How to Reach Us During Our Move

posted by Anna Fleet on February 24th, 2011

MFX Partners is in the process of moving to our new location at The Tannery in downtown Kitchener. We will be announcing some other exciting news next week.

Our phone system will be down during the move, however, we are still available by email or cell.

We will be officially open again on Tuesday, March 1st.

Please note the following changes to our mailing address:

121 Charles Street West, #230

Kitchener, Ontario N2G 1H6

Our phone numbers and individual extensions will remain the same:

Phone: 519 576 6422

Toll Free: 1 888 825 8064

Please be sure your Accounting Department is aware of the changes. We thank you for patience during this exciting transition, and of course, you’ll be invited to the new office party sometime in April.

Many thanks,

MFX Partners

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Brock Hart Honoured in Waterloo Region’s 40 Under 40

posted by Anna Fleet on February 24th, 2011

Soooooooooo, did you pick up a copy of  Waterloo Region’s 40 Under 40 issue bright and early this morning? If you did, you already know that our very own Creative Director, Brock Hart was one of those honoured in yesterday’s ceremony. Check out the footage from yesterday’s ceremony recognizing our region’s most promising young minds. And congratulations too all of those honoured in our wonderful region.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

MFX Harts Waterloo’s 40 Under 40

posted by Anna Fleet on February 23rd, 2011

It’s a fantastic freaking world (in my books) when good people get recognized for the great work they do. So when we got advanced copies of Waterloo Region’s 40 Under 40, an issue that shines a well-deserved spotlight on 40 outstanding young people who are making a difference in our region—well, I feel that humanity is doing just fine.

The greatest thing about Waterloo Region’s 40 Under 40 is that one of our most favorite people in the whole wide world is featured (among some other extraordinary friends of MFX).

Who, you might ask?

Well you’d best pick up a copy of tomorrow’s Record to find out ;)

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Design Changes Everything!

posted by Anna Fleet on February 17th, 2011

If you’ve been to any community events in Kitchener-Waterloo lately, you’ve probably crossed paths with an MFXer. The thing I love so much about working for MFX is that we’re always out at local events, meeting new people and learning about what they do.

Take the Communitech Art and Networking event at the Tannery a few weeks back. I had the pleasure of meeting a bunch of new faces, and soon-to-be neighbors. It struck me last week, when meeting many new folks from the small biz and non-profit community, I often find myself asking them, “Have you heard about Design Changes?”

If you haven’t heard, Design Changes is a special MFX project that focuses on providing graphic design, writing and web design services specifically to the Waterloo Region’s small business and non-profit community. The Design Changes studio has occupied a small space in the Princess Twin building, located near the delectable Princess Café, since 2009. But because MFX is moving to our big, brand new, beautiful office in the Tannery, well it just seemed logical to reunite the whole dang family in one office space.

So to be clear, Design Changes is an MFX-funded program that offers professional design services to small businesses (in their first year of business) and non-profit outfits—that otherwise wouldn’t necessarily be able to afford the same services from a large, professional agency. And because Design Changes is fully backed by MFX, we can offer our small biz and not-for-profit clients the expertise of a large and diverse design and communication firm with global experience and a full mix of services and resources.

So if you’re a small or non-profit business owner looking for professional design services you can afford, Design Changes hasn’t abandoned you, it’s just moved to Kitchener like Google. Lead Designer, Lesley Drago will happily quote your project and work with you to maximize your budget and show you how vital design can be to the success and potential growth of your business. Call Lesley at 519-588-4358 or email lesley@designchanges.ca.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Sneak Peek of the New MFX Office

posted by Lesley on February 14th, 2011

Check out our first attempt at video blogging! Anna takes you on a quick tour of the MFX Office construction site.

Keep checking back for updates!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Kitchener’s Tannery and Sustainable Design

posted by Anna Fleet on February 7th, 2011

So we’ve been sharing a little bit more information on our new space over at the Tannery in recent blog posts. We are not only psyched to move in because the space is absolutely gorgeous with loads of potential; the Tannery is also a good example of sustainable design, which as you know is right up our alley.

So why did we choose the Tannery as our new workspace?

The project transformed the defunct 480,000-square-foot Tannery into the heart of this region’s bustling tech sector. It’s an attractive mix of smart, leading edge office tenants—including Communitech, Google, Desire2Learn and US! Plus, it offers the right balance of commercial tenants—a health clinic, Balzacs Coffee Roasters, a salon, and even a workspace for local artisans.

But the most inspiring thing about the Tannery is that it bridges the gap between Kitchener’s industrial heritage and its new reputation as Ontario’s high-tech hub. Toronto-based architectural firm, RAWdesign, worked consciously to preserve the masonry shell, industrial heritage and the original steel structure, brickwork and rough-hewn wooden floors. And they topped it all off by creating an even flow throughout the building, streamlining all buildings together as one by removing the Tannery’s smaller structures and creating pathways of harmony throughout the block.

How perfect will it be to work in and be inspired by such a great example of sustainable design?

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Co-Design of our New Office Space @the Tannery

posted by Anna Fleet on February 3rd, 2011

We announced in yesterday’s post that we’re anticipating our move the Kitchener’s Tannery at the end of this month. Well, we’d like to tell you more about our totally awesome new space!

Offering just under 5,000 square feet of fabulousness (considering we’re used to a cramped 3,000 square foot space currently), MFX took the design of our new space very seriously. That’s why we collaborated with local design superstar, Lorelie Ratz and the owner/designer of this mind-blowing Straw Bale Home featured in Grand Magazine.

Lorelie worked with us to design a space that would match a group of lithe and spontaneous folks (that’s us) whose daily activities can range from writing a barrage of ideas on the wall after playing with Lego for an hour—to catering to an audience of 20 for one of our Design Thinking workshops, complete with coffee and City Café’s most scrumptious and butteriest croissants.

That’s why Lorelie helped us open our eyes to the potential of a flexible space, outfitted with modular glass panels and furniture that could be easily shifted to match whatever workshop, brainstorm, or group or lone activity our staff needed at the time. Seriously, the office furniture rocks! It’s a mix of rounded and angled tables that can suit one large boardroom, or with the easy shift of a glass divider, provide the space for two smaller work or meeting spaces, and we can move the tables to create smaller round, rectangle, u-shaped and square work areas.

We can’t wait to move in so we can have you over to show it off!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes … @MFX

posted by Anna Fleet on February 2nd, 2011

“Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes”… David Bowie sung it best! We alluded to the manychanges on the horizon for MFX Partners (or just MFX as our friends call us) in our last newsletter. Well, finally, we can tell you a little bit more, which is good cause we’re literally bursting at the seams.

First on the list of changes … We’re moving! That’s right, MFX will be leaving our nest at 72 Victoria Street South in Kitchener and moving right across the street. Well, we like the neighborhood, so what can we say. Our new, larger, shinier digs are based on the second floor of The Tannery, at 151 Charles Street West in downtown Kitchener. And, you know what’s so great about our move? Not only will we have a larger space to contain all of our creativity; we’ll most-definitely be having an open house to celebrate in early spring so you can come and check the new space out!

Next up, we figured brand new digs called for a facelift of the MFX brand. That’s right, we are currently brewing up a name that amalgamates and honours all of the passionate creative people and stuff going on at MFX. More on that to come …

And finally, along with the new space and a new brand, a new website was a must! The launch of the new MFX website is expected at the end of this month. So please bear with us during the transition and, as the other MFX’ers would collectively recommend, “Ride the wave of change and embrace all of the delightful surprises we have in store for you!” And of course, please share your impressions freely with us as we go.

Until next time … MFX

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Is Ricky Gervais a Design Thinking Genius?

posted by Anna Fleet on February 1st, 2011

If you’ve logged onto Twitter today, you’ve probably seen it a buzz with tweets like this one: “What Ricky Gervais’ Bruising Comedy Teaches Us About Innovation”.

What? I know, I love the bruising comic as well, but I scratched my head over the statement and was inclined to click because of it (bravo to the writer). But what Co.Design was getting at with this post really does make sense.

The core being: Gervais may have made some powerful and professional Hollywood enemies with his stinging Golden Globe hosting gig, but even though he might have alienated the celebrities in the room, what he was really doing was connecting to a bigger audience—us, the viewers.

So after reading the post, what’s your view? Was Ricky Gervais practicing design thinking by bursting the Hollywood bubble and its disconnection with the rest of us?

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Sustainable Soccer Stadiums Await the FIFA World Cup 2022

posted by Anna Fleet on January 31st, 2011

Qatar is already setting the design in motion for their turn to host 2022 FIFA World Cup Soccer. Check out the full article and cool pictures of the brand new soccer stadiums in the cities of Al-Khor, Al-Wakrah, and Al-Shamal. All are extremely eco-friendly! How so you ask? Well let me count the ways …

1. Each soccer stadium is designed in a modular style for easy assembly—disassemble and transport when the games are finished.

2. Each stadium’s seating and pitch area (or field) is cooled using environmentally friendly, carbon-neutral technology.

3. Solar Thermal Collectors and PV panels are utilized to take advantage of solar-powered lighting—and to power the chilling systems.

4. Air can be re-circulated throughout the stadium and seating will be shaded and protected from the powerful dessert sun.

5. And finally, public transportation from New Doha International Airport will be available to and from each host city, hotel and fan zone during the event.

Now only if we could have an official FIFA modular soccer stadium that made the rounds to each annual event in each city. How cool and eco-friendly would that be?

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Older Posts »