I received an email today basically saying I was pulling strings to get the FontWerks DT girls onto various gigs, more specifically the 2peas Garden Girl positions. Besides being rather uninformed, the emailer went on to say how sick he/she was of how we were pushing our team onto everything, how we were trying to take over everything, etc etc.
So I thought, ok, well, if someone is thinking this, then there might be others, so I would come here and clarify things, so hopefully people will read it and know where we are coming from.
For the record: Neither I, nor FontWerks as a company, has any say as to what team or gigs any of the FW girls get. I have not, nor ever will, contact 2peas and tell them to put any of my team members on their team. In fact, I dread hearing news that any of my team members have been picked for the 2peas gig. It is a running joke within our team that we seem to have a bit of a track record having our FW girls get into the 2peas GG team. It is probably just the fact that the 2peas management and the FontWerks management both like the same type of work, style, person to represent their companies. Talent speaks for itself, and I think all the FW girls who are GGs deserve to be where they are.
So, please, don't think I am buddying up to anyone over at 2peas management trying to get the FW girls on their team. To tell you the truth, I kinda wish we had fewer GGs on our team. And that's the honest truth. You can ask any of the girls, I kind of throw up my hands when they come and tell me they were invited to the GG team. I'm not saying it's inevitable. It just seems to be a track record, is all.
I do believe in rooting for the underdog, and giving fresh faces a chance. Most of the DTs were "fresh talent" when they got onto the team. If they get onto other teams or get great exposure, it's because of their talent and there's nothing I can do about it. The reason why I brought that up is that the emailer said I only seem to pick well-known people for my DT and that I was not giving the unknowns a chance. So I wanted to set the record straight that for the most part, the current 6 people on my team were not GGs, HOFers or anything of that sort when they came on board. I'd never even heard of Laura Kurz before she applied for the team. How's that for fresh face and giving the underdog a chance? I believe the team has earned whatever they have, and I just happened to snag them before others did. We follow them for a long while before they get invited on as well.
Do I brag on my team? You bet I do. It's because I really like their work, and I believe in them and think they deserve a lot. Do they get to meet editors and such at trade shows? Yes, that is part of the trade show experience. Do they get more exposure now then they did before? Yes, again - all part of the whole package as they put out more work, attend more shows, get published more often, etc.
So there it is. That's my non-connection to how GGs get picked. I don't have any say, nor do I want any as that is none of my business. Believe it as that is the truth. If you don't want to believe it, then, there's nothing much more I can do.
wow, I'm sorry....I don't know why people are so bitter to each other!!! We still love you:)
Posted by: joy | July 03, 2007 at 01:01 PM
love FW and the design team.
hang in there, you are awesome!! :)
Posted by: Vee | July 03, 2007 at 01:42 PM
I am sorry you received that email...don't give negativity another minute of your time and energy. Fontwerks always has amazing products and the design team is ULTRA talented! Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Amy | July 03, 2007 at 04:59 PM
What??? That is crazy. Your team does amazing work, and I hope they continue to be given positions of honor.
Posted by: Rosy | July 03, 2007 at 09:06 PM
How sad! It sounds like some folks are quite jealous of your success. They are not worth your time/energy. Forget them.
Keep up the good work!
Love the new products!
Wendy
Posted by: Wendy Vecchi | July 04, 2007 at 06:07 AM
That's awful. It's incredible that people who know nothing always feel the need to speak up.... how does that go - Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth (or in this case keyboard) and confirm it... {or something like that}
Dont' bother with those negative people, they would be upset no matter what you did or said. I think you're team is awesome, your company is awesome and forget those who can't see past their green monster.
Posted by: Rachel | July 04, 2007 at 01:43 PM
Can someone say bitter? Ugh!
I hope you let this brush off you, Kah-Mei. The simple fact is a good company is based on the sum parts of its whole. If you did not have designers who were a strong base for your products who would want to buy them?
And you do. They create art. They challenge us to achieve the same look, feel, imitation. And that is the point right?
I think it's sad someone/someones find it necessary to spend their precious time making assanine assumptions.
Ignorance must be bliss in their world.
Hold your head's up and be proud girls!
Posted by: Tammy | July 05, 2007 at 04:02 AM
Well said.
Posted by: AndreaJ | July 05, 2007 at 06:34 AM
Jealousy at it's worst... :( All someone has to do is meet you, or read this blog to know that you are just not that kind of person!
Posted by: Laura Craigie | July 05, 2007 at 01:31 PM
um, who the heck has the balls to say something like that to you??
as for the underdog, I'll say I am one, and I am so thankful that you gave me a chance to be a Friend of Fontwerks. I am in no way well-known at all, and I realize that you took a chance choosing me, but whether this takes me to bigger and better places or keeps me where I am, I'm grateful either way.
that person is just straight mean.
Posted by: Jamie | July 05, 2007 at 08:08 PM
1. all one has to do is look at the work your team produces and she will recognize why they were chosen - simply, they rock.
2. who cares if they are well-known or not? If they are well-known, then good for you for being a company that a "well-known" artist would want to participate in. If they are not well-known, then so be it, but they have to have talent regardless.
3. only YOU have the right to choose who YOU want for your DT! It's YOUR business! It's YOUR investment and only YOU should be deciding what is in your company's best interest in choosing DT members (or not). You have no obligation to anyone but those who you sell product to and your investors (if you have any other than yourself).
4. that whole give the unknowns a chance is such a lame argument. Why? I for one, know that you have often chosen people who were destined for greatness (you have an uncanny eye for true talent, woman!), but not yet there. But why would anyone expect you to be obligated to do so. Look at someone's talent, do they fit your needs? pick 'em. Easy.
5. I respect your choice to speak out and attempt the clarification, though I think in no way did you that to anyone.
I congratulate you on your ongoing success and wish you all the best in your continued pursuit of great work, great talent, and GREAT PRODUCT!
Posted by: Ally | July 10, 2007 at 06:55 PM
Good for you Kah-Mei. You can have whoever you want on your team and that should be that. Ignore the nasties :)
Posted by: kass | July 11, 2007 at 09:18 PM
The kind of bitter, jealous, negative thoughts behind that email are probably a large part of what's holding that person back from being picked to a design team. I just don't see how anyone can be fresh and creative and have those sorts of bitter thoughts as well. As far as I'm concerned, creativity is rooted in love and joy.
Posted by: Lydia | July 18, 2007 at 09:05 AM