This is a discussion of the small, but important role socks (like actual socks, not Bill Clinton’s cat) have played in my life: an analogy about being grateful for the little things. Accompanied by a story about giving small gifts that matter because most of us don’t know how to or have never given a…
Continue Reading→
Author: Matthew Smith
Can You Think?
Do you let yourself think? Do you actually let yourself think? Perhaps I can ask, do you know how to think? Not just casual thoughts, do you know how to really think? When was the last time you allowed yourself or even gave yourself the opportunity to engage in deep thought? Sadly enough, for most…
Continue Reading→
Better Through More
Quality over quantity seems to be the mission statement of creatives. It’s the idea that your focus should be on creating something of quality rather than merely focusing on the numbers and creating lots of mediocrity—that’s totally understandable. While I believe in this motive, especially as it relates to business, it’s important not to follow…
Continue Reading→
The Democratization of Lettering
It’s quite easy to question the status of lettering. Is it a trend? Will it last? Is the field of lettering becoming too saturated? For myself, none of these are a concern. I just love seeing people getting into lettering because it means they’re getting into two things: drawing and communication. Not everyone is going…
Continue Reading→
What We Can Learn From Movie Trailers
Movie trailers have a notorious reputation for giving everything away. They show you the plot, they show you the high points of drama, and they show you the turning points. We go to the movies to engage with a story, and while it seems as though they’re showing everything in the trailer, people continual to…
Continue Reading→
May Net 30 Burn In Hell: Why You’re Being Disrespected
Net 30: “Do this work for us, give us that work, then 30 days later you will get paid.” Even worse are net 45, 60, or even 90. Sadly, these have become the so-called standards for working in the design industry. Another way of looking at net 30 is, “We don’t respect you, we don’t…
Continue Reading→
Who Is In Your Line?
Most of us hate waiting, we despise it, we avoid it at all costs. This is not a restaurant review—this is an observation of how a restaurant can craft such an experience that the wait to get in is worthwhile and embraced. While most businesses attempt to eliminate lines and the wait altogether, they’ve earned…
Continue Reading→
In 7th Grade I Cheated On A Project
I’ll be honest, I’ve cheated a lot in school, but there’s one time I cheated in the 7th grade that I remember more vividly than most. I remember this time so well not because I was caught, but rather, because I got away with it and it taught me that people trust what I have…
Continue Reading→
The Dark Art of Copying
It’s about time that the stigma of copying be released from the deathly grips of creatives. The term copying has become voodoo; it’s something we urge everyone to steer clear of. Contrary to this belief, I encourage copying for it’s the foundation of learning, enables progress over time, and it serves an undervalued and unnoticed…
Continue Reading→
Time Is Worthless
Time cannot be gained nor lost. Time is simply a medium. Time can only be utilized. Contrary to popular belief, time is not money—it doesn’t hold monetary value. It is more about the work we do with our time, for time isn’t valuable, but rather the way in which we use it is of value….
Continue Reading→