Interview with Dan Janssen

1. When did you realise you wanted to be a designer?

Grow up in San Diego and skating and surfing I always loved the skate, surf and snowboard industry art and design. I knew I wanted to work in that industry or at least do skateboard graphics or apparel. 

2. How did you get started and what was the biggest hurdle you overcame?

Went to college, graduated first in my class, got a job in an industry I loved. Biggest hurdle would be partnering with the wrong person.

3. What’s been your most successful way of getting clients?

Word or mouth, do good work and people will find you.

4. How do you get clients to stay with you and use you for more work?

Always deliver on time, never miss a deadline. And over deliver on the project.

5. Do you ever have issues with clients paying late? How do you manage that?

Yes, you have to watch your due dates on invoice. Don’t let it get to far out, usually once you notify them they will pay. We have an accounting person that manages this.

6. What does your typical work day look like?

In the office at 7:30am, email reply until around 10am, pod cast video shot or look over designs in process, lunch. Try to get some design work done in the afternoon. Then leave the office around 5:30pm

7. Any piece of advice/wisdom that you’d like to give the readers at This Design Life?

Work with people and products you like and respect. It will show in the work you do. Don’t just do work for the money, do it for the love of the company or the product. 

Connect with
Dan Janssen

Main website for Lincoln Design Co.

Lincoln Brand merchandise here: https://www.lincolnbrandco.com/

Great interview with Dan Janssen here at the Deeply Graphic Designcast

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Dan Janssen is the Creative Director and Co Founder of Lincoln Design Co.

He has over 15 years of multidisciplinary design experience ranging from creative direction, global branding, product design, advertising, brand management and packaging.

Interview published on: Feb 14, 2022

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