The first Small Talk of the year was hosted by Pivot Design on Tuesday, January 22. The night was largely social, exploring the space and work display over hors d’oeuvres. At one point, the President and Creative Director, Brock Haldeman, gathered the guests together to introduce himself and answer questions.

The firm was started 16 years ago when Brock was a mere 24 years old. Of his decision to start his own firm, he replied, “I thought, I’m doing senior-level design work. I might as well be doing it for myself.” With no prior business knowledge, Brock took a loan from his parents and rented a tiny loft on the corner of Clark and Hubbard.

The decision to immediately obtain office space proved to be indispensable. Brock attributes his first studio to the success of his firm. Meeting fellow tenants resulted in connections with diverse industries. His first big client was a neighboring shoe store, for which he designed all packaging.

Today, Pivot has grown to a mid-sized firm with a considerably larger studio space at Huron and Franklin. Their focus is on corporate materials but extends to not-for-profit organizations as well. Their capabilities and passion are primarily in print and typography, but a small percentage of interactive work is growing.

Sponsors: Artisan, Dupli-Graphic, Getty Images