Everyone should probably have one. A third-person bio that’s comprehensive, concise, and up-to-date. And because it’s in the third person you can really lay it on thick. You are this, you have done this, you are doing this, boom badda bing, yadda yadda zing. It really sings praises. Nothing too short, nothing that doesn’t lay it on thick, and nothing that doesn’t wow some folks. I’m pleased to report that I do, in fact, have a third-person bio now. It’s pretty great. But I’m curious how it stacks up. Let’s compare. Send me yours, I’ll send you mine, and we’ll go from there. It’ll be good times, all around.
Feeling So Grateful
Independent design, five years and counting. Design for progressive changemakers and do-gooders. Design with inspirational people who make it happen. Design as activism, entrepreneurship, citizenship, art, and expression. Design to get good things done.
Right now, I’m just feeling grateful for everything that goes into making this independent design business work. The rock-solid support of my wife Katie. The amazing clients I get to do work for. The amazing collaborators I get to do work with. A community, on multiple fronts, that has welcomed me with open arms. Whether nonprofit, startup, civic, or institutional, all have made me feel very much at home. As does a design community that values friendship more than winning.
The work over these last five years is something I’m extremely proud of. Those TED Talk slides on Filter Bubbles. All that graphic design for President Obama’s re-election campaign. Helping a civic startup in the Midwest gain traction. Organizing all those posters for justice. Manifesting Justice and Equality in Los Angeles. Stopping that goddamn pipeline. Uniting art and community in North Omaha. Helping raise millions of dollars for Omaha nonprofits. And on and on. And now thinking, making, and collaborating on Action Backed, Round and Round, Tiperosity, and Design Alliance Omaha.
Yes, very grateful. To be here at this moment in time. In this creative, supportive community, working alongside some pretty remarkable people. What the next five years will bring is anybody’s guess. What I’m planning for, with what these last five years have taught me, is a meandering journey. One to be approached with an open mind, thoughtful interactions, and a fierce work ethic. I’m hoping for a bit more balance and a more intentional line between life and work. The work itself will remain focused on moving people to action, making our community better, and creating beautiful, inspiring design. And in the interest of keeping it interesting, special emphasis will be put on making things with weirdos.
A final note of thanks goes out to all the people who I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. You’re so damn good at what you do. You inspire me on so many levels. And you’re stubborn enough to make anything possible. Because of you, what comes next is sure to be something worth shouting about. Let’s get to it.
Five-Year Self-Evaluation
Years back, at my agency job, I had an evaluation every year with my manager. They were always interesting and helpful for reflection and setting the course for what was to come the following year. It’s been five years since I’ve been evaluated in a formal setting. Not having a manager these days, I decided it would be fun to evaluate myself.
The Year of Words. That Went Fast.
In June of last year I put an emphasis on writing more. Specifically, on working as an independent designer, making things with other people, and general life learnings of note. Those words have been shared on this blog, on Medium, and as longer form author posts on Flywheel. I’ve been committed to putting up at least one post a week. Keeping a regular schedule, I was able to get into a good rhythm with my writing. It was something I looked forward to posting every week and it allowed me to work through successes and challenges, where I previously would’ve just internalized things, which sometimes isn’t all that helpful. If you read some of those words, hopefully you enjoyed them. As my workload allows, I’m planning to continue regular writing because it’s not only fun, but it’s made me a more thoughtful person. If there’s anything in particular you’re curious about, hit me up.
What are we waiting for?
Being impulsive all the time just isn’t practical. Sometimes you can’t do something because there are too many things standing in the way—time, commitments, money, etc. But lately I’ve been asking myself more and more What are we waiting for? When it comes to the things we really want to do and we’re saying to ourselves we’ll do them someday, why is that? There may be good reasons, but there may also be made up reasons. Ones that are needlessly holding us back.
I wanted for so long to work as an independent designer. It took me seven years of working professionally before I finally did it. Maybe the timing was just right, but maybe it could’ve happened sooner. I remember lots of barriers I put up around the decision that stood in the way that were just made up reasons not to do it. When it came down to it I was afraid. Of that thing I really wanted not being something I would be able to do. And now it’s five years later. Looking at the next five, what else am I waiting for? We don’t have all the time in the world. The years seem to only be speeding up and if we want to make something happen, to really get after it, then we better get to it.
How do you make any money?
Went to the bank the other day to make some deposits. The teller asked me what I did. I said design. He asked who for. I said a lot of non-profits. He asked how I make any money. I said good question. Everybody has a budget. And to make that budget possible, how I approach potential work includes this very important point: Most of my projects exist within the delicate balance between professional rates and nonprofit budgets. I do what I can to make the process as efficient as possible to ensure expert design is accessible to clients with limited resources. I don’t do things for free but I am accommodating. The work I want to do requires that. But it also needs clients who don’t act like they’re operating with endless funds. It may seem like it would be limiting to function in that type of relationship but honestly, it’s quite liberating. It leads to good work for people who appreciate the end result. And I can still make the money needed to run an independent design business.
Oh what a year so far
A few weeks back there was a surprise visit from one of my dearest friends back in town from San Francisco. An epic pop-in to Round and Round to be sure. And that same day I had one of the best client calls about a new brand ever. They were so into the ideas and very excited to move forward. Those are two things that a person needs to stop and take note of. Looking back at this year so far, there has been so much really great stuff that’s happened it’s hard not to be excited about what’s to come. But there has also been intense challenges, frustrating projects, and a general amount of shittines. You know, duality. The older you get I think that’s just how it is. Life offering up great and lousy things all at once. It can be exhausting but as you move through it, the good will usually win the day, you just gotta keep on keepin’ on.
