I have received occasional inquiries about my “day job,” and wonder if it might be time to shed some light on the situation.

Yes, that’s right. I have a job. This reality surprises some and saddens others when they learn of it. The truth is, the appearance of unhinged bohemian bliss is mere illusion. I do work for “the man,” but as it turns out, he is a rather nice one.

Meet Clifford, company president and engine of our enterprise.

By title, I am the Director of Special Projects for the North Charles Street Design Organization (NCSDO), a Baltimore-based strategic marketing firm specializing in higher education.

What this means in non-marketing terms is that we help colleges and universities find distinctive and compelling ways to communicate with the students they would like to attract, admit, and matriculate. In a nutshell: we make the logos, viewbooks, brochures, web sites, email campaigns, postcards, banners, posters, etc. that help the right students find the right college match. But beyond making things, we are helping our clients develop and express ideas.

We’re in the business of artful, authentic differentiation. If we’ve done our jobs right, we help our clients discover ways of expressing their communities and cultures that are so essential and institutionally specific as to place themselves in a category of one. Meaning, we help them discover what only they can claim, what only they can offer, what only they can do.

Being Director of Special Projects I get to wear a lot of different hats. I write copy, draft strategic briefs, brainstorm ideas, conduct on-campus focus groups (with anyone from freshmen to professors to college presidents), keep an eye out for talent, interview potential employees, and do anything else “the man” wants me to do. I do not carry a weapon, though sometimes I wonder if I should.

It also means, I stand in dramatically lit rooms staring pensively down at my laptop from time to time.

I write this post to coincide with the launch of our latest web site, a beautiful production, if you ask me (I realize that you did not). If you have a few minutes, it’s a fun read.

A few of my favorite sections:

A frequently updated blog offering the latest intelligence in the higher education communications game.

An interactive feature that lets you name your own capital campaign, Ten Thousand Stories style. Surely at least one of you is trying to raise $500 million?

A chance to meet our staff of sexy communications consultants.

A gallery of stunning photography with annotations from our staff. Think Flickr with a higher-ed theme.

Three short films that introduce you to our setting (a restored firehouse in downtown Baltimore) and our staff of perfectionists.

Speaking of those wonderful perfectionists, the thing I like best about working at North Charles Street is the collection of remarkable people I get to call my colleagues, a veteran group of brilliant and dedicated writers, designers, consultants, coders, and production geniuses who come together to produce (in my humble opinion) the finest college communications to be found anywhere.

So, as it turns out, when I’m not making books with Robbi, I’m making books with Courtney, Carol, Sara, Tracy, Matt, Erica, Beth, Judy, Bernice, Armand, Jose, Jiho, Dan, Aaron, Ulfras, Marian, Ronnie, and Clifford.

Which is to say, my day job is entirely in keeping with my bohemian dream.