Community | Tobin Lehman: Blog

ABOUT

Tobin Lehman is a designer and educator who lives in Frederick, Maryland. His professional portfolio can be found at www.tobinlehman.com, and you can contact him at contact [at] tobinlehman [dot] com.

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Sustainable Practices at Tobin Lehman

Being a small office gives us some great advantages over many businesses, but one thing that we continually look to improve is our sustainability practices. Sustainability is simply how well we manage the life cycle of our products we create as well as the products we buy and use. Being in a controlled environment like an office it’s easy to audit the resources we use everyday and having a low head-count makes it even easier to hold everyone accountable. So, here are a list of things we do on a daily basis to drive sustainability.

Use both sides of printed paper, recycling when full
Recycle Everything. (Cans, paper, electronics, ink cartridges)
Drink tap water instead of bottled
Buy 100% or more post-consumer content in paper goods and office supplies.
Use skylights to light the office during the day
Shut down the computers and printers at night (after back-ups of course)
Set computers to sleep after a short period of away time
Go paperless for documentation (PDFs)
Use soap and water to clean desks, chairs instead of chemical cleaners
Walk to work and meetings when able.
Use real utensils and dishes, not plastic and paper
Offer sustainable hosting options to our clients

All of these are simple steps that I am taking but I’m sure there is more that could be done. If you have ideas or suggestions, please post back and let me know.

CATEGORIES: Business, Community, Education, Productivity, Theory, Tobin Lehman | No Comments » | November 2009

AIGA Conference Notes: Make | Think

The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), held its biannual design conference this past week in Memphis, Tennessee. The motivation for attending this conference was the hopes that the speakers and workshops would provide some additional knowledge and inspiration to our current work and build some momentum for the coming year.

The conference provided the opportunity to participate in many thought-provoking workshops, listen to some very talented speakers, talk to vendors, and mingle with the design elite. These conferences, in their basic form, allow us as an industry to share stories from our practices, discover new inspiration, discuss design theory, and develop new skills with the hope that everyone returns to the office with renewed passion for the design process.

This hope was realized in the office of Tobin Lehman. With numerous ideas to integrate into our clients’ projects, and new tools to create more successful work, this conference may be a turning point in our work.

Interested in seeing it for yourself? Check out the following links to some of the conference’s best speakers. (Videos will be posted soon via AIGA, so many of these are simply for reference.)

David Butler, VP of Global Design, Coke
Roger Martin, Author
Al Bell, Founder Stax Records
Stefan Sagmeister

CATEGORIES: Community, Design, Education, Graphic Design, Tobin Lehman, Typography, Web design | No Comments » | October 2009

Browser Compatibility Policy Update: Fall 2009

This post is a general update to inform all on the position on Tobin Lehman Design + Interactive on browser compatibility for new Web site development.

As the Internet continues to be a wonderful place to explore, participate, and consume, the technology we use to engage this plane of reality is in a constant state of development by software developers and their communities. As builder of site that use this technology, we must provide the most progressive and robust experience possible to our clients and their customers, keeping up with these advancements. In this progressive response, we must also leave behind software of the past to continually provide a cost effective solution to our clients. The following list states the current minimum browser standards covered in our development projects.

Microsoft: Internet Explorer 7

Mozilla: Firefox 3.0, Camino 1.5

Apple: Safari 3.0

In addition, as future web browsers emerge on the market, compatibility for your site and these new browsers may become suspect to new issues.Â As a proactive approach, you or your marketing department should be conducting an evaluation and review of these new browsers as they emerge. Happy browsing!

CATEGORIES: Advertising, Business, Community, Design, Productivity, Technology, Tobin Lehman, Web design | No Comments » | September 2009

The More You Give, The More You Receive

This inspirational headline has more of a “nuts and bolts” application than you might initially think. When we start to look at our interactions with our clients as relationships similar to our cherished personal relationships, we have the opportunity to capture a significant place in our client’s mind. When you establish a truthful, unfettered, and open dialog with your client about expectations and roles, it can lead to a stronger relationship in the long run. And as these great relationships develop, both parties are looking for some of value that is not tactile like a finished product or financial, but the intangible and qualitative, such as trust, honestly, and dependability.

These types of relationships can not come without investment. This means extending beyond your comfort level at times to reach new and unfamiliar personalities with confidence and an open, accepting nature. When meeting someone who does not share your interests and outlook on life, you can develop a better relationship by exploring common threads such as heritage, locality, education, view points, and social ties. There is always somewhere to start an open, engaging dialog with a client that extends beyond the scope of the work at hand. It’s our opportunity to extend that olive branch, to set aside differences and communicate in a manner that is both honest and constructive.

The last thing anybody wants to to work with someone they can not communicate with. I believe in looking at each client as a potential relationship and an opportunity for growth. And as you “give” yourself to these relationships, you will inevitably receive more than you give.

CATEGORIES: Business, Community, Theory, Tobin Lehman | No Comments » | August 2009

Tobin Lehman set to serve on the AIGA Blue Ridge Board of Directors

More great news last week as we announce that Tobin Lehman is now serving as education chair to AIGA Blue Ridge.Â Following a 6 year hiatus in membership, Tobin Lehman has rejoined the AIGA and is hoping to bring his years of experience in other organizations to the AIGA Blue Ridge chapter. Following the massive amount of work set forth by Kristin Kaineg and the rest of the AIGA Blue Ridge board of directors, he hopes to keep the education initiatives alive and well.

AIGA Blue Ridge brings together design professionals, students and the people who collaborate with them. Serving Western Maryland, Southwestern Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia and Northeastern West Virginia since 2002, we promote the value of design through networking, continuing education and training and giving back to the communities we live and work in.

CATEGORIES: Business, Community, Design, Education, Graphic Design, Tobin Lehman, linkedin | No Comments » | July 2009

Tobin Lehman elected as Vice President for the Greater Frederick Advertising Federation’s 2009/10 Board of Directors

It’s with great pleasure that we announce that Tobin Lehman has been elected to serve as the Vice President for the next board term of the Greater Frederick Advertising Federation. Lehman hopes that this year’s board of directors will help guide the club through the tough economic times that face our industry by providing relevant programs and events that have increasing value for it’s members. This will be the fourth consecutive year that Lehman has served on the Board of Directors of the organization. He states, “The value of the club is not only in the great events, but in the community as well. The GFAF community of professionals has benefited me in my own business beyond mention. The best way to take advantage of this community is to join and participate.”Â Lehman was also the recipient of the Crystal Prism Award in 2009 for his volunteer efforts for the club.

More information on the Greater Frederick Advertising Federation can be found on the Web site, or by coming to one of the upcoming events and talking to some of the long standing members who represent the advertising community in Frederick.

CATEGORIES: Advertising, Community, Tobin Lehman, linkedin | 2 Comments » | June 2009

Par For A Cause Goes Live

Visit ParForACause.org, a new golf tournament sponsored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Maryland. It is the hopes of the organizers that a strong online presence, including an online registration form will help golfers sign up and pass along information to one another and get the word out about this event.

If you are a golfer, or know anyone who does, please pass along this link and encourage them to sign up. This year’s course is the infamous Musket Ridge golf course, which is one of the top courses in the area. The fee alone to play this course is over eighty dollars, which makes the 125-dollarÂ ticket not that hard to realize, when you throw in the food and beverages included in your fee.

Any what could feel better? Doing something you love to help people in need. This is a true, win-win.

CATEGORIES: Community, Tobin Lehman, Web design | No Comments » | June 2009

Tobin Lehman awarded with the AAF Crystal Prism Award for 2009

The Crystal Prism is an award given by the individual chapters of the AAF to one member who demonstrates great dedication and service to their club. It is with great honor and gratitude that Tobin Lehman accepts this award for his active service to the Greater Frederick Advertising Federation.

Tobin Lehman has been a member of the Greater Frederick Advertising Federation for over four years, and has served on the board of directors for three of those years. He continues to help the club develop its outreach and marketing vehicles on the web, such as the In the Loupe Blog and Email blasts, as well as orchestrating educational events such as Campaign Digital this past fall. In addition, he has served as the ADDY Awards web site designer and developer for the past two years.

Tobin is thankful for all the people who have been his mentors and friends during his time in service to the GFAF. Without their guidance and example of great leadership, this award would have not been possible. The membership of the club is an exciting mix of creative talents that produce a high-energy environment for success. For more information on joining, please visit the site at www.greaterfrederickadfed.org.

CATEGORIES: Advertising, Business, Community, Press, Tobin Lehman, linkedin | 1 Comment » | March 2009

The Sweetest Perfection

This is the only remaining footage of my wifeâ€™s truffles I purchased for her this Christmas. The only reason they made it to the blog, is that these gems were the most impressible piece of craftsmanship I have seen in a long time. Something as fragile and temporal as chocolate at the Holidays, it seems unnecessary to make such a defined effort to make each piece so perfect.Â But that is what separates craft from mere production. The shop, The Perfect Truffle, has rows upon rows of these hand-crated delights ready for you to enjoy starting at first sight. Itâ€™s easy to see the level of care that goes into each piece with no exception for â€œalmostâ€. Each one of these is perfect executions reminds me that in whatever youâ€™re business or product, no matter how big or small, you should not settle for anything less that perfect.

CATEGORIES: Business, Community, Craft | No Comments » | January 2009

Turkey Trot: The 5k of good hope.

Being a runner, I’ve always been thankful of all the volunteers who come out on race day to marshal turns and man the water stations. These people make races possible and they deserve so much thanks.

This year, I wanted to find a way to give some time back to a local race in Frederick, the Way Station, Turkey Trot 5K. This is a great ‘end of season’ run as I like to call it, and its a great way to justify all the food you will be eating later in the day. So after sending a few emails, and finding the right people, I finally connected with Vicki Bate who directs a group of high school students who organize on the race under her direction. I offered to spend some time and update the website to have some of the nicer features, such as maps and sponsor logos. Although I was not able to attend this year, I think the race went well and I hope it stays a tradition in Frederick for a long time.

Check out the page here, http://www.waystationinc.org/turkeytrotinfo.htm

CATEGORIES: Community, Productivity | No Comments » | November 2008