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Tumbling out of the minds of FreeAssociates in Los Angeles. Design for companies who are making a difference.

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New FreeAssociates website!

New FreeAssociates website! We just launched a brand new freeassoc.com, with new stories, new work, and a new blog.

It’s alive! We just launched our brand-new brand design website: freeassoc.com has been completely rebuilt from the ground up and we’re SO excited to share it with you! Our Stories section has new work, new case histories (and of course, some older client relationships as well). You might not know about all the things we’ve done, and the results we’ve gotten. So go satisfy your curiosity. And…

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The Hype Handbook

If you’re trying to make a difference in the world and nobody’s noticing, maybe what you need are the skills of a Hype Artist. The hustlers, the cult leaders, the promoters all have something to teach us about human psychology and how to connect with people emotionally. Whether you’re starting a band or a company, whether you want to advance your ideas or your career, understanding hype can be…

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David Hockney at Home: A Narrative

David Hockney at Home: A Narrative

This isn’t my standard interview-style podcast. Instead, it’s an affectionate account of the 83-year-old David Hockney, whom writer Barbara Isenberg interviewed in late 2020. Barbara graciously gave me permission to share the story with you. Neither age nor the pandemic have slowed Hockney down.  The master uses current technology alongside more traditional materials to remain productive and…

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Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! May 2021 bring all of us renewed hope, health and opportunity.

Here’s hoping that 2021 is a hell of a lot better than 2020. Renewed hope. Renewed health. Renewed opportunity. (Turn on your sound!) | https://vimeo.com/496107608

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Get control of your time

Get control of your time — and your life! John Sindelar has created a new way of looking at how you use your time: a calendar app called Dayback. We talk about the elusiveness of time, the challenges of software and...surfing.

When you work from home (or anywhere else) your time is your most valuable resource. Using it badly can lead to frustration and even depression. And using it well can change your life. Figuring out how to use your time is an art form that most of us don’t entirely master. But the tool that can help most is your calendar My guest this episode is John Sindelar, CEO of Seedcode, the leading…

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Time to re-engage

We are about to release the sixth calendar we’ve created for Legistics. Instead of the divisions, anger and frustration of 2020, perhaps we can shift our focus to address some of the big concerns we all share. After a year of being reactive, of struggling, of turning inward, we hope that 2021 will be a year of re-engagement. The pandemic has shown us that, without a doubt, we are all citizens of…

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Taste our podcast on Pod Buffet

Taste our podcast! We’re thrilled that WorkLife@Home was featured on Pod Buffet where host Steve Heatherington gives listeners 5-minute tastes of an eclectic mix of new podcasts from around the world.

We’re thrilled that WorkLife@Home was featured on Pod Buffet! Host Steve Heatherington gives listeners 5-minute tastes of an eclectic mix of new podcasts from around the world. It’s a cool idea that exposes podcasts to new audiences, and audiences to new podcasts. Steve is one of the coaches at Akimbo Workshop’s Podcasting Fellowship. He’s also host of his own show Alpaca Tribe, which just goes…

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“Inventing” Work from Home at Chiat/Day

“Inventing” Work from Home at Chiat/Day

Way back before the pandemic, before Zoom, before LinkedIn, the ad agency Chiat/Day (creators of the infamous “1984” spot that introduced the Apple Macintosh) figured working from home was a viable way to run a company. Zach Rosenbergwas on the task force that declared WFH the future of advertising and figured out to how to make it work… in 1993. Since then, Zach has run entire agencies, and is…

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A small team with big vision

A small team with big vision deserves a great brand identity. But how to say “beach communities” in a fresh way?

What a great name Paul Small has. Perfect for his new real estate team, too — memorable and tied to his personal brand.

Focusing initially on the upscale Westside community of Manhattan Beach, the team handles properties across Southern California. But in SoCal the lure of the water is always present. From Malibu in the north to Palos Verdes in the south, that’s where you’ll find many of the…

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A new identity emerges from the mist

A new identity emerges from the mist. Learn how this new furniture design and restoration studio was inspired by their harbor view.

When Hector Limón and Mariella Avenarius look out their window in San Pedro, they have a dramatic view of Los Angeles Harbor. It’s bustling with activity and bristling with the enormous cranes that inspired George Lucas to create the AT-AT Imperial Walkers for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Above it all is the majestic sweep of the Vincent Thomas Bridge that connects their city with…

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Homeschool and leading teams

Homeschool and leading teams

Patrick Fredrickson talks with us about managing a creative team — while managing to home-school his 9-year old son. We discuss the post-virus future, maintaining professionalism, and the value of boredom.

https://worklife-at-home.simplecast.com/episodes/patrick-fredrickson-designer-and-aiga-la-president Episode Notes

Links to Patrick’s websites:

Altitude Design Office

Personal site

S…

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Our newest Gold Davey award

Our newest Gold Davey award

Winning awards isn’t the reason we do what we do. We like happy clients even more than happy peers. But it still feels good when you get one.

Especially the Gold.

Congrats to designer Amy Crossan, photographer James Armas, and writer Emily Hutta for their work on the 2020 Legistics calendar. What a team!

(Click an image if you want to read the text. Which you totally do.)

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Corporate exec to entrepeneur

Corporate exec to entrepeneur

Patrice Varni shares her workout obsession, her working setup, her love of teams and the enviable setting of her quarantine by the lake. All in service of her transition from corporate exec to home-based entrepreneur.

https://worklife-at-home.simplecast.com/episodes/patrice-varni-from-corporate-exec-to-entrepreneur Episode Notes

Links to things we talked about:

Patrice Varni on…

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Stay visible and valued while working remotely

Stay visible and valued while working remotely

When you work remotely, it’s easy to become invisible. In a world of Zoom calls and emails, it’s harder to have an impact on your organization. It’s harder to bond with your boss and your co-workers. It’s harder to get noticed and valued. But not impossible.

Leah Ryderwrites extensively about working remotely. As the Brand & Content Marketing Lead at Trello, her distributed team manages five…

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Teaching college from home

Teaching college from home

How do you teach a hands-on university class from home? Especially when you’re a self-professed “ink and paper” guy? David Mayes shares the trials and tribulations of a sudden transition, all while holding down his day job as a printing rep from his home office. We talk about the museum show he mounted, his networking experience, sneaking back to the office, and the long walks that keep him sane.

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No space, roommates and Zoom

No space, roommates and Zoom

Gabe Freeman is a 26-year-old User Experience Researcher who started at Facebook late last year, after having worked in a conventional office at a B2B software company. All was well. But now he has to work from home, along with three roommates! We talk about how he’s adapted, how he’s staying sane, and how he keeps Zoom conferences looking professional while working from (gulp) his bedroom.

https:…

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Digital campaigns for movies

Digital campaigns for movies

Love movies? Me, too. And you’ve probably seen the campaigns that promote them during Oscar season. Which means you’ve seen Andrew Stachler’s work. High pressure creativity. Near-instant turnaround. Coordinating teams in the U.S., Manila and Buenos Aires. How can they do that while working from home? Listen and find out.

https://worklife-at-home.simplecast.com/episodes/andrew-stachler-episode-10 …

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