There’s been quite a buzz in recent years about neurodivergence, exploring the unique ways one in five people are “differently wired” with conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, giftedness, autism, anxiety, and more. While this has become a hot topic, these differences weren’t openly discussed until more recently. Why bring this up? Because I’m proudly navigating life with both ADHD and Dyslexia. And while they posed challenges in my early years, I’ve managed to transform them into superpowers. Here’s a glimpse into that journey. The Early Years & Struggles Back in the early ‘70s, ADHD wasn’t a c ..read more

At Highway 85 Creative, we don’t mess around when it comes to opportunities. Owner Guy Zwick is hardcore in his belief that success is earned, not handed to you. This unapologetic, no-nonsense mindset defines our work ethic and fuels our relentless commitment to excellence. Buckle up and get ready as we delve into the badass work mindset of Guy Zwicks and how it propels us to dominate at Highway 85 Creative. There Are No Handouts I owe my perspective on making my own success to my parents. Back when I was in high school, they made it very clear that they wanted my siblings and me to have every ..read more

Business owners are often eager to learn from other leaders. In this spirit, one of the best leadership lessons I can share is that achieving success requires having a larger focus than operations and dollar signs alone. Specifically, it requires that you focus on building a legacy. Here’s how this looks in our business.  Building A Legacy As an entrepreneur, I not only have a vision for my business, but I also have a vision for why my business exists in the first place. I want to create a reputable brand (like the Dallas Cowboys) and zero in on building a legacy.  Making Highway 85 ..read more

All too often, customers think that design in marketing is either all art or all engineering. The more artistic folks tend to zero in on the creative elements, whereas the more practical folks want to know that it will all work logistically. The truth? Design in marketing is at the intersection of both. Here’s how this looks in practice.  Approaches To Design Our lead designer, Joe, loves to fuse together the art and engineering of a project. Oftentimes, he’ll start with whatever aspect of the job has inspired him. It might be something a client mentioned about how much they love nature a ..read more

A lot has been said about curiosity, but I really don’t care about how it applies to cats. Instead, my take on the topic mirrors John C. Maxwell’s, who wrote, “The future belongs to the curious. The ones who are not afraid to try it, explore it, poke at it, question it and turn it inside out.” When it comes to business, cultivating and encouraging curiosity is one of the most valuable leadership lessons that I can impart. It is essential to understand why curiosity matters and how it can drive growth, both personally and professionally. Curiosity Is For Everyone Most people know that little ki ..read more

After graduating from ASU with a degree in Art, my path to becoming Design Director at Highway 85 was anything but direct. However, my five-year  journey here has taught me that everyone’s experiences and background uniquely prepare them to develop their own strengths. In the world of design, creativity cannot be confined to one standard box. To achieve true collaboration in business, it takes all types of creativity and work styles. This is how it works within our walls. Creativity in Design As a designer, I don’t think about creativity like other people do. My job involves taking in inf ..read more

(Peoria, Ariz. – Sept. 18, 2023) — Strolleria, a multi-channel retailer of high-end baby gear, today announces it partnered with Highway 85 Creative to bring its vision for the brand’s new Scottsdale storefront interior to life. Coming from a smaller, less optimally designed space, the company was looking for a clean aesthetic and functional, modular displays that could be reconfigured as needed. Strolleria was looking for an experienced partner who could ask the right questions and cover all their bases throughout this project. Ultimately, the team wanted its store interior and customer expe ..read more

Failure has become the new “it” thing in town.  It seems like everyone, from the talking heads to psychologists and even your nosy Aunt Sally is going gaga over the perks of falling flat on your face. And truth be told, they’re not entirely wrong. Failing in business is an essential part of the path to success. But let me drop a truth bomb on you: Failure alone won’t cut it. Nope, not even close. The real key is that you have to have the right mindset around failure. It’s all about adopting that magical perspective that turns setbacks into stepping stones and blunders into brilliant oppor ..read more

Raise your hand if you had to make budget cuts in your business to deal with the unpredictable economy or other financial limitations. Ok, pretty much everyone’s hand is up, right? Still, even if your marketing budget – and therefore your trade show budget – has been slashed doesn’t mean your trade show ROI has to be. In fact, most people get this equation wrong. Reduced budget does not need to equal reduced outcomes.  Here’s what you need to know! Use The Same Success Criteria Whether you have $10K to spend on a show or $100K, you need to identify your success criteria before you do anyt ..read more

We recently wrote about the right people to send to a trade show, but what if you’re still not convinced? What if your team already has the trade show planning underway and the tickets bought for a group of people who may not be best suited for the boots-on-the-ground job of manning your booth? Before you just go ahead and send them anyway, take a look at the costs of sending the wrong people.  Cost: Damaged Brand Reputation We all know first impressions can be everything, and the same is true at events. Yes, your booth will absolutely be a key part of a prospect’s first impression, but s ..read more