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Archives for Business
We’re Hiring
Posted by Justin on Oct 29, 2007Aten Design Group seeks a talented Flash developer to assist in creating rich online experiences. Projects will include online games, product configurators, interactive mapping applications, and more. Our clients include some of the world’s best known non-profit and cultural heritage institutions.
Freelance Position Requirements:
- Extensive ActionScript experience
- Ability to work well in a team setting
- Flexible schedule to permit fluid collaboration with our team
- Ability to work from our office in Denver, CO is preferred but not required
Interested?
Email work@atendesigngroup.com with your portfolio, work experience, and rates.
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New Diggs
Posted by Justin on Oct 25, 2007
Aten Design Group has moved. After six years of doing business from an office in Williamsburg, Virginia, we have relocated to Denver, Colorado.
Reasons Why
- Talent is hard to come by in Williamsburg.
- Important members of our team are already spread out across the country, with key designers in New York and LA. A more central location better serves them.
- Our clients are similarly spread out.
- The rocky mountains are here.
- There are dozens of other reasons, personal and professional, that also made Denver the right choice.
The New Place
The new office is on Downing and 17th, just a few blocks east of downtown. The office takes up the top two stories of a historic mansion. We love the space and love the location. We still need art on the walls, still need to set up the conference room, and will be making some final (minor) structural modifications, but are very happy to be here - despite the settling dust.
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Working for Non-profits
Posted by Justin on Jun 13, 2007We love working for non-profits and cultural heritage institutions. Why? Two simple reasons.
1 - They do business like everybody else.
There are many misconceptions about non-profits, the biggest of which classifies non-profits as non-paying (or little-paying) customers. A couple years ago we posted a note about an open position to a well-known design forum, and mentioned that we do a lot of work for non-profit organizations. One of the replies was something to the effect of, “non-profit = no profit.”
That just isn’t so. We’ve seen no measurable, categorical difference in the budget assumptions made by non-profit organizations as compared to the assumptions made by their for-profit counterparts.
2 - The reasons they get up and go to work in the morning are, by-and-large, amazing.
Most non-profits are inherently driven by greater purpose, vision, and mission. We’ve had the opportunity to be involved in some truly amazing efforts, efforts where our work — connecting clients to their users in meaningful ways — becomes both incredibly important and rewarding.
Over the years we’ve been involved with organizations working to:
- Eradicate poverty housing
- End world hunger
- Elevate the standard of living for children globally
- Preserve history and culture for the benefit of present and future generations
- Provide medical care where it would otherwise be unavailable
- Promote global literacy
- Translate the Bible into mother-tongue languages of the world
- Engage children to be advocates against poverty
What an honor.
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When to Jump
Posted by Justin on Apr 17, 2007A few weeks ago while at An Event Apart Boston, a couple of freelance web designers asked me the same question: When do you know you’re ready to hire your first employee? When do you make the jump?
I didn’t have a great answer. I rambled something about goals, about being realistic, and some other things I don’t even remember. They probably don’t remember them either.
In my defense, it’s been a while (seven years) since we hired our first designer, and I haven’t had to think about making that jump for a long time.
Over the last couple weeks, though, I’ve given the matter a little more thought, and now have what I hope is a much more useful answer.
You hire your first employee (or freelancer) when the following two statements are true:
- You want to.
- You can afford to.
That’s it pure and simple.
I’ve met plenty of freelancers who aren’t interested in hiring. For these folks, the attraction of freelancing usually has a lot to do with the freedom it brings: the freedom to make your own schedule, choose your own projects, and by-and-large answer to yourself. Hiring imposes new responsibilities that are a lot less “free”. You’ll have to manage someone else’s schedule and priorities, even if not your own. Payday will suddenly be very important. And if you share an office, you’ll probably need to stop going to work in your underwear. Sound bad? Then don’t hire.
Likewise if you can’t afford it, don’t do it. Make absolutely sure that your cash-flow accommodates the new hire. If the cost of bringing someone onboard full-time is daunting, start with part-time or freelance and let the position grow as you earn return on your investment.
So that’s my answer to the “when to jump” question, should I ever be asked it again. The good news is that the answer is simple. Incredibly simple. The bad news is that none of this says anything about how to make the jump, let alone how to do so successfully.
