Des Moines-based Denim is one of the area’s fastest growing social media companies that you probably haven’t heard of. In just five months, the platform has powered more than 10 million Facebook ads and aggregated more than 250 million data points about how consumers are interacting and engaging with Facebook ads relating to…
Interviews
Guest commentary pieces are always welcome here relating to the entrepreneur, startup, technology or arts communities.
Susan Gentz regularly talks policy at the Iowa legislature where Tej Dhawan has addressed diversity, Paul Singh misses Iowa and Susan Watts reminded us to not forget the arts.
I'm excited to introduce our newest voice: Will Smith, talking technology and video games.
Smith,…
When she moved back to Des Moines three years ago Andrea Metzler wanted to find people to ride bikes with her. So she started the Ride On Bike Club. With the support of Des Moines Bicycle Collective Chair Scott Bents the small gathering of friends has grown into the Des Moines City Ride,…
Justin Norman is all about variety when it comes to his creative endeavors. From his work for Shrieking Tree —a web design and development company he founded and runs alongside Wesley Norman, Scott Yoshimura, and Eric Allan—to his shorts with Evil Grin Gift Box , Norman has directed and shot 28 shorts…
It was announced yesterday that Joey Aguirre will step into the role of Managing Editor at Clay & Milk. It seemed fitting that my last Q&A as the interim editor be with the new individual taking over this position as his full-time career.
I sat down across from Joey at the high top tables in Gravitate and we…
For Nicole Lorenson, Preservation has always been about an intentional combination of photography and vintage clothing.
Since moving back to Iowa, Lorenson’s business has fueled her passion for bringing light to the fashion scene in the Midwest, which she says some might overlook.
One of the ways Lorenson has done so is by…
FAKEGRIMLOCK is something of folk lore in my house. It's a human who pretends to be a fake dinosaur who writes constantly and potently with the frankness we all desire in life. My kids will probably grow up knowing what "speaking as GRIM" means in our house. Basically, it sounds like me speaking with voice immodulation syndrome.
GRIM…
Shawn Harrington first became involved with Des Moines’ startup community in 2010, and since then hasn’t been able to stop pushing new ideas forward. While he’s been involved with several projects over the years, he’s currently the co-founder of Ace Blooms, a company that helps men order the perfect bouquet online, every time.
A veteran…
Inspired by storytelling through imagery, we asked Nathan T. Wright to tackle our Q&A with illustration. We're hopeful to see more of his work regularly at Clay & Milk in the weeks to come. Until then, his answers to our questions, below. And his bio beyond that.
C&M: For those who don't know you, please draw…
If you find yourself at the corner of Court and Second Avenue in downtown Des Moines saying "this must be the place" — you've experienced the work of Anna Frederick.
photo from Art Beacon Des Moines
What started as a love of lettering during a part-time job at Trader Joe's has become her very own startup story. Frederick's artwork…
Ben Sinclair is passionate about software. Whether it’s monetizing one of his many web properties or designing the technology behind his current endeavor FliteBrite, Sinclair loves bringing a project to life. And he's got a lot of them.
No matter the technical challenges, Sinclair relishes working through a good problem. Recently he shared a bit about…
While working as an elementary school art teacher, Jessica Balsley realized that there wasn’t much by the way of continuing education for teachers in her field. So she and her husband Derek Balsley set out to change that.
Together the pair founded The Art of Education, an online platform where K–12 art educators can access…