Meet Sean Duggan of Studio Nomad in Sunnyside

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Duggan.

Sean, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been a graphic designer for almost 25(!) years now. I started off in smaller design studios that were parts of larger advertising agencies, working on a wide variety of types of projects and clients. In the early 2000s, I started concentrating more and more in the digital space and now my business is mostly focused on interactive design—both web and app. A lot of those projects come with certain levels of branding work needed, so we also provide brand strategy consulting, which includes everything from identity work to full branding guidelines and systems.

As a way to stretch different creative muscles, I also do quite a bit of digital illustration work, mostly in the editorial space, which provides a nice counterpoint to the web-based projects that make up the majority of my day-to-day.

In 2007, I decided to start my own small studio because I wanted better control over the types of projects I work on, and the clients I work for. Mostly, it is still a one-man operation, but I bring in sub-contractors—developers, copywriters—on nearly every project I bring into my studio. I also frequently partner with other studios and agencies around town.

Has it been a smooth road?
Surprisingly, it’s mostly been a fairly smooth road. I think I have the normal struggles that most small business owners have, but I’ve learned to roll with the punches and not get too anxious about the daily roller coaster ride. I’m not great at the business side of things (sales and promotion specifically) and I’m fairly introverted and abhor networking, but mostly that hasn’t hurt me too much. I get about 95% of my projects through word of mouth or repeat clients, and I think that’s mainly due to my focus on providing thoughtful work and great customer service.

Please tell us about Studio Nomad. What should we know?
Studio Nomad focuses mainly on digital experiences, both desktop and mobile—depending on the project. We believe very strongly in putting the user first (as much as possible) in all of our decision makings, and that ultimately controls the execution of the final product.

I’m really proud of our work ethic, and our commitment to building experiences that are intuitive and easy to use, while also looking great.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Denver has a thriving creative culture that comes with the many different types of industries in the area. Historically, I think we were mostly oil and gas heavy, but we’ve definitely expanded into other sectors over the past few decades. A variety of business sectors brings about needs for different types of branding and materials that speak to many different audiences so we get myriad opportunities to explore and be creative in our efforts.

There are also a lot of different ways to work in my industry in Denver from smaller shops to bigger, more corporate behemoths, so newbies have some choices in how they want their careers to proceed. I think what ties us all together is the desire to produce good, interesting and innovative work for our clients.

Compared to other communities I’ve worked in, Denver’s creative scene is very inclusive and collaborative. People seem to genuinely enjoy working with others in the field and exploring as many different types of input as possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: createdbynomad.com
• Email: hello@createdbynomad.com
• Other: https://dribbble.com/seanduggan

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