karl smizer and amy perry

When not building or fixing something in his well-appointed workshop, Karl Smizer serves as a creative director at Smizer Perry, a marketing communication and graphic design shop located in New London CT. Smizer Perry's resident type-meister and perfectionist got his start designing for such brands as Dunkin' Donuts and Cole Haan Shoes. Smizer's is the talent behind the WinZip Computing brand, the number one compression software in the world. A graduate of The Art Institute of Boston, he is the recipient of dozens of industry awards.

Creative Director Amy Perry keeps the team focused on their clients' strategic objectives and key messages. After more than 20 years in the industry, Perry has developed a pronounced ability to get right to the heart of a communications challenge. Although she earned a degree in communications from Boston's Simmons College, had the college offered a degree in chocolate studies, she would have concentrated in dark chocolate. Perry has been a contributor to smallbizresource.com and is a frequent speaker on creating effective messaging.

Is graphic design a growth industry? This is an amazing time for graphic designers. Design has finally made it to the grown ups' table in corporations where enlightened leadership understands the value great design brings to a business strategy. For the designer who has a strong liberal arts education, kick-ass talent and computer skills, the field is wide open. The key ingredient is the ability to distill complex information into simple visual messages.

Do graphic designers have a special responsibility to promote a green society? The graphic designer has as much responsibility to promote sustainability as any other professional. Green design is more than recommending FSC papers and using technology rather than printing and shipping materials. The sustainability factor needs to be based on firm principals. If it's not authentic, you'll only be popular until the next sound-bite topic takes center stage. Also, sustainability isn't just about saving the planet. It's about building and maintaining a sustainable business, community and life. Balancing the business of competing and succeeding with helping and giving back is one step in working toward a more sustainable overall environment. Our annual pro bono program is one way we accomplish this.

ONE THING I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IS
woodworking tools -KS
dark chocolate -AP

FAVORITE MOVIES

Amy
The Godfather series
The Shawshank Redemption
It's a Wonderful Life

FAVORITE BOOKS

Amy
Eat, Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini