Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2007

BY HAROLD EGELN AND KHADIJA BATUTA

When it comes to business, it's always by design for Vincent Lisi, owner of Two Dogs Design. Whether it's Fordham Law School's annual report and banners or promotional materials for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce's Building Brooklyn Awards annual real estate networking event, Mr. Lisi has built an extensive client base with his talent, experience and vision.

"We are a strategic communications design firm providing effective and innovative solutions for marketing and design needs," explained Mr. Lisi, who started his home-based business in Nov. 1999.  Located at 181 Maple St., just south of Prospect Park in the Flatbush section of the borough, Mr. Lisi started his graphic design firm on the strength of his experience in the arts, education, and corporate and nonprofit administration.

Realizing an Entrepreneurial Dream
Prior to embarking on his entrepreneurial venture, Mr. Lisi worked for St. Vincent's Hospital in Greenwich Village as its design project manager, where the genesis for his business took shape.

“It was something in the back of my mind,” Mr. Lisi explained.  “I went back to school in my 30’s to pursue graphic design – my true love – and always envisioned heading up my own firm.  In my position at St. Vincent’s Hospital, I was essentially the art department and learned everything from A to Z – from client management, to working with printers and vendors, and more.  At one point, I had six weeks vacation that I would lose if I didn’t take it, so that made my decision to take the leap easier – my vacation pay became the seed money to start my business.”

Mr. Lisi’s formal education includes a sociology degree and an MBA in Finance from Baruch College, as well as a graphic arts degree from Cooper Union.  "Sociology, graphic arts and finance all come together into Two Dogs Design," Mr. Lisi explained.

Inspiration from close to home provided the last remaining piece needed for the new venture – the firm’s name.  Mr. Lisi, who is married with three children, named his company “Two Dogs” based on a comment made by one of his children when two dogs walked by the Lisis’ backyard.

The firm, which now employs two other people, handles logos, advertising, signage, posters, brochures, newsletters, reports, book covers, packaging, etc.  Among the firm’s many clients are Saint Vincent's Hospital, Fordham Law School, Dime Savings Bank, Hearst Magazines, American Express, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, Gracious Home, Brooklyn Friends School, Scholastic, Museum of Biblical Art, JPMorgan Chase, and the Archdiocese of New York.

Two Dogs Design has won a number of awards over the years, but 2006 was a banner year for the company.  It won two awards from the University and College Designer’s Association for Fordham Law School’s annual report and an employer’s recruitment kit marketing Fordham graduates.  Two Dogs also received six awards from Graphic Design USA for work they did for Fordham Law School; Betances Health Center in Manhattan, which was a bilingual project for HIV awareness; a Brooklyn exhibition production firm; and a Manhattan-based jeweler.

"The best and most enjoyable challenge of my work is finding a way to express something for our clients, working with them.  It's taking the information they give me, and then organizing and displaying the completed work," Mr. Lisi said. "I really enjoy creating the visual graphic as a marketing and promotional tool."

Active Brooklyn Chamber Member
Mr. Lisi became a Brooklyn Chamber Member in 2003.  "I talked with a business consultant, who told me about the advantages of Chamber membership," he said.  "I first went to a Business After Hours and saw then-President Kenneth Adams speak.  I was impressed by what he said about Chamber services."

Upon joining the organization, Mr. Lisi immediately became active.  He was involved with the Chamber’s Small Business Seminar Committee until the end of 2006, volunteering for the past two years as its chair.  He often networks at the Chamber’s Business After Hours and other events like Brooklyn Eats™.

"From the start of my Chamber membership, I was very interested in its many helpful services," explained Mr. Lisi.

Through his involvement with the Chamber, Mr. Lisi had the opportunity to work on several projects for the organization.  He designed the logo for the Chamber’s Building Brooklyn Awards, and for the past three years has produced the promotional materials for that event.  He also designed the brochure and postcard mailers for the Chamber’s 2005 Golf & Tennis Classic.

New Business Opportunities
Mr. Lisi has found that his active participation at Chamber events and on Chamber committees has expanded his business relationships and client base.

“Through my relationship with the Chamber, we have been able to work with several Chamber Members such as the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Historical Society for whom we did walking tour guides, and we’ve also worked with Kings County Hospital and Fillmore Real Estate,” said Mr. Lisi.

Two Dogs Design created print ads and brochures and other projects for Kings County Hospital.  “I met Kevin Brewster of Kings County Hospital at the Chamber’s Small Seminar Committee,” explained Mr. Lisi. 

“I connected with John Reinhardt, president and CEO of Fillmore Real Estate, at the first Building Brooklyn Awards I attended where we designed the collateral for the Chamber.  Fillmore was interested in working with us.  Ultimately, we designed their print and billboard advertisements, redesigned their business cards and also designed their ‘for sale’ signs,” added Mr. Lisi.

As a graphic arts and typography educator, Mr. Lisi has forged a relationship with Chamber Member WIBO (The Workshop In Business Opportunities) where he has led workshops; he also has taught at Parsons School of Design.

Chamber Seminar in May
After heading up the Small Business Seminar Committee for two years, Mr. Lisi is now taking his turn as a seminar presenter.  He will lead the Chamber’s next small business seminar, “Sharpening Your Image: What Every Business Owner Should Know About Branding,” on Thursday, May 31, at the Brooklyn Business Solutions Center, 9 Bond St.  For more information about the seminar contact Daniel Fisher at the Brooklyn Business Solutions Center at 718-875-1000 ext. 114.

Mr. Lisi can be reached at Two Dogs Design at 718-675-4485, or at vlisi@twodogsdesign.com. The firm's Web site is at http://www.twodogsdesign.com/.