A designer should - and must - give a damn. She must care about her work, care about the client, and care about the process. Yes - this is what every client wants to hear, but it's not about that. It's not a sales pitch or a motivational speaking point. It's reality. A designer must [...]
How to select a project? It's different for every designer, and the answer shouldn't be to take all of projects that come our way. Designers should know who they want to work with and what to seek out. For me? I look for passion first and foremost. If a client has passion for his or her business, [...]
Photography is a lie. There is no truth to it, only the selective drama of its author. If he wants sun, there will be sun. If he wants pain, so be it. Photography then is nothing more than the extension of the author's political or social bent, and anyone who argues the honesty of a [...]
Sometimes the client and the designer do not fit. Plain and simple. It’s not a judgement of taste or style. It’s not an insult to one person or another. It’s just a fact of life. People dress differently, like different music, and have different opinions. Design is not an exception to this reality. It’s okay [...]
Is it sad to explore fonts on a Friday night? The answer to that question is clearly and unequivocally, "yes." But then, that's what makes me a proud designer. It's important to know who you are and to do what you love. I am a designer and I love typography. When I take a vacation, [...]
Much has been written on the subject of saying "no". The thesis is continually the same: in a world where "yes" is best, "no" is often taken for granted. It is a point of decision that provides clarity and balance to a well-thought person. The ability to say "no" can be a sign of maturity, [...]
It was a very good year for Future Boy Design. With pride and satisfaction, let's look back on 2016. On Design This was a big one. After working so very hard on my second book, and first non-photography book, On Design was released in the summer. The book took months to write, months to edit, [...]
The building of one’s intellect brings with it the growth of one’s ego. Edgar Allen Poe called it, “the mad pride of intellectuality”, words that are more valid today than ever before in a culture of micro celebrity and follower counting. We see it in our social media feeds through the boisterous know-it-alls that litter [...]
I am often asked about motivation, particularly when it comes to personal projects. How does an artist or designer or photographer maintain the interest and energy to balance client work and personal work? How does he or she find the time? The answer is both simple and complicated. The Simple Answer You either do it [...]
What is simplicity? Is it a lack of detail? A withholding of information? Is it childish? Is it uncultured? Unintelligent? Unsophisticated? I suppose one might think so, but this is wholly inaccurate. Simplicity is perhaps best defined as the minimal amount of elements and information necessary to accomplish a goal or convey a message. [...]