photograph: glenn barnette
Michele DeHaven
Dana Castle
When Michele DeHaven and Dana Castle met in 1996, they found that they shared a passion beyond great design: the great thinking that went behind it. "A lot of people see design as the icing on the cake, a pretty package," says DeHaven. "We wanted to drill down and truly integrate design and strategy, to prove the power of form and function." Using the concept of "smart design" as their driving force, DeHaven and Castle founded Function:, a multidisciplinary design and marketing firm, in the fall of 1998. As the vision for the company evolved, DeHaven and Castle, both mothers of two, realized another top priority would be to create an environment that supported a healthy balance of work, life and time for family. Now in its seventh year, Function: is a thriving, integrated agency specializing in serving the paper and building products industries. Leveraging their expertise in brand management, sales channel communications and influencer relations, DeHaven and Castle have led successful campaigns for clients such as Dixie, Georgia-Pacific, Boral Bricks, Weyerhauser, Domtar and Cascades, among others.
Where were you raised, and has it shaped your work?
MD: Growing up in Minneapolis was absolutely instrumental in cultivating my interests. Everywhere you look, there's great design, from the Walker Art Center to fabulous restaurants — even small neighborhood shops are branded beautifully.
DC: My career wasn't shaped as much by my location as it was by my mother, an architect who for many years ran a successful practice. I saw her make it as a strong, smart businesswoman, and I knew that someday I'd run my own business, too.
What is the most important thing you've learned from a bad job?
Which one? There've been so many! More than anything, the bad jobs have helped to shape our collective work ethic — work hard, work smart and live a colorful life. We don't subscribe to the notion that you have to sacrifice quality of life in order to have a successful career. Also important: surround yourself with good people who not only get the job done, but also who you respect, learn from and enjoy seeing every day.
What is your workday like?
No two days are the same, that's for sure. On any given day, we can be concepting, invoicing, meeting with clients — you name it. Owning your own company throws a lot more into the mix, but we thrive on the fast pace. Once the "official" workday is over, we head to our respective homes to start all over again with our kids and husbands — dinner, homework, baths, etc. And, quite often, a bit more obsessing about work stuff...
What are you currently listening to, watching and reading?
MD: We've both got youngsters at home, so oftentimes it's "Dora the Explorer" or "Dr. Seuss." When I get to choose, I'll listen to anything from Coldplay or REM to Jack Johnson. Right now, I'm reading two books: The Time Traveler's Wife and How to Run Your Business Like a Girl.
DC: I'm listening to a lot of soul and blues lately, particularly the Robert Cray Band and Joss Stone. I faithfully read Fortune Small Business every month, and I'm in the middle of (yet another) business and marketing book, Being Direct by Lester Wunderman.
Rafael Esquer
Rafael Esquer has lived and worked in New York City since 1996. From 1997 to 2004, he worked at @radical.media, ultimately becoming creative director. The group's work in communication design was recognized by the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum with a prestigious National Design Award in 2004. Alfalfa, Esquer's own design studio, opened its doors in New York in 2004 and is devoted to interdisciplinary projects. Recent work at Alfalfa includes a TV animation campaign celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month on The N (MTV Networks' teen channel), a comprehensive brand identity for Talene Reilly and a worldwide membership campaign for AIGA. Widely published, Esquer's work has won numerous national and international design awards, and some of his pieces are contained in the collection of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland and in the poster collection of the Library of Congress in Washington DC. A native of the Sonora desert of Mexico, Esquer received his B.F.A. with distinction in graphic design from Art Center College of Design.
Was graphic design your first career path?
There were two things I was sure of when I finished high school: (1) I wanted to pursue a career in the visual arts, and (2) I wanted to live in a big city. So, without a real concrete plan, I moved to what was at the time the biggest city in the world, Mexico City, to find the right college. First, I enrolled in photography, but then I discovered typography, which I started to combine with images. The result was an instant draw into the world of graphic design.
What is the most important thing you've learned from a bad job?
To trust your instincts, and never work with people whom you feel will be trouble. Your time is always better spent doing something other than dealing with 'difficult' people—leave that to the therapists. Life is too short.
What are you currently listening to?
Reggaetón. I got into it recently when I directed a TV campaign to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month for the MTV teen channel, The N. I wanted to use the freshest Latin sound, and reggaetón is it. So, I immersed myself in it. I bought many reggaetón CDs, went to clubs on reggaeton night and watched a couple of documentaries about it. I really love it, and I quickly became a fan of Tego Calderón along the way. I'm also enjoying the new Sinéad O'Connor CD, "Throw Down Your Arms," and for my next project, I'm listening up on a long-time love, Chavela Vargas.
What are you currently reading?
A few months back I read The Enigma of Arrival by V.S. Naipaul, a book about place of origin and change that still lingers in my mind. I'm currently reading The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass.
If your life were a movie, what would the title and the theme song be?
Title: Fast, Cheap and Out of Control
Theme song: "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" by Whitney Houston
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