Interviewing Eric Raasch, meeting of the Flaming Minds.

I’ve spent a lot of time jabbering with other young designers about the toils of being young, the uncertainty that lies ahead, or how I’m going to pay for dinner. That is why it has always been refreshing to talk to a real professional, seasoned in the industry and wise beyond his years. For me that person has been Eric Raasch. He has been able to offer perspective on the industry and encouragement in the face of calamity.

Introducing: Eric Raasch, owner of MindFlame Design & Marketing

Tell us about your path to this point.

I applied for the Graphic Design program at Iowa State University. I was accepted, and remained utterly absorbed in all things visual until receiving my BFA.

After graduation I spent a decade or so at St. Cloud, Minnesota ad agencies, enjoying the broad variety of client industries and assignments available in smaller firms that don’t really specialize. Every day seemed to bring a new opportunity to stretch and learn something new. Serving as President of the Central Minnesota AdFed may have been my best learning experience of all.

In 1998, shortly after my wife made me a proud father for the first time, a client contact recommended me for a job at what would become the world’s largest fishing tackle company, based in the Lake Okoboji area. As a lifelong angler, being asked to lead the in-house creative department at Pure Fishing, home of PowerBait®, FireLine®, Trilene® and Ambassadeur® reels seemed like a fantasy. For six years, my unofficial title was “Kid in a Candy Store.”

In 2005 I made the jump to Lawrence & Schiller in Sioux Falls, having worked closely with them while at Pure Fishing. I remained heavily involved with the Pure Fishing account for a year or so, before being asked to help evolve the look and feel of South Dakota Tourism’s advertising.

In July 2008 I scratched a 20-year-old itch to start my own firm. And MindFlame Design & Marketing was born.

What ambitions or goals do you have?

To be the best husband and father my family has ever known or could wish for.

To help companies and organizations succeed with outstanding creative marketing.

If I succeed at the latter but not the former, I will have failed. (Good thing juggling personal and professional life is easy peasy then…oh, wait…)

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A professional bass angler and/or a federal migratory waterfowl stamp illustrator. (Way to be original. Every kid’s dream.)

Who or what has influenced you?

Personally: My dad, Robert Raasch; my uncle, Ernest Raasch; and my grandfather, W. Foy Clark.

Professionally: Bradbury Thompson, Charles Spencer Anderson, Sharon Werner, Michael Mabry, Michael Bierut, Kit Hinrichs, April Greiman, Larry Tople

Favorite and least favorite typeface?

Favorite: Gotham

Least Favorite: 1. Comic Sans 2. Brush Script

What’s the best part about the industry?

The opportunity it provides for misfits, the semi-literate and the occasional genius. (Do you fall under one, none or all of those categories?)

Worst part about the industry?

Its inherent instability.

What is the coolest thing you’ve seen lately or work that you’ve liked?

Locally, I’ve admired Eva Hofer’s envive work from the first day it broke.  And just about anything Spark Letterpress runs through its proud old presses. South Dakota’s own Josh Spies is insanely talented, with a legitimate international following. Nationally, I’ve recently rekindled my romance with wine labels. It’s great to see vintners breaking so many rules in a traditionally restrained discipline.

If you could wake up and only check one website, what would it be?

My iGoogle custom page.

High point of your career/ favorite piece of work?

Opening MindFlame has to be the high point of my career so far. It was certainly the biggest decision I’ve ever made.

One thing you wish you would have done to prepare yourself for your career?

Taken an accounting class. The left side of my brain is shamefully under-developed. (For clarification, you said ACCOUNTING, not A COUNTING.)

Advice for up and coming designers…

How well you listen is more important than how well you speak. (What if I love to listen to myself speak?)