Hekla - Giclée print on Somerset Velvet Fine Art Paper by Ben Kamprath

The Fountain - pen and ink drawing by Ben Kamprath

The card I designed to accompany the work shown at Chocolate Cake Communication & Design this month. Thanks to everyone who made it out for first Friday!

It’s been four weeks since I left the firm, where I enjoyed the position of creative director for two years (and a few months). The decision to leave was difficult, but ultimately in the best interest of both parties.

I was hired during my last year of college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in April of 2007. The job held the most exciting opportunity I could imagine, and was the perfect place for me to learn, create, and grow as a young creative professional. When I joined the company, we were a handful of passionate people working out of a smoky, desk-filled living room in a small house on the edge of campus. We slept on couches, survived on coffee, and worked day and night, seven days a week. Over the last few years the firm has matured a great deal. We left the dark living room in favor of a larger, brighter location in the heart of the city, and doubled the number of talented, hard-working individuals we employed. The vigorous work continues, and the company is still progressing at an amazing rate.

In my two years working for Roundus, I learned more than I thought possible. I learned to run a creative team and listen effectively to clients (and actually get them to pay you!). I cultivated skill in taking projects from the conceptual phase through development, and on to final delivery. It was hard work mixed with sweat, blood, and uncertainty. Being part of a startup web company was a dream gig. It was a damn fun ride, too.

I will miss the dedication, playfulness, and competitive spirit that knit our group together and pushed us through long nights, tight deadlines, and one hell of an economic downturn. It was wildly rewarding to watch the firm grow, our projects mature, and our client list expand.

The world is changing; Roundus is evolving, too. The work the firm has done with panoramic VR is top-notch, and something I am proud to say I was a part of. The decision to shift from professional VR shop to creative agency (check out Roundscapes) is one that I believe will only encourage the firm’s growth, and allow this dynamic team to continue to thrive. I want to thank Chris, Zach, Sean, Marc, Tim, Jay, Ross, Dustin, Alexandra, Kyle, and everyone else I had the pleasure of working with, you guys rock! I had so much fun, and I wish each of you all the success in the world.