Written by Yannick Labbe our Creative Director from Grabarz&Partner Berlin, who now has his very own DDI fan club.

I expected many things from my sponsored trip to Australia. But one thing, I surely didn’t: the perceived temperature here resembles a mid-January day in Jenniseisk, pearl of the Siberian steppe. But instead of focussing on the rather uncommon similarities between the capital of New South Wales and the gem of the Krasnojarsk-oblast, here’s a few things I take home from my sneak peek into Australian work life, and life in general:

People are awesome. And so is working together with them. Chopper-flying is great. Wood-chopping is, also. It’s good to hang around dogs. It’s also good to hang around good ideas. Just to let them die sometimes. It’s good to not have an attitude. It’s even better to recognize that folks are better than yourself in what’s different from what you do every day.

So, instead of moaning along about the cold (which is one of the key selling points of Jenniseik, icy jewel on the banks of Jenissei-river), this is what’s also going to stick with me: the warm welcome for a random dude from Europe from everyone at DDI. You made this trip unforgettable. Thanks for everything, guys, you’re awesome (so is Jenniseisk, glittering treasure of the barren lands behind the Ural – but that’s a whole different story).

Earlier this year, we were privileged to have the enormously talented and incredibly humble, Cleonie Quayle, share the sources of her creative inspiration with us in a workshop here at DDI.

Cleonie is a self-titled ‘Aboriginal entrepreneur’ who shares her life story through every piece of her remarkable jewellery. As one of the women being supported by our pro-bono client Global Sisters, DDI is thrilled to have contributed to Cleonie’s education as a businesswoman through the Sister School programme. True to Cleonie’s ‘hand up, not hand out’ philosophy, she graciously exchanged her words of wisdom in a bespoke creative workshop with our team.

Our Studio Manager and Senior Designer extraordinaire, Paul Conley, was so taken with Cleonie’s story that he immediately set to work bringing the Cleonie Quayle brand to life with a representation of her remarkable craft.

My take on all of this is very simple: Energy Begets Energy. Cleonie shared with us great vulnerability and humour in her life’s journey which is filled with tragedy, triumph and every emotion in between.  Paul gave of his talent with openness of heart and generosity of spirit for Cleonie and her future success.  And in that exchange, something beautiful was created. I watch with pride as these meetings of the mind unfold every day at DDI.

Kingpin celebrates International Women’s Day
Who says being bold for a cause has to come at the expense of having a good time?

For our client Kingpin, DDI celebrated International Women’s Day in true royal style – tiaras and crowns optional.