{"id":23197,"date":"2019-02-14T10:50:57","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T10:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/2019\/02\/14\/alumni-think-outside-traditional-design-firm-model\/"},"modified":"2023-02-04T16:17:44","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T21:17:44","slug":"alumni-think-outside-traditional-design-firm-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/2019\/02\/14\/alumni-think-outside-traditional-design-firm-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni Think Outside Traditional Design Firm Model"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Paradigmid<\/a><\/p>\n

Paradigm is not a typical design firm. In fact, Ben Markoch [GD \u201916]<\/strong> and Sunny Su [ID \u201916]<\/strong>, principals, prefer to call Paradigm an \u201cinnovation studio,\u201d a \u201cconsortium,\u201d or \u201ca social movement.\u201d Founded on a model of always challenging the status quo, Paradigm is made up of a global network of designers, consultants, and business strategists working together to help clients achieve their growth goals. Or, as Su puts it, Paradigm is \u201ca company that starts other companies.\u201d \u201cWe always hear the statistic that 90 percent of startups fail\u2026 and the big reason we believe that it is their lack of focus on design,\u201d says Su. \u201cWe\u2019re helping people plan how they can use design to their advantage to help build their business,\u201d says Markoch.<\/p>\n

The biggest mistake startups and corporations make, Su says, is \u201chiring one designer and expecting them to do everything from information design to interface design to interaction design. It\u2019s almost near impossible for everyone to be equally good at all of those skills at one time.\u201d By having a large team of designers, contractors, and freelancers (Su claims there are over 70 Paradigm team members worldwide), each person can focus on what they do best. \u201cWhen you leverage everyone\u2019s best skills, not only are people most passionate about them, they are really good at them,\u201d says Su.<\/p>\n

\"Ben<\/a>Pulling from such a large talent pool is essential for Paradigm because most of their projects are multidisciplinary. Recently, team members designed a website, logo, app, and water monitoring device for the Enactus company Romora. Su explains that Romora is \u201ca program to bring water quality and sustainability back to the island of Puerto Rico\u201d by monitoring bodies of water across the island and providing real-time access to the data. The studio is also working with Neurun, an app that helps runners prepare for endurance events around the world.<\/p>\n

Locally, Paradigm has teamed up with the Institute for Emerging Issues; the City of Raleigh\u2019s Innovate Raleigh Summit; and the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur big vision is that through this organization and all the initiatives we start, that we\u2019re able to participate in realizing humanity\u2019s best future.\u201d \u2014Sunny Su<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For each of their clients, Markoch and Su want to maximize value, delivering a product or service, or both, that will help their client achieve success. But, on a larger scale, Su says, \u201cour big vision is that through this organization and all the initiatives we start, that we\u2019re able to participate in realizing humanity\u2019s best future.\u201d Markoch credits the College of Design with preparing them for their current roles by \u201cencouraging us to look for the real sharable valuable meaning in things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ben<\/a>Su says that the College of Design\u2019s emphasis on research and process prepared him for his current work, which he sees as being at the \u201cintersection of design and strategy.\u201d In fact, Su didn\u2019t realize until attending the College\u2019s Design Camp as a high school student that design was what he wanted to pursue. He says he was interested in computer graphics, coding websites, and designing apps, but thought that meant he should study engineering, a field that didn\u2019t appeal to him. \u201cWhen I discovered design, it was like this major that was made for me,\u201d Su says. During his senior year he realized \u201cthat design fits into a larger system and that system is business and society.\u201d Winning the LuLu eGames, Su says, \u201cwas proof to me that design had a place in the bigger world, a very tangible place. Because the one thing that made us the most different from the other projects wasn\u2019t what we worked on but how we worked on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Markoch was attracted to design because it allowed him to combine many interests. \u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d he says, \u201cthe reason I decided to choose design was because this was a way I could learn something new everyday with every person I worked with.\u201d<\/p>\n

To current students, Markoch and Su suggest taking advantage of all of NC State\u2019s and Raleigh\u2019s resources.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cBranch out,\u201d Su says. \u201cStart exploring the rest of NC State. There are so many resources there\u2026 There\u2019s the Entrepreneurship Initiative. There\u2019s the business school. There\u2019s so many things that even if the College isn\u2019t doing partnerships with, you as a student can start these really inspiring projects.\u201d Markoch adds, \u201cCome down to HQ Raleigh. Everyone in Raleigh has been incredibly friendly when it comes to talking to people. And students have the unique advantage of being able to say, \u2018I just want to talk to you about what you do. I\u2019m a student, and I want to learn.\u2019 Our hope is that we\u2019re able to do more with students to help them see what this is like because there\u2019s so much opportunity and people in this community are so willing to share advice and insights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Staci Kleinmaier is a professional writer and photographer in Apex, North Carolina. She uses words and images to tell stories. To see her work, visit\u00a0www.stacikleinmaier.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This post was originally published<\/a> in College of Design Blog.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false,"raw":"\"Paradigmid<\/a>\r\n\r\nParadigm is not a typical design firm. In fact, Ben Markoch [GD \u201916]<\/strong> and Sunny Su [ID \u201916]<\/strong>, principals, prefer to call Paradigm an \u201cinnovation studio,\u201d a \u201cconsortium,\u201d or \u201ca social movement.\u201d Founded on a model of always challenging the status quo, Paradigm is made up of a global network of designers, consultants, and business strategists working together to help clients achieve their growth goals. Or, as Su puts it, Paradigm is \u201ca company that starts other companies.\u201d \u201cWe always hear the statistic that 90 percent of startups fail\u2026 and the big reason we believe that it is their lack of focus on design,\u201d says Su. \u201cWe\u2019re helping people plan how they can use design to their advantage to help build their business,\u201d says Markoch.\r\n\r\nThe biggest mistake startups and corporations make, Su says, is \u201chiring one designer and expecting them to do everything from information design to interface design to interaction design. It\u2019s almost near impossible for everyone to be equally good at all of those skills at one time.\u201d By having a large team of designers, contractors, and freelancers (Su claims there are over 70 Paradigm team members worldwide), each person can focus on what they do best. \u201cWhen you leverage everyone\u2019s best skills, not only are people most passionate about them, they are really good at them,\u201d says Su.\r\n\r\n\"Ben<\/a>Pulling from such a large talent pool is essential for Paradigm because most of their projects are multidisciplinary. Recently, team members designed a website, logo, app, and water monitoring device for the Enactus company Romora. Su explains that Romora is \u201ca program to bring water quality and sustainability back to the island of Puerto Rico\u201d by monitoring bodies of water across the island and providing real-time access to the data. The studio is also working with Neurun, an app that helps runners prepare for endurance events around the world.\r\n\r\nLocally, Paradigm has teamed up with the Institute for Emerging Issues; the City of Raleigh\u2019s Innovate Raleigh Summit; and the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina.\r\n

\u201cOur big vision is that through this organization and all the initiatives we start, that we\u2019re able to participate in realizing humanity\u2019s best future.\u201d \u2014Sunny Su<\/blockquote>\r\nFor each of their clients, Markoch and Su want to maximize value, delivering a product or service, or both, that will help their client achieve success. But, on a larger scale, Su says, \u201cour big vision is that through this organization and all the initiatives we start, that we\u2019re able to participate in realizing humanity\u2019s best future.\u201d Markoch credits the College of Design with preparing them for their current roles by \u201cencouraging us to look for the real sharable valuable meaning in things.\u201d\r\n\r\n\"Ben<\/a>Su says that the College of Design\u2019s emphasis on research and process prepared him for his current work, which he sees as being at the \u201cintersection of design and strategy.\u201d In fact, Su didn\u2019t realize until attending the College\u2019s Design Camp as a high school student that design was what he wanted to pursue. He says he was interested in computer graphics, coding websites, and designing apps, but thought that meant he should study engineering, a field that didn\u2019t appeal to him. \u201cWhen I discovered design, it was like this major that was made for me,\u201d Su says. During his senior year he realized \u201cthat design fits into a larger system and that system is business and society.\u201d Winning the LuLu eGames, Su says, \u201cwas proof to me that design had a place in the bigger world, a very tangible place. Because the one thing that made us the most different from the other projects wasn\u2019t what we worked on but how we worked on it.\u201d\r\n\r\nMarkoch was attracted to design because it allowed him to combine many interests. \u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d he says, \u201cthe reason I decided to choose design was because this was a way I could learn something new everyday with every person I worked with.\u201d\r\n

To current students, Markoch and Su suggest taking advantage of all of NC State\u2019s and Raleigh\u2019s resources.<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u201cBranch out,\u201d Su says. \u201cStart exploring the rest of NC State. There are so many resources there\u2026 There\u2019s the Entrepreneurship Initiative. There\u2019s the business school. There\u2019s so many things that even if the College isn\u2019t doing partnerships with, you as a student can start these really inspiring projects.\u201d Markoch adds, \u201cCome down to HQ Raleigh. Everyone in Raleigh has been incredibly friendly when it comes to talking to people. And students have the unique advantage of being able to say, \u2018I just want to talk to you about what you do. I\u2019m a student, and I want to learn.\u2019 Our hope is that we\u2019re able to do more with students to help them see what this is like because there\u2019s so much opportunity and people in this community are so willing to share advice and insights.\u201d\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nStaci Kleinmaier is a professional writer and photographer in Apex, North Carolina. She uses words and images to tell stories. To see her work, visit\u00a0www.stacikleinmaier.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/span>\r\n\r\n "},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alumni, Ben Markoch [GD \u201916] and Sunny Su [ID \u201916] use what they learned at NC State Design to build an innovative design studio that has a unique way of solving problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":270,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"ncstate_wire","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[5],"class_list":["post-23197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-_from-newswire-collection-271"],"displayCategory":null,"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/270"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23197"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24144,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23197\/revisions\/24144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/graphic-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}