Always be gifting
I'm always minded to write a gift guide at this time of year. Because I see the ones flying round the socials - and I'm a fan - but they tend to be very US-centric and therefore frustrating. But then, when I come to write one,
Latest
I think I have an idea for a book
Tartine Artisinal, Tooting Broadway 12.11.25 I think I've had an idea for a book I might want to write. I had rather assumed that my book days were over. They're a lot of work for not much reward, but this possibility has got its
Trevor Crump on being different
@thetrevorcrump How a Utah dentist turned a boring industry into a viral brand | Personal branding, marketing strategy, and standing out in a saturated market. Thanks to Dr. Hanks @Happy Tooth for coming on the podcast! #marketingtips #marketingstrategy #marketing101 ♬ original sound - Trevor Crump💡Marketing + Biz
A method for creating logos
@petersdesigncompany If you found this helpful, please share it with a friend! Here’s my logo design process. Save it for later. If you’d like more detail, check out my book Logos That Last. It’s available at most book stores in the world including Amazon, Barnes & Noble
The AI slop spam comes for thee
I got this email yesterday. The subject line was "Quick thought about Egg Bacon Chips & Beans". It was sent at 01:53am. (The text as text is below.) It was from a gmail address. A plausibly googlable name plus some plausible text after the dot. I'
What I read about when I read about running
I've read a lot of books about running in my time. Partly because of work; I used to work on Nike and the Bowerman Series. Partly for inspiration as I tried to get into running. And partly because it's an interesting cultural thing, like football. Running
Katherine Rundell on writing badly
"You are going to have to allow yourself to write badly" https://www.tiktok.com/@bbcsounds/video/7535513301166427415
Notes and Links - 30th November
"Researchers have found that listening to music can reduce dementia risk by 39 per cent in older adults." https://www.instagram.com/p/DRRHaOjj-G5
Dr. Shadé Zahrai on action beating motivation
@shadezahrai 50 years of research; one truth remains: Don’t Wait, Take Action. ♬ original sound - Dr. Shadé Zahrai
BAU studio on grids
@bau.artspace what is your favorite grid? leave a comment, we make a new video!🤝 — #graphicdesign #designvibes #visualdirection #creativedirection #designstudio #uxuidesign #brandingdesign #baustudio #bauartspace ♬ QKThr - Aphex Twin
Neil Gordon / Brené Brown on specificity
@neilcanhelp In case you’ve never noticed it before… #publicspeaking #publicspeakingtips #tedtalk #brenebrown ♬ original sound - Neil Gordon
Picit design on Jump Ratio
@pixelpilot.design_ Jump Rate in Design:Don’t let your work stay Stagnant.#fyp #graphicdesign #design #posterdesign #foryou ♬ original sound - pixelpilot.desing
Design
The colours of No Country For Old Men
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDm_nc-Cful/?igsh=M3c3eHB2bTIzZDZ4
Principles
Keren Eldad on values
@coachkeren When you surround yourself with me people, look for these qualities #friendships #networking #loyalty #business #relationships #podcast #humor ♬ original sound - Coach Keren Eldad
Notes and Links
Notes and Links - 23rd November
A solid read on population/migration etc: https://archive.is/r8ZP5#selection-1595.0-1608.0 Ray Bradbury on putting stuff in your head: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ8XAAsDVll "No, you did not teach yourself to cook" / recipes for gumbo: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/dining/joan-didion-thanksgiving.
Watching
Chatting on the internet
I did a podcast interview with Coté and Whitney Lee. It was very amiable and enormous fun.
Design
The Graphic Effect on not using black and white
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNDo7_pzxvQ
Listening
Deep Night Jazz
Another immaculate set:
Design
Lucy Eden logo critique
@lucyedendesign Logo Critique ✍️ Sweet Lyric's Macarons | Thank you to this designer for the logo submission! If you would like to enter a logo for the possibility to be in a video, submit it via my bio! #branddesign #logodesign #logocritique #branding #fyp ♬ original sound - Lucy Eden
Starting
Dua Lipa on starting with bad ideas
@danbharris Does your creative process feel torturous? To survive, you have to be able to tolerate bad ideas or bad days without telling yourself the story that you'll suck forever. And that's where self-compassion comes in. What do you think? Will you try it? IPMF #selfcompassion
Careers
Margot on portfolio design
@torontodesigndirectory Say more! Thinking and solving problems is what graphic design is really about, so you need to share that process if you want to be hired. “Good design" isn’t good because it’s aesthetic, “good design” means it’s strategic, well researched, and appropriate for the intended
A Good Place for a Cup of Tea and a Think
Tooting Bec Common Cafe: a good place for a cup of tea and a think
I was in Tooting last week. Visiting "Moorfields at St George's". (Hospitals do collabs these days. look out for Moorfields by Marc soon). Nothing serious, just a side effect of being old as a bat. I learned that I'm too old for one kind
Account Planning School of the Web
Account Planning School of the Web again
Just over 20 years ago we kicked off the first 'Account Planning School of the Web'. Even the name is anachronistic now. Do we have Account Planning any more? Do we have a Web? Do we have schools? Then just over three months ago I thought we should
Presentation Club
I need some help with Presentation Club 2
Presentation Club 2 will be at 7pm on December 3rd. A nice bunch of people have signed up via Eventbrite to attend, but, as yet, we've got no one scheduled to present. This'll tell you everything you need to know. Fancy it? Drop me an email: