Over the past decade, Bijan’s personal responsibilities at Fisk have, of course, evolved. As team leader, Bijan’s day-to-day life is filled with “all the small, random things that you have to do,” he says. “Not only the business side of things like taxes, but also learning how to rent a space, what kind of space to look for, how to negotiate that, then creating a decent workspace, having snacks, toilet paper, what benefits do you provide , how to provide healthcare,” he says. “It’s the not sexy stuff! There’s also no guide to doing that.”
However, another driver behind Bijan’s decision to set up his own business is the fact he wants to spend his time actually designing. In conversation, he recalls sitting down with his first boss at Nike, who offered the revelation of “whenever you add director to your title, you stop designing.” Today, “graphic designer” is how Bijan identified over titles like director or founder, although he’s gradually realized the satisfaction gained from more entrepreneurial responsibilities. His ideal day, for example, is one filled with a variety of tasks mirroring his self-built business model. “I feel excited about the design project I am working on, but I also feel excited about the feedback, developing a scope of work, the energy of making someone feel good about their project as much as possible,” he says. “That’s what I love about Fisk the most – in one day we’re prepping for a gallery opening, releasing a new T-shirt, working on record packing, picking Pantone colours, or getting a print sample in the mail. When I have that variety, which is productive but also fun, that’s my favorite day. Then I’ll come home and just design on my couch.”