Low-Key Legends

AI has creative professionals split between fear and fascination. "Is this an opportunity or a threat?" This question has been on every creative's mind, so I wanted to chat with someone on the forefront of this conversation.Today on Low-Key Legends, I sit down with Sara Vienna, Chief Design Officer of MetaLab, a design firm that since 2006 has been helping some of the most innovative startups and reputable brands—like Uber, Slack, MidJourney, and Google—design, build, and ship products that are worth talking about. Sara is passionate about both embracing AI's potential and honestly addressing its risks for the design community.But our conversation goes beyond just AI. We explore the timeless principles that drive great design—from product design to branding, we discuss how to craft ideas that are unique, advance culture toward a better future, and achieve product-market fit, whether you're working with legacy brands or startups.Besides being brilliant, Sara is a pure joy and a champion of designers everywhere. Grab a pen and get ready to take notes—I think you're really going to love this conversation. Let's get into it.Sara's AI Article → www.metalab.com/blog/designing-new-relationship-with-aiSocial:Metalab → www.metalab.comInsta → www.instagram.com/sraviennaTwitter / X → x.com/sravienna?lang=enLinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/saravienna

In this special episode of Low-Key Legends, we distill the most powerful insights from our Season 2 conversations with design industry titans. Discover Christian Helms' (Helms Workshop) strategies for creating unfair business advantages through branding, Studio 28K's storytelling methodology, Simon Dixon's perspective on creativity as humanity's essential fuel, and Bryan James' approach to using personal taste and positivity to create a more distinctive digital landscape. These career-changing lessons are packed with actionable advice for designers, brand strategists, and creative professionals at all levels.CHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction00:35 - Christian Helms: Creating Unfair Business Advantages13:45 - Studio 28K: Storytelling as Project Fuel24:57 - Simon Dixon: Creativity as Humanity's Fuel33:44 - Bryan James: Personal Taste & Digital Differentiation49:48 - ConclusionGUESTS ON SOCIAL:Christian Helms → helmsworkshop.comStudio 28K → 28k.studioSimon Dixon → dixonbaxi.comBryan James → brybry.co

On this episode of Low-Key Legends Bryan James and I explore the challenges creatives face in staying relevant and true to their personal taste. We discuss the impact of social media on creative work, the importance of maintaining one's unique taste, and how personal experiences can influence design. We explore how to overcome creative blocks, the balance between client needs and personal vision, and the significance of authenticity in the creative process.We also dive deep into the impact of technology on design, the legacy of creativity, and personal definitions of success. Our chat emphasizes the need for all designers to find their unique voice and the significance of creating work that resonates emotionally with audiences.Bryan on Social:Website → brybry.coWebsite → visuals.brybry.coInstagram → www.instagram.com/brybrystudioTwitter → x.com/WengersToyBus

Ever wonder how a logo becomes a legend? This week, we're diving deep withChristian Helms — the brand king of Austin, Texas, and founder ofHelms Workshop. The man who's turned branding into an art form that's part strategy, part storytelling, and 100% pure Texas magic helping to create an unfair advantage for the brands they work with.From crafting killer brands for Howler Brothers to leaving his mark on global icons like Jack Daniel's, Christian reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets of how everyday objects become cultural touchstones. We're talking about the alchemy that transforms a simple product into something people don't just buy and believe in.

This week on Low-Key Legends, I sit down with Mick Champayne. Mick is a visual designer by day, working on Google's Search, Doodle, & Delight team and moonlighting as an illustrator. We explore how "delight" permeates all of Mick's work & life and helps to make effective brands, illustrations, and products. Interjecting personality and her unique brand of humor into everything she crafts - from passion projects to freelance work. Mick is no ordinary Mid-West momma. She was named one of The Noun Project and Dribbble’s top illustrators of 2024. She has forged a prolific career by embracing the idea of “I’m here for a good time, not a long time" and focusing on the joy of everyday things.From fart jokes to imposter syndrome gear up for a hilarious and far-ranging conversation with Mick Champayne.

In this conversation, Britton Stipetic sits down with Jonas and Steffen, the founders of Studio 28K, to explore the intersection of storytelling and design. They discuss how their philosophy of meaningful living shapes their creative process, the significance of storytelling in web design, and the challenges of capturing attention in a saturated market. The duo also shares insights on their unique approach to client engagement, likening their design process to that of a Michelin-star restaurant, emphasizing organization and transparency. In this conversation, Britton discusses the importance of effective presentation and prototyping in design, emphasizing the need for a structured process that allows for creativity while managing client expectations. He highlights the significance of principles and values in guiding creative work and explores the impact of technology, including AI and real-time graphics, on the future of design. The conversation concludes with a reminder to prioritize enjoyment in the creative process. Chapters: 00:00 The Essence of Storytelling in Design 02:49 Living Meaningfully: The Philosophy Behind Studio 28K 06:06 The Birth of 28K: A Reflection on Life's Days 08:58 Crafting Narratives: The Role of Storytelling in Design 11:50 Engaging in a Saturated Market: The Challenge of Attention 15:14 Designing Like a Michelin Star Restaurant: A Holistic Approach 17:56 Transparency in Process: The Open Kitchen Concept 29:25 The Art of Presentation and Prototyping 32:49 Crafting the Perfect Process 38:59 Principles and Values in Design 45:05 The Future of Design: Technology and Creativity

Britton sits down with Ben Huffman, the founder of Contra. Ben shares his journey behind building Contra, a commission-free platform empowering independent creatives. He discusses its origins, driven by frustrations with traditional freelance marketplaces, and highlights the importance of trust, branding, and community. The conversation explores AI's role in creativity, evolving work trends, and Contra's mission to support freelancers and agencies in a changing digital landscape. Social: Explore Contra Twitter / X Ben's LinkedIn Chapters: 00:00 The Birth of Contra 10:51 Building a Community: The Future of Independent Work 20:14 Branding & Identity: The Heart of Contra 29:44 Authority and Trust: Foundations of a New Marketplace 35:28 Monetization and Trust Building 38:51 The Role of Human Interaction in Business 39:51 AI as a Tool for Creativity 42:35 The Importance of Brand Values 44:57 The Evolving Nature of Creativity and Work 49:38 Contra's Ecosystem and Audience Engagement 54:46 Scaling Agencies with Contra 01:06:04 The Future of Independent Work

In this conversation Britton sits down with Simon Dixon, co-founder of DixonBaxi, to discuss the fundamental aspects of creativity and its impact on humanity, and its intersection with branding and culture. Si emphasizes the importance of creativity in problem-solving, the role of flow state in the creative process, and the necessity of fostering an environment that encourages diverse thoughts and ideas. All this and much more! If you don't know, DixonBaxi is a leading brand agency in London, crafting brands that ignite fandom through design, motion, voice, and sonic systems. Plug-and-play, scalable and distinct, creating real-world impact. Social: DixonBaxi Website LinkedIn Twitter/x Chapters: 02:59 Creativity & Humanity 05:51 Creativity and Branding 09:01 The Role of Creativity and Expression 11:49 Flow State and Creative Process 15:10 Leadership and Fostering Creativity 18:01 People and Creativity 20:54 Diversity in Creative Thought 24:12 Macronutrients for Creativity 27:01 Calculated Risks 31:48 The Balance of Sacrifice and Achievement 34:12 Leadership and Team Dynamics 35:37 Pushing Boundaries 38:02 Responsibility in Design and Cultural Impact 40:52 Competitive Landscape 43:42 Personal Definitions of Success 50:55 The Evolution of Creativity in a Digital Age 58:10 Creating for Connection 01:01:02 Final Thoughts

What does it take to make exceptional digital products? How can one product leave us feeling content and keep us on it for hours while others drive us away in just a few clicks? This week on Low-Key Legends we will learn from product veterans Zeke Shore and Ian Lord co-founders of TypeCode. TypeCode designs and builds digital products and experiences, collaborating with ambitious clients like A24, Google, MoMA, Scholastic, Disney, and MIT to bring powerful ideas to life. Finding clever solutions to hard problems while making things beautiful, intuitive, functional, and effective

The long-awaited interview with the founding team of Smith & Diction is here at last! In this conversation, Mike and Chara Smith discuss their design, copywriting, and branding approach, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and authenticity. They share insights on the role of words in creating effective brands, the benefits of working as a couple, and the value of incorporating outside experiences into the creative process. Smith & Diction Process Doc Social: Medium Instagram Twitter / X Threads

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I interview Nathan Riley, the design director at Unseen Studio to learn how he got started in design and built Unseen Studio with his co-founders. We discuss the early years of the studio, the significance of self-expression and passion projects, and the influence of sharing on Dribbble. We explore Nathan's journey into 3D design and the agency's shift in 2018 towards creating immersive web experiences. Nathan on Social: Unseen Website Nathan's Instagram Nathan's Twitter / X LinkedIn

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I sit down with Alex, Matt, and Jeremy the founders of Study Hall, a collective of curious creatives ready to tinker with norms to build impactful high-craft work for all walks of life, from Fortune 500 companies like Airbnb to small start-ups. We explore how branding has evolved, looking at what elements are timeless and what we can push and explore more of in 2025 and beyond. Our conversation hovers around the business of branding and how it intersects with today's tools and tomorrow's technologies. We cover how AI is impacting our industry and our team's productivity and what might be next in the world of branding ditching screens and moving into the future of interfaces. Study Hall on Social: Website Instagram LinkedIn Threads

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I interview my friend Kirk Wallace to discuss the changing landscape in the creative community. They explore how sharing work in 2024 has evolved and how it has impacted how audiences and clients discover their work. Kirk shares his journey from being an engineer to becoming an illustrator and designer, and how he has grown his audience and built a successful career. We get into the importance of authenticity, the need to adapt to new formats and platforms, and the balance between B2B and B2C audiences. We discuss the importance of sharing the process and telling a compelling story to emotionally connect with an audience; finding the balance between being a business person and an artist. Kirk on Social: Skill Share Courses Website Instagram YouTube

Today on Low-Key Legends, I am joined by Jenny Heintz and Mike Wagz, the founders of Self Aware, a design and technology studio based in Philly and established in 2018. Partners in life and business Jenny and Mike focus their synergistic skills on bringing brands to life online, creating fun and dynamic solutions that are both beautiful and performant. They have worked with a variety of organizations and institutions, big and small—from local businesses like Middle Child to major institutions such as the Institute of Design and MIT, as well as Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's production company, Artists Equity. Jenny and Mike share how and why they decided to publish the Notion Doc "Every Project We Have Ever Charged For" shedding a light on how they price creative work. We explore the idea of transparency and business and how it breeds the conditions for open conversation, trust, and a healthier industry. Jenny discusses the importance of being systematic and organized in their design studio, Self Aware. They share how they use processes and systems to guide their clients and ensure they stay on track. They also talk about the benefits of transparency in the industry, including sharing their project budgets and prices. We discuss the challenges of pricing services and the importance of valuing your work. Notion Doc: Every Project We've Ever Charged For Social: Website Twitter Instagram

On this episode of Low-Key Legends Dan Mall shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges he faced in building and closing his agency, SuperFriendly. He emphasizes the importance of culture, margin, and taking care of people in building a successful business. Dan discusses the factors that led him to shut down his agency after 10 years, including the desire to spend more time with his family, the lack of a clear goal for the agency, and the changing industry landscape. We dive deep into the importance of mindset and the skills needed for success in the design industry. Dan shares a contrarian view that not everyone should be paid for their work, especially if the work is not valuable. He believes that compensation should be tied to the value of the work being done. He also emphasizes the importance of learning and teaching as forms of compensation. Britt and Dan discuss the challenges of running a freelancer-based business and the need for transparency and empathy in the industry. Find Dan on Social: → Dan's Site → Design Systems University → Newsletter → Twitter → Linkedin

On this episode of Low-Key Legends, Britt sits down with Tim Evans the Co-founder of Malvah Studio to discuss Tim's wild adventure of getting into design and stumbling into starting Malvah with his business partner Ty. Tim discusses the entrepreneurial journey of starting Malvah Studio and the challenges of running a business in South Africa. He shares how the economic and political climate in the country has shaped his role as an entrepreneur. Tim also talks about the importance of building strong relationships with clients and the importance of sharing your work to attract the right clients and establish trust. Malvah Website Twitter / X LinkedIn Instagram

In this conversation, DJ Javier, the founder of Banyan Surf Club, discusses his career and collaborations with big brands like Billabong, Shake Shack, and the LA Rams. He emphasizes the importance of persistence, checking his ego, and staying humble. DJ shares how working with a manager has allowed him to focus on the creative work while his manager handles the business side. He also talks about the role of social media in attracting clients and the importance of presenting well and concepting effectively sharing a story along with your design. DJ also talks about the value of passion projects and how they can lead to opportunities with bigger brands. DJ's playful and inclusive mindset is influenced by his experiences and the desire to create a space where everyone feels heard and uplifted. Sari-Sari Show: Indoek Gallery 432 N Ventura Ave Studio 30, Ventura, CA 93001 Find DJ online: → Website → ⁠Ted Talk⁠ → Instagram → Lumpia Surf Team → Canto.Vision

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, we chat with Liz and Gavin founders of Datalands about how they found their unique niche of designing around data for Fortune 500 companies. We learn their unique story and how building their studio wasn't linear and came with its unique challenges and positioning hiccups. If you don't know Datalands is a visual communication and information design studio producing groundbreaking, thrilling projects—shaping the aesthetics and essence of forward-thinking brands. Social: → Website → Instagram → Twitter → Behance → Ladies Who Create Podcast

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I chat with Emmett Shine, a designer, and entrepreneur. We discuss the importance of passion and creativity in business. Emmett emphasizes the value of infusing personal delight and creativity at scale and its impact on brands and experiences. We talk in-depth about the insights on the success of Gin Lane and Pattern Brands, highlighting the importance of creating a culture that encourages leadership and entrepreneurship and how founding both led him to his new venture, Little Plains. Little Plains is Emmett's new design agency where he combines his passion for art and design with business effectiveness. He discusses positioning Little Plains in the market and the importance of staying true to his unique voice. Social: → Little Plains → Pattern Brands → Emmett's Site → Instagram → Twitter

Mario Šimić is a senior designer at BORNFIGHT STUDIO® a digital design studio in Croatia, crafting masterful websites and user interfaces. Mario went from an engineer to designing masterful websites, paying extreme detail to craft and interactivity. Mario shares his perspective on the power of side projects and how they help you evolve your taste and hard skills. Mario dives deep into how to break through creative block and making meaningful impactful designs, while pushing yourself and your team. Join us for this incredible Web Design Creative Crash Course with Mario Social: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter/X Dribbble BORNFIGHT STUDIO®