KENT DAVIDSON

Kent Davidson has practiced industrial and graphic design since 1988, founding Advanta Design in 1992, originally as a multi-disciplinary design studio providing clients with industrial, graphic, and exhibit design.

Graduating in 1990 with High Distinction from Carleton University's School of Industrial Design, Kent has developed designs in plastics, metal, and composites for start-up entrepreneurs, medium-sized companies, and many internationally known brands.

In 2004, Kent focused Advanta entirely on product development, industrial design, mechanical design and support services.

For Kent the best parts of Advanta's growth and longevity are without a doubt our clients and the Advanta staff who serve them. Kent is grateful for staff who make contributions to our clients that are far beyond what his skills alone could bring.

Kent believes that our clients are the true visionaries. They are the ones who develop novel ideas. They make business happen. They keep commerce rolling. They put their ideas on the line and in the marketplace every day. They create the productivity enhancements that enrich all our lives. In Kent’s thinking, they are modern heroes.

Kent sees his key role as providing a framework in which every staff member has the space to contribute to the best of their abilities... and they do! He has instilled a culture at Advanta where the following are important:

• Really listen to clients and be pragmatic.
• Create marketable and efficient products that your clients' customers want to buy.
• Do such great work that your customers want to come back.
• Be a tenacious problem solver and don't stop at the obvious solution – push a little harder
• Get stuff done on time.
• Do what you say...and if you can't, apologize and make it right.
• Make room for the skills of others and along the way, be nice, enjoy people, and have fun.
• Do all you can so everyone wins.

With Kent, the Advanta team has developed the "Advanta Way"—an informal internal metric we follow for projects to succeed. That client’s true needs are elicited, quality solutions are developed, and every detail is well executed. Kent is very grateful for the team that makes all these things happen, and for the clients we have had the privilege to serve.

Kent enjoys a good coffee and conversation with a client, colleague or a friend and is always glad for the situations when that happens to be the same person. Free time often involves enjoying a movie, the gym, a mountain bike ride, hiking, skateboarding, a zip on a Sea-Doo, or reading a book. During many of those activities Kent has a podcast running in the background to learn something more about the world, life and things that matter.