Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Stewart.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chris. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My background is in the visual art world. I received a painting scholarship at SMU, and then returned to get an MBA and a Master of Arts. I had a goal of mixing art with business, and initially went to work in marketing at the de Young Museum in San Francisco.
While in California, in 1997, the Internet was exploding, but there was little thought as to how to aesthetically present content. I saw a few firms start to focus on design and immediately thought there may be an opportunity back home in Dallas, which hadn’t yet become saturated with digital agencies.
That’s when Black Eye came about. We opened our office in Preston Center and provided design and technology services for the Internet.
A lot of our time was spent talking clients out of distracting bells-and-whistles and into more timeless design ideas that coordinated with their company personality. Starting these types of discussions allowed us to broaden our services into branding and print design, which are focuses for us today.
Has it been a smooth road?
We’ve definitely seen shifts in the industry and have had to adapt. The biggest change since we started in the ad industry is technology advances, which have led to evolving skill sets and services.
Cheaper, better computers and software, digital cameras and open source CMS solutions… These all opened up the field. Non-professionals could get high-end equipment and software, which were now more intuitive and easier to use. And services like mechanical art, retouching, web coding and even photography became less specialized.
We used to differentiate ourselves as a studio that provided so many capabilities under one roof, but that’s no longer an advantage. And we embrace that, because the quality of creative and level of customer service is once again the most important ingredient to success.
We brought in Glen Gauthier as our Creative Director in 2013 to help stay relevant in design.
Glen’s been an advertising stalwart for 28 years, previously at Proof Advertising in Austin, and has created memorable work for Dell, 3M, Subway, Baylor, Hyatt and Threadgill’s. He’s injected fresh ideas into our creative and helps bring our client’s stories to life visually. It’s allowed me more time to guide Black Eye into the future.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Black Eye Design – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Black Eye is a design and marketing communications agency. We help clients create impactful branding and advertising campaigns that connect with their audiences. Whether it’s through a logo, a web site, collateral, or a social media program… everything we do is designed to deliver our clients message and tell their story in the most compelling way we can.
Our clients range from small local companies to national industry leaders.
Over the years, we’ve been lucky to have built true partnerships with some of our clients. But I think a large part of our success can be attributed to a few things.
Of course, it starts with talent. We’re all graphic designers that have been in the industry for a long time, but we’re visual artists too. I’m a painter and Glen’s a collage artist, and we’re all creators or makers of some kind outside of work.
Secondly, we’re committed to our approach, but we know when to adapt over time. And finally, we have passion. We love design and we love to learn. And that’s what we do every day.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Dallas is a fun city to live in, but it’s also a really great city to do business in. There’s a very clear entrepreneurial spirit and generally, people want you to succeed.
The city’s also changed so much in the past 20 years, with a lot of world-class cultural facilities opening and new neighborhoods, restaurants and destinations popping up. It’s interesting, if I think about some of the places I’ve gone in the last month– the Nasher, Trinity Grooves, Klyde Warren Park, Victory Park, Bishop Arts… none of those things existed when we started Black Eye. Dallas gets better all the time, and it’s created more opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Address: 824 Exposition Ave., Suite 2
- Website: http://www.blackeyedallas.com
- Phone: 214-369-4558
- Email: partner@blackeyedallas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackeyedallas/
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