Dwayne Grech - Momentum

Dwayne Greck is a designer with the Online Ad Agency Momentum, he is also the owner and designer at Sultan of Beard.

Quirky Facts:
- Back-packed Australia
- Speaks Japanese
- Started the Facebook Group - The Toronto Surf Club

A graduate of Graphic Design at Seneca college and a Web design Graduate from Sheridan, 2009 class, he has also worked at:
1) Organic Online Media
- worked as a production artist
2) Young & Republican
- an umbrella company for 9/10 different agencies
3) The marketing Store
- print-based DM agency opening up interactive
4) Sirius Satellite Radio
- user interface designer

About Momentum:

-DOAR for Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram/Fiat
- His job was to lead concept design for microsites, branding and promotion
-Online loyalty support for Amex
-Momentum named for 3rd year in a row: Canada's 50 best managed companies
-Owned by Onyx, Canada's third biggest IT company

Currently Dwayne is tasked with the Company's site redesign
-the site will have easier navigation, will be quite dynamic

Industry Advice:
What to Expect:

1) It won't be easy
- a lot of graduates, a lot of competition, extremely competitive
- a lot of hard work. Once you earn trust you can move on to larger projects

2) Lack of sleep
- just what you have to do. not a 9-5 job, sometimes there are 14 hour days

3) Ultra-competitive Market
- 5 designers for each position
- how do you start out? It's all about how you present yourself, how do you stand out?
It's about personality, how you present yourself, how you stand out.
- go to networking events, participate in activities, meet people
- Sheridan students have a great track record

4) It's a small industry
- everyone knows everyone
- you can easily be blacklisted
- it's like a very small village
- be mindful about the first place you work go to

5) Crazy office politics
- - need to stay smooth-talking, level-headed
- let go of your project, put your ego aside
- designers work because the world gets to see what they do
- don't backstab

6) Toronto has heaps of agency choices
- avoid going to large agencies
- a lot of agencies have a revolving door environment
-start at a smaller agency to build confidence that will let you thrive and prepare
- everyone is miserable, you'll be unhealthy, an alcoholic, bad life decisions
-smaller agencies don't pay as well but the rewards are huge
-slow-paced learning easy on your soul
- larger agencies- they are going to ruin you and they want you to get ruined to give you a thicker skin
7) go to industry parties
- that's where you'll meet future friends and clientele


Options after Graduation

1) Small design house vs international agency
2) Contract work or permanent work:
- could be making a very nice living as a contractor - $60 ph 30 hours a week.
- contract work, great for resume, nice chance
-more permanent work
- nowadays there is no such thing as permanent work
- At this point a lifetime is 2 years in the Industry
-9-5 work ....more like 9-9.
- it is harder to get into permanent work

2)Designer vs Project Manager vs Account Manager:
- the industry is lacking project managers with a digital background
- project manager is the middle manager between the account manager and the designer
- Project managers are like the divorce lawyer
It is a crucial role that pays well.
- account manager - usually has a business background with psychology

Canada vs Abroad:
- you can live and work anywhere in the world
- the possibilities of going around the world are endless
- Brazil is booming, you could go down if you have the guts to do it


Industry Advice:

Life Lessons
1) Burning bridges in this industry is employment suicide
2) networking events are your easiest way into an interview, free food and alcohol
3) You are never too old to stop learning
4) the FWA.com is the best site
5) sometimes you'll have to sacrifice a weekend or six
6) redbull is the savior of the last minute all-nighter request
7) pay it forward, attend lectures, mentor juniors
8) if you're not enjoying the what and where, its time for a change. you have to love what you do or it will show.
9) booze is your friend. (?)
10) social media is king


My Personal reflections on the Lecture:

I'm worried about the high stress levels and working in a place that will eat my life/not be conducive to a family or extracurriculars. I'm not willing to be "broken" or sacrifice my health and personal life no matter the career stakes, and this lecture worried me about the implications of working in such a competitive, fast-paced industry. I also worry about burning bridges, because over the course of these lectures we've received several warnings, and I wouldn't want to have one falling-out ruin my career in Toronto.

Contact for Dwayne

Dwayne.Grech@momentum.ca