Notes

Thoughts, Musings, and Mildly Questionable Opinions

Saving Template Errors in Adobe Illustrator 2025 “Can’t Save the Illustration” (ID: -5000)

Fixing Adobe Illustrator’s “Can’t Save the Illustration” Error (ID: -5000) on Mac Sequoia running on M2. If you’re seeing the “Can’t save the illustration. You do not have enough access privileges. ID: -5000” error in Adobe Illustrator, it usually …

Why TAM Shouldn’t Dictate Creative Strategy

I’ve been in meetings where Total Addressable Market (TAM) steals the spotlight. Yes, I agree, it’s a handy metric for investors and financial planners, but if you’re in the business of building a brand, TAM can be misleading. It …

Stop Using ‘Canned’ Kits in Figma

Canned Your design team kicks things off with a pre-built Figma UI Kit and Design System. It's full of components and styles to get things moving fast. Looks good at first. But then, the designs don’t fit the brand, …

Why 360 Reviews Matter More Than You Think

A 360 review is a way to hear how you’re really doing, not just from your manager, but from the people you work with every day.

Qualities of a Great Logo

A logo distills a brand’s essence into a singular, powerful form. It’s the first impression and the lasting connection. A great logo is timeless, outlasting trends and becoming a constant symbol. Through simplicity and symbolism, it captures and defines …

A Graphic Designer’s Guide to Dashes: Hyphens, En Dashes, and Em Dashes

Typography is all about the details, and the right use of dashes can change how professional and clear your designs look. Whether you’re working with a hyphen, en dash, or em dash, each has a distinct role. Knowing how …

ACIM: I. Dynamic Industry Structure

The "Dynamic Industry Structure" is the first of nine components of the Adaptive Competitive Intelligence Model. This concept builds upon Michael Porter's Five Forces Model, which has long been recognized as a powerful tool for understanding the competitive forces …

Adaptive Competitive Intelligence Model (ACIM): The Framework

Markets move quickly. One day, a product leads the market; the next, it becomes outdated. Relying on yesterday’s data doesn’t keep a business ahead. Competitive Intelligence (CI) involves finding the next step before competitors do. By understanding market shifts, …

Adaptive Competitive Intelligence Model (ACIM): An Introduction

The Adaptive Competitive Intelligence Model (ACIM) is a dynamic, evolving framework that empowers businesses to anticipate, adapt, and lead in the rapidly changing competitive landscape, leveraging the acceleration of innovation. In the world we're living in, where artificial intelligence …

Fear and Familiarity: Our Relationship with AI, Technology, and Revolutionary Change

There's a peculiar irony in the present moment, ensconced as we are in the lap of artificial intelligence – a product of human ingenuity that simultaneously spurs the greatest fears about our own obsolescence. To quote the wisdom of …

AI & Design: A New Era in Creative/Art Direction

In the 1960s, Madison Avenue ran the show in advertising. Creative leaders had a knack for capturing the pulse of American culture (and smoke-filled rooms). The scene’s shifted. Smoking’s out, designers are going hybrid, and AI is here, bringing …
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