notes
What we are reading, what we got wrong, and the occasional argument about why a company does not need a mascot.
Type as Identity: When the Font Becomes the Brand
Some brands are recognizable by their logo. Others, more enviably, are recognizable by their typography alone.
Illustration as Argument: When Drawing Beats Photography
Photography shows. Illustration tells. Knowing when to choose which is one of the harder calls in editorial design.
Why Studio Visits Beat Online Inspiration
Endless scroll has flattened our visual diet. Stepping into a working studio still does something nothing else can.
The Composition Trick Every Beginner Photographer Should Learn First
Before mastering exposure, before learning the gear, learn to subtract. Most weak photographs suffer from too much, not too little.
The Underrated Skill of Knowing When to Stop
Over-design is a more common failure than under-design. Recognizing the moment a piece is finished is its own craft.
Hand-Drawn in a Digital World
As tools get more capable, the value of imperfection rises. Hand-drawn elements signal something a vector can't.
the quarterly
One note at the end of each season: what shipped, what we learned, and whether a slot has opened. No offers, no forwarding, no second list.