I guess it’s time to be honest with you, our friends. We have had a relationship with someone for several years that we feel we should let you know about because she has done nothing but make us look good, helping us (and our clients) have a little more marketing sass. Emma and her coworkers have been a welcome addition to our email and survey marketing over the last several years. Whether you’re meeting Emma for the first time or if you are already a fan of Emma as well, we hope you learn a little more about the ol’ gal and her friends.

1: What is Emma, exactly?
Emma’s an email marketing and communications company that helps small and midsize businesses manage their email campaigns and online surveys in style.

2: How was Emma started?
In late 2001, Will Weaver and Clint Smith (known sometimes as the Tall One and the Not-So-Tall One), began researching the marketing and communications field, hoping to help small businesses manage such things more easily. They saw that nobody out there had really nailed email marketing. There were services that seemed to offer enough sophistication but were way too pricey for small businesses. And there were really inexpensive services that didn’t go far enough in helping small businesses create something really professional and stylish. So the idea behind Emma was to fill the space in the middle — a stylish, sophisticated alternative to the cheap, do-it-yourself services out there, but a more affordable and accessible alternative to what the Big Guys had to offer. Read the rest of the entry >

We are very excited to have had the chance to interview the one and only Father Christmas. We know this time of year he is extremely busy, but thanks to email and twitter we were able to get the next 29 Questions answered just in time for the big day. So whether you are naughty or nice we think you will enjoy this latest installment. Merry Christmas!

1: Of your numerous aliases, which one would you say is your favorite? Kris Kringle, Santa Claus, Papai Noel, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, etc.
I’d have to go with St. Nick….Mrs. Claus has some of her own that only she can call me… Ho, Ho, Ho.

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We love t-shirts at Rule29, which is one of the main reasons we are big fans of Threadless since we first heard about them a few years back. I have many favorite designs (the most recent being the tribute to Michael Jackson), and so does our past intern Craig. Watch the 29 shirt challenge and peep at least 10 Threadless tees! But here I digress, and without further adieu, I present the next 29 questions interview our fun friends from Threadless. We are pumped that the team took the time to share a little insight behind Threadless and its magic. (Oh, and if you have no idea who we are talking about, then first start by going to their site, and maybe order a tee, hoodie or something for the kids, or someone else’s kids. Oh yeah, and submit or vote on a design.) Enjoy and have a tee-rrific day…

1: How was Threadless born?
Threadless started as a hobby. Jake Nickell entered a t-shirt competition on a small design forum called Dreamless. After experiencing the excitement of winning, the idea of having an ongoing competition with an open call for t-shirt design entries was born.

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We greatly admire anyone or any organization that serves to change the human condition for the better. Our next guest is doing both in a way that literally empowers communities and saves lives. Dr. Florence Muindi, President and Founder of one of our favorite organizations, Life In Abundance, is a highly educated doctor and missionary serving the poorest of the poor in the most marginalized communities in eastern Africa. I’m humbled when I’m around her, and the whole team at Rule29 is honored to be a part of the work she started in the rural and urban slums of Africa. Please enjoy this interview and come back soon to see the LIA documentary trailer we created for the film we shot in Ethiopia this past spring.

1: When did you know that you wanted to be a doctor?
My interest started in elementary school, but I made the decision in high school.

2: Where did you go to medical school?
University of Nairobi, Kenya.

3: Have you done any other schooling?
Yes; a Master in Public Health, Disaster Management, Disaster Preparedness and Humanitarian Response, Health Provision to large populations and program design, Community-based health care facilitation, Professional Counseling, Urban Poor Theology, Pastoral Care.

4: Why did you decide to practice something other than curative medicine?
I wanted to take the preventive approach.

5: Where do you live?
Each year has been different for the last 15 years. It’s been many different locations in Kenya, the USA, and in Ethiopia. Home has been where the children are going to school. That is tricky now since the children are split – college in PA for Jay and Boarding High School for Kyalo in Kenya. Festus and I move around quite a bit and most of the time in separate trips. For 30% of the time, home is Kenya; the other 70% is made up of travel times in the other LIA Africa countries, the USA, and other various places.

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I love paging through design magazines (or any well-designed magazine for that matter), and HOW has been one of my favorites for years. I have always enjoyed the practical and inspirational approach it delivers. Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting the editor, Bryn Mooth. It was incredibly refreshing to see that Bryn and the rest of the team were as cool as the magazine itself. Although, as most of you know, HOW is much more than a magazine. They host several conferences for every stage of a designers’ careers, including one of the best design conferences in the world. They publish a host of books, organize competitions, and have added an entire suite of online capabilities with several blogs, webinars and much more. With all of that said, I’m honored that Bryn took a little time to answer this installment of 29 Questions. You will soon see why she is one of our favorite peeps. Enjoy!

1: How long have you been editor at HOW?
I’ve been at HOW for much of my professional career in two separate stints, and I’m coming up on 10 years as editor.

2: What’s the favorite part of your job?
Sounds trite, but the people — both the team that I’m blessed to work with, and the amazingly talented and generous people in the design field that I’ve crossed paths with.

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