines and quietly working at a desk. But from my very first day, I realised I had nothing to worry about. The team couldn’t have been more approachable and welcoming. They made me feel included straight away, showing patience and taking the time to explain their roles in depth. During my first week, they walked me through how to process a new client brief and encouraged me to contribute by sharing my ideas and sketches throughout the design journey.

Over the two-week internship, I was given the chance to get involved in real client work. I sat in on meetings, joined creative discussions, and watched how ideas are designed, refined, and brought to life from start to finish. It was amazing to be part of these sessions and to see first-hand how the team translates a client’s vision into design, and how they handle feedback in such a professional and creative way. I quickly realised just how much groundwork goes into a project before design even begins, particularly the initial communication and research phases. I discovered I really enjoyed the strategic part of the process, which is something I might not have realised without this internship. Along the way, I also learnt the basics of software I hadn’t used before, like Figma, as well as valuable design tips and platforms that I’ll now take forward into my university work.

The studio environment at Kenshō was inspiring and extremely encouraging. Everyone was supportive and always happy to answer questions. I enjoyed going into the office every morning and looked forward to it over the weekend. I am now leaving this internship with a much clearer understanding of what it’s like to work in a creative team and how graphic design works in practice. I have learnt how to approach projects, and the difference that good communication makes in producing the best design possible. Every single day within these two weeks I have walked out the office having learnt something new, making it a very valuable step in my design journey. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and excited to take what I’ve learnt into my future work.

Thank you Kenshō!

Insights
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Welcoming Zsuzsa Papp to the team
News
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