News Article

CNA graduate has designs on a bright future


6/30/2003 12:03:13 PM


Harnett is from Clarenville, NL and has chosen to make it home base for his global vision. Photo by Paul Abbott

June 30, 2003 – Adam Harnett is a young man who evokes a great deal of confidence. And for good reason. The 22-year old entrepreneur from Clarenville has been working in web design for several years – even before enrolling in College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Web Site Administration program at Clarenville campus in 2000.

He had originally attended university, and although he did very well in courses such as math, chemistry, and computer science, he wanted something a little different; a little more.

“I found there was too much theory in university, and I wanted more hands-on experience,” he says.

“What I wanted was a more focused and friendly environment where I could concentrate on improving my skills as a web designer. I found it at College of the North Atlantic.”

While enrolled at CNA Adam became involved in the local chapter of Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE), and in his second year of the program, became president of the chapter.

“I dedicated myself to ACE and school. After that, I thrived on the energy I got from being extremely busy.”

Soon after graduating in 2002, Harnett won a $10,000 business startup grant in the Aliant/BayBYTES Rural Grant Competition and opened his business Dash5 Design (www.dash5.com). Dash5 Design is a global, cost-effective, friendly, digital design company based in rural Newfoundland, providing everything from web site development and servicing to graphic design and production.

He has also created (WM) Webifex Magazine ( www.webifex.com ) – an electronic IT design magazine with an international audience and focus. College of the North Atlantic’s Clarenville campus has integrated some of the magazine’s tutorials and other content into its design programs. The magazine offers students exposure to the industry and an opportunity to gain valuable international experience before entering the work force.

Harnett had been doing freelance work for years, building a network of clients and connections he could access when he finished school and opened his business. He has been working on a sizable project for over a year now, involving website design and development for a client. Since the focus is on youth, Adam decided to put himself in the thick of things, and talk directly with his client’s target audience.

“I interviewed my client’s target audience (groups of youth), in high schools throughout the Discovery region. My client and I brought in food and gave them surveys to help identify their favourite colours, favourite sites, and so on,” says Harnett.

He first meets with the client to get a feel for what they want to see, and then engages the potential audience. Harnett says that this technique ensures a better chance of hooking the right feel for what the audience wants, and therefore, the product he should create.

“I like to include the audience in the process so you get a better product in the end,” says Harnett.

“It makes sense to come up with what the audience wants to see.”

Harnett has spoken at many events, including a youth entrepreneurship forum held in Clarenville, where he delivered his "There's No Time Like The Present" speech. In April 2003, Adam attended PHPCon East 2003 (www.php-con.com), an international programming conference in New York City, where he hosted a session about bridging the communication gap between visual designers and technical designers with the focus of helping businesses improve the effectiveness of their web application design teams.

“I get to be a part of both worlds,” he says.

“I think it comes down to communication – I try to communicate the need to be comfortable with both sides of the design coin, design of the visual sort, and design of the technical sort.”

He also attended the ACE National Conference in Toronto in May, where he served as a first-round judge for this national entrepreneurship competition.

Harnett has just opened a new office in Clarenville and will be hiring his first full-time employee this month. His future goals include globalizing his company through the Internet; the development of software and high impact flash animations for the web, music videos, and television commercials; and establishing specialized departments for each area of the company's design expertise.

He spends so much time at his business that he decided to incorporate more of his personal interests, such as music. In fact, his magazine’s visual design elements are inspired by music. So is some of the content.

“I guess because it made sense to me as a visual designer. I think the magazine provides a healthy blend between visual and musical design,” he says.

“After all, music helps bring us closer together. It helps us build a sense of community, even on the Internet. This type of community web site is more popular than ever!”

He’s had the opportunity to interview I Mother Earth’s guitarist Jagori Tanna and James Black from Finger Eleven for the magazine, and is often in touch with each band’s web master and publicists. He has also done some work for them.

“For me it’s fun – that’s why I incorporated it. I get to hang out with my favourite designers and musicians, and pursue my interests,” he says.

Harnett also works with local businesses, helping them improve their potential by going global.

“I am helping a company in the area get an e-commerce site on line. They do local business but want to go global and provide more convenience for customers.”

He’s now at the point where he has revenue coming in and is looking forward to expanding more in the near future.

This CNA graduate says he plans to create the most successful design firm in Atlantic Canada. When Adam Harnett says he’ll do something, you can bet he will succeed.

-30-

For more information contact:

Stephen Lee
Communications Manager
(709) 643-7929

or

Tanya Alexander
Public Information Officer
(709) 643-7928