BOOK DESIGN • ILLUSTRATION
In 1994, Gordon MacKenzie brought Ann Willoughby a stack of more than three dozen rejection letters from book publishers for his proposed book recounting lessons learned from his 30-year career at Hallmark Cards. Willoughby and MacKenzie, longtime friends and colleagues, agreed to self-publish and began a magical 17-month book design collaboration that re-framed the idea of creativity throughout corporate America. During the creative process, designing, writing and illustrating lines blurred as we brought Gordon’s Magnus Opus to life. The original Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace, a self-published limited edition book of 5000 copies, became a best seller for its tactile, art-filled design and enduring message. Now in its 10th Viking edition, Orbiting the Giant Hairball, is more relevant than ever, helping another generation navigate work in a world that does not always value the creative process, intuitive skills and design that leads to valuable innovation.
