Quotable Rich

The CO:LAB team is led by our founder, Richard Hollant. As someone who talks openly about his experiences, values and philosophies, Rich has earned opportunities to share his insights with national audiences. Some of them are about design, some about building community, some about empathy, some about the intersection of all the above.

All of them give us pause to think about how we, too, can use our hearts and talents to make a meaningful difference in the world.

With that, here are some of Rich’s most memorable quotes:

“I’ve always been dissatisfied with emphasizing graphics over design. Design is where the opportunity for good exists. It’s where diversity becomes inspiration, where the limitless is harnessed, and where we can be fed with the unimaginable abundance of ideas greater than ourselves.”

“No one has ever been truly empowered by having someone else do the talking for them. I do believe it’s important to create mirrors for the community so the members can see themselves and develop consensus on where they are. However, it’s equally important to create windows. When a community can see and empathize with where it is, while simultaneously visualizing its opportunities, real change can be catalyzed.”

“My work is to be of service to the change. We partner with folks on the frontline of change, the caseworkers and the community leaders. Over the years, a lot of folks have said we’re brave to transform our business the way we have, but I don’t see it that way. When your work is to craft battle hymns for foot soldiers—there’s no mistaking that the foot soldiers are the brave ones.”

“If you care about a community’s ability to heal, or about equity finding its level, or about the pursuit of the elusive ‘Better World’, then you can do no better service to your own ideals than to double up your investment in creative expression.”

Yep. That’s our Rich.