Update: ThinkCRE8IVE is now on Twitter as @ThinkingCRE8IVE.
In late 2007, ThinkSEM opened up shop offering pay-per-click (PPC) and other search marketing services. Since, owner Clint Danks has grown the business working with higher education, legal, hair salon and other industries. A big piece of their growth is the hire of Creative Director, Dave Dechant. Together, they make the big decisions. I’ve known them for years and wanted to pick their brains for an interview. They happily accepted.
Q1: First, in October you launched ThinkCRE8IVE to add web design and development solutions. How did that come about?
A1: We did have a design section in the ThinkSEM site but it was just buried given the other services that we offer. The name and site ThinkCRE8IVE came about to highlight the design services while keeping it under the ThinkSEM umbrella.
Q2: The spin and correlation with your 8 services and the infinity symbol is pretty slick. Can you describe this for our readers?
A2: It was actually accidental. The ThinkCRE8IVE URL was available and we just happen to offer eight design/development services. Then we noticed that when you place an “8” horizontally, it becomes the infinity symbol. This works great in the design.
Even though we have eight main services, our tagline is “Limitless Ideas, Endless Opportunity”, hence giving reason for the infinity symbol. It all just worked out and made sense on how the right-and-left brain clicks with each other.
Q3: So, what exactly is responsive design and why is it important?
A3: Technically, the three main components to good responsive design is a flexible layout that includes flexible image and media, and the use of media queries. For us, responsive design is creating a design that reacts instantly to every resolution in the wild. It’s important because it’s a great way to combat the plethora of new devices that come out every week.
Q4: In two years, do you think responsive design will be relevant?
A4: Not only will it be relevant, it’s going to boom in use and popularity. In fact, in two years if designers aren’t using this, they will be considered outdated.
Q5: Does responsive design make your day-to-day job easier or harder?
A5: Overall, it makes my day-to-day job much easier. Essentially, you’re creating one website that reacts differently depending on the user’s resolution rather than multiple websites.
Q6: Clint and Dave, you two are the decision makers for the overall ThinkSEM team. I’ve known Clint for close to seven years and Dave for two. You’re both tall and that’s about where the similarities end. With that said, how do you make things tick?
A6: Dave – I think we actually riff off each other really well because of our different ways of thinking. I might be working on something and Clint can see the same thing and provide a different point of view. Clint – I try to separate myself from the design aspect to give Dave the freedom to work as he wants. Dave’s in charge of all things creative to pursue ideas that may help benefit the growth of the company. His only downfall is that he’s a Packers fan. Dave – It’s not my fault that I like to follow winners.
There you have it! Thank you both for taking your time to answer these questions. We’re excited for a local company making big strides. Best of luck down the road.
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