016: Shut up, get busy, and be a good citizen with Aaron Draplin

In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Draplin, legendary graphic designer, founder of Draplin Design Co., and one of the most unfiltered voices in the creative industry.We get into everything from building a career on your own terms to why chasing “design fame” is a losing game. Draplin shares his journey from small-town Michigan to running a wildly successful independent studio, and why he’s never cared about being the “best”, only about making a living doing work he actually enjoys.We talk about:Designing your life (not just your work)The reality of making money as a creativeWhy side projects and “getting weird” matter more than you thinkThe overlap between graphic design, UX, and everything in betweenHis unfiltered take on AI, tools, and the future of designThis conversation is equal parts hilarious, honest, and grounding, a reminder that you don’t need to follow the traditional path to build something meaningful.If you’ve ever felt pressure to fit into the “right” version of a designer, this episode will shake that off and give you permission to do it your way.Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.