What do you like the most and the least about being involved with a small design studio? A lot of designers work in big to medium sized studios; do you have any words of wisdom for them?

M: I love being in a small company and having the ability to do a wide range of projects. On the negative side, I have to do the work of three people – doing project management, design and art direction all at the same time. Before starting One9ine, I worked at pretty big agencies and learned a lot about project management and client interface. Without that experience, I certainly would not have been prepared to start a firm.

W: I think the best – and one of the main reasons we formed One9ine – is to be able to take on the types of projects that are good for the studio and our own development as designers. By keeping “lean and mean” [hat tip to Matt for that one] we are able to take on some very large projects – but also smaller ones if we desire. We don’t have 50 mouths to feed – and thus can sustain the whole operation on far less money than larger organizations.
That same thinking also means that we have to wear many hats in our studio – and constantly ensuring that both the clients and our personal development are getting the attention and time they need. It is a more difficult way to work – but it allows us to be the type of studio that we want. Its a tough balance.

L: I love being able to get my hands on all aspects of the process: design and implementation. At larger studios, it’s easier to become cast in one role. Job functions can become pretty specific. A designer may only create psds all day long. While that may be ideal for some, I prefer a role that is extremely varied. In a larger firm you gotta be proactive as hell to breakout of the one track scenario.

All of the members of One9ine have a strong commitment to personal work and have their own distinct style and ability. How does that effect the collaborate process of the studio? Does it make it harder or easier to work together?

M: Lee does Destroyrockcity.com, I do Volumeone.com, Warren has done work for the Remedi Project and Dan does Developindustrial.com. Each of these projects serve as personal and creative outlets that not only help you become better at what you do, but are also contribution to a visual and interactive culture out there that is dedicated to loving design and the making of things. We all work together and on our own. Inevitably, one of us guides a project. I think that Lee is capable of working really well with all of us. Warren and I are a little more single minded sometimes. Doing your own work is encouraged in the studio if you want to do it. Some of us have been doing personal work for several years so it makes sense to allow a space for it. It also informs client work and demonstrates possibilities. I think without your own thing going, work is just work, no matter how interesting the work is.

W: We definitely all of a distinct, opinionated approach towards design. It is often very hard – because we are all stubborn – but I wouldn’t trade it. I think if you are willing to defend something to the length we do in our studio than it must mean something to you – and there must be a reason you did it. I think key to our success in dealing with it has been the ability to separate out the subjective “I like this” or “I don’t like that” from the needs of the client and project. Also, every project has a lead creative – and ultimately it is that persons responsibility to make the final call. I’ve worked in a number of collaborative settings – and the only time they are successful is when there is a little pain. Wasn’t it Thomas Jefferson said “If the happiness of the mass of the people can be secured at the expense of a little tempest now and then, or even of a little blood, it will be a precious purchase.”

L: We all do a lot of personal work outside the studio, and that’s definitely a plus. It keeps the influx of creativity at a pretty high level. The experimentation we explore outside of One9ine usually leads to a new way approaching client work whether visually or interactively. It makes it working together easier as well as more interesting. It can be like “wow, that navigation you’re using rocks. Lets see how that can be applied to such n such project.” It gives us a broader set of “tools” to work with. It’s also continues to be very inspiring.