OGLCC

What is your primary product or service?

I am the creative director and owner of Calleja Design, which focuses on graphic design and communications. I design and produce corporate identity, marketing and sales collateral for small to medium-sized businesses and organizations. I design and oversee the creation and production of one-off pieces or entire marketing campaigns (and everything in-between) from conception to completion.

How long have you been in business?

I have been a graphic designer for over 17 years. Calleja Design has been in existence for over 10 years, and has been my full-time occupation for the last 2 years.

What is the history of your business?

I started out in the design business while working for a publishing company, HarperCollins Canada. I enjoyed using my artistic and stage design skills to produce various marketing materials. I then worked for a web development firm and got hands-experience with the websites back in the early days. With both print and web experience, I was hired by a few design studios and ad agencies. After a gig in a large corporate environment, Dundee Wealth, I decided I preferred to work for myself and freelance my talent full-time.

What makes your business or service unique?

As a senior designer/creative director my clients get my wealth of experience directly: they don’t go through account managers or sales people. I have many years experience in both corporate and agency settings. My clients are all busy businesses. They aren’t large enough to have an in-house design department. I fill that need for them. They consider me part of their team. These businesses need the services of a professional designer throughout the year and can call me anytime to help them with their print and web marketing and promotional needs. How businesses present themselves is so important in these days of heavy competition. Business owners are good at what they do: I can help make them look as professional as they are, and communicate things about their businesses that help to distinguish themselves.

Who would be a good customer for you?

Small to medium-sized businesses are great customers for me. Educational and not-for-profit organizations are good contacts for me too. I also work very well with other marketing and PR firms, as I provide the design of the marketing or PR campaigns.

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your business?

I’ve been out and proud for a rather long time now, and I’ve always been a supporter of our LGBT community. Although we as a community are a lot more accepted than we were 10 or 20 years ago, I still think it’s great that I can network and mingle with others who share many similar experiences.

Visit Joe Calleja at his website: Calleja Design.