About Russell Lephew
Greetings! My name is Russell Lephew. I put the “design” in the IBG Design Group. I started designing back in the days of Rubylith and learning the old school way. Then I graduated to computers and started using Quark, Pagemaker and even tried to figure out this new program called Photoshop. Fast forward to today. I’ve now been doing print & web design in the television industry for going on 11 years. But with the desire to be a great designer, you also have a desire to grow outside your boundaries. That’s why I started this business. It’s a way for us to take our years of experience to the outside world.
My new best friend(s)
September 03, 2008I don’t get out very often, at least, not in the sense of hanging out with other designers and web professionals. Jonathan, Josh & I have pretty much been in our own little world, and that’s always worked for us. But for the past few months, I’ve had my eye on a local group called the Cleveland Web Standards Association. I’ve really wanted to check their meetings out and see what all goes on, but because of work and other commitments, it never happened. So when Jon told me he knew where the next meeting was and volunteered to drive, I couldn’t say no.
As Jon & I got to the Tri-C campus, I was a little unsure of how this was going to go. I didn’t know how welcoming the group would be to noobs. Outside of Brad Colbow and Nate Klaiber, whom I’ve only previously chatted with via Twitter, I didn’t really KNOW anyone. We all were seated in a circle and introduced ourselves (for our benefit, I’m sure). Everyone was very friendly and very easy to talk to. It was nice getting a little background on everybody before we got started. We had a very good open discussion on form design with a few topics in particular. I don’t really think I contributed anything to the discussion, but it was a nice open format and it was great listening to other perspectives on the matter.
Afterwards, we headed up to Max & Erma’s for a late dinner and some chit-chat. We talked about all kinds of web-nerdery. It was so much fun getting to know everyone! I can’t tell you how great it was hearing people tell stories of their own jobs that you can TOTALLY relate to. Needless to say, we are counting the days until next month’s meeting and we’ll hopefully have Josh with us. If anyone in Northeast Ohio reads this, and you really have an interest in web standards, I totally recommend coming to the CWSA meetings. You will NOT be disappointed.
Is Racewalking a sport?
August 22, 2008I seriously thought this would be a blog dedicated to design, really I did. I had big hopes for this blog, but so far I’ve not had real motivation or time to write about anything! But as I sit here writing, it’s 5:30am (EST) and so I’m somewhat incoherent while writing this...but I found my motivation in...Racewalking!
The Olympics
I love, love, LOVE The Olympics! I seriously can’t get enough of it. I’ve literally tried to watch as much as I can. My favorite is the USA Basketball “Redeem Team”, which is no surprise to anyone that knows me. But I’m also loving the Swimming. Phelps just blew us all away, didn’t he? So, as I woke up this morning around 5am or so, I figured I’d check out what I missed last night as I dozed off early. Looks like the USA Men got a gold in Beach Volleyball to match the Ladies from the previous night. That’s just awesome! Unfortunately the USA Women’s Softball team went out on a sour note losing to Japan 3-1. Their record was so crazy good, the Olympic higher ups were basically looking to close the sport because they were unbeatable. Don’t even get me started on the Women’s Baton Relay team. Put some glue on that baton and QUIT DROPPING IT!!! Regardless, it has so far been an exciting Olympics.
And then this morning I come across something called “Racewalking” which, unless I hadn’t heard the announcer, I would have probably called it “Extreme Mall Walking”. They seriously look like those people you see in the mall at obscure times just making loops of the mall...not buying anything...not even window shopping. They’re just there exercising. Now I wonder if these people are truly “mall walkers” or are they future Olympian “RACE Walkers” just training indoors. Maybe there’s an indoor version of the sport I’m not aware of either. Then I wonder what these people walk like when they’re not racing? Are they natural speed walkers or can they slow down to a normal pace like the rest of us? I digress.
My point...
Up until this point in my blog, I was pretty convinced that is wasn’t a sport in my book. But as these Racewalkers make their way down the final stretch, 31 miles I believe the announcer said, they enter the stadium filled with people cheering. Tears are streaming down the racer’s faces. Tears. That’s when it hits me...this really IS a sport. Now, I’m not saying I fully understand what motivates these people to get into this weird walking sport. I just think that walking 31 miles is definitely not looping around the mall a few times. It’s dedication. Somehow these racewalkers have tapped into something that motivates them to get out there and be the best they can be. So as a designer, I can understand that and relate to that and actually use that as a segway to say that maybe this blog is design related after all! Regardless of any lesson that should be learned, these racewalkers’ motivation has helped me motivate myself to blog this early morning, and for that I am thankful.
And now back to bed.
-R
It started with an idea
June 20, 2008You know those ideas you get where sometimes you’re like “Wouldn’t it be nice if...”? That’s pretty much how all this started! This has been something I’ve wanted to do for the longest time, just never had the time or the guts to take the first step. For years we’ve worked together in the television industry doing on-air, print, and web design. We always had our “What if” conversations about taking our talent act to the streets. We’d all 3 individually had our share of sporadic work through the years, but it had never been steady. Then BOOM, one day it starts hitting in waves! That’s when I realized I needed to step up and take the plunge. Those “What if” conversations finally turned into “Why Not?”...and here we are today.
So...why “IBG”?
Well, why not?! That’s not really a good answer, is it? Basically, it could’ve been a lot of things. But first off, you probably want to know what “IBG” stands for. “I Believe in Good Design” Group. So technically, it could be called “iBIGD” ...but that’s lame! I couldn’t call it BIG Design because that was taken. There have been other nicknames and stories that go with “IBG”, but we’ll leave it as is. This is my answer, and I’m sticking to it....for now.
