Adventures In Design

Gather round the grill as three red, white, and blue Americans basque in the glorious freedom bestowed upon them by their brave predecessors in this special Fourth Of July edition of Hammer Time. With an unmatched determination and unwavering grit our forefathers and foremothers sacrificed to forge a nation where everyone would be created equal and dreams could become reality. Mike, Gus, and Mark honor them by sharing their own tales from a modern day America filled with Wild Babes, Nigerian Prawns, and the joy of celebrating Christmas Time in July. Revel in the nail biting showdown between Gus and Hammer as they each take the US Citizenship Test with a sweetened pot for the victor. Cheer as the Desert Boys quench their thirst with soup cups. Smash that re-gifted Polaroid and stand up for the country you love as some all american shenanigans go down from the scorched deserts to the happiest place on earth.

Talking Points

• Hanging with Dreambreakers, Signature Gus ™ is born, and a night at Disneyland with a little bit of elbow room. 
• Larry David-esque attempts at assimilation. 
• Gus and Hammer take the US Citizenship Test. 
• Desert Boys Adventures Volume 1 with soup cups and oversized novelty games. 
• Christmas Time in July. 
• Flat tires and Teslas. 
• Guardians Of The Galaxy: Breakout, Little Big Dog's Gamma Ray, and a high that put Mark in some serious Artie Lang level trouble. 
• Racking up that Best Buy credit. 
• Above Steak Poor but below Nigerian Prawn Poor. 
• Challenging the open minds hanging out at T-Birds' Thong Contest and going nuts for the dream Wild Babe represented. 

TEAM UNITED STATES

Mark Brickey and Biggie of Good Fight Entertainment look at the music that made them the men they are today on the second installment of the Start Today: Music Business Inspiration Podcast. Minor Threat existed for three years out in DC but their impact was immeasurable in not only the music they wrote, but how their lyrical themes shaped the DIY scene to this very day. Whether you've never heard the name Ian MacKaye or you have a black sheep tattooed on your arm, the first part of this episode brings you the history behind the band and how they built such an avid fanbase in a word of mouth only, underground world. With that perspective in mind, Mark and Biggie tackle the lyrics to the song Minor Threat line by line and look at what it meant to them when they first heard the song and how it still effects them now. The themes of holding onto your youth, finding your own path, and standing by your beliefs are what we all strive after everyday in a world that wants you to fall in line and do what your told so let the words of Ian MacKaye inspire you for the first time or all over again on Start Today... and that's a promise.

Talking Points

• Something from nothing in DC, Bad Brains, and the Sex Pistols.
• Iggy Pop, Black Flag, and finding the right attitude.
• The birth of a Minor Threat.
• Post-Threat life.
• Inventing DIY.
• Being a part of something that changed the world from a baseline of zero. 
• Literally looking at lyrics like scripture including looking for loopholes. 
• Three monumental accomplishments in three years. 
• Two Ian anecdotes. 
• You can't fake the funk. 
• Discovering yourself with a larger perspective in mind. 
• Cyclical trends in culture. 
• Defying that adult crash in your mind and not aging out. 
• The ultimate equalizer and deciding how to best utilize your time. 
• Learning to live in the moment. 
• Uncovering the proper promotional schedule based off momentum. 

Circle Of Trust Talking Points

• Learning to lean into your success where you find it.
• Fighting back for your dreams no matter who is looking.
• Run at your opportunities and work within your restrictions to make your best art. 
• Working twice as hard when you live life outside the rails. 
•  The key to staying young at heart. 
• Higher education and other templates for success. 
• Staying optimistic and avoiding the paranoia that will ruin your good times. 
• Dreams, expectations, and taking your time. 
• Remember where you came from and grow from it. 

A Shop Talk special that takes a look at the policy, not the politics, of the current proposed healthcare and tax reform bills. Mark and Billy study both proposals from a freelancer, small business owner and  middle class creative’s points of view. How would these changes possibly change the healthcare and taxes of the Adventures In Design audience.

“Sounds like shit” -Jim Madison Print Mafia

The DKNG triumphantly returns for its second year still leading the charge on all things design. Dan and Nathan have been busy since we heard from them doing everything from giant catalogues to product design to character development. Mark takes us into the belly of the beast to go over all projects DKNG has pushed out the door since we rang in 2017. How do they determine billing on their projects? How do they interact with their clients across an entire project? How do they plan out their design work? How do they do what they do so damn well? Step back inside the inner workings of one of the hardest working design studios out there and see why Dan and Nathan continue to stay at the top of their game as leaders in the industry.

Talking Points

• Reinventing the holiday card over the last four years and changing the oil on the Death Star.
• B2B catalog at epic proportions with tons of data, style guides, and a lot of backs and forths.
• Figuring out billable hours for developing sixty pages. 
• Pie slices and pumping the breaks on two hundred and fifty small pieces that make up larger projects.
• Letting your fans grow up, get jobs, and hire you.
• Leaning last year's functional system and fixing more surface level design issues.
• Remembering the purpose of the project.
• New spins on old to semi old ideas or keeping what works as a standard.
• A moment on Mark's off brand thighs.
• Signature style, hand drawn illustration, and discovering the paintbrush tool.
• Googling thirteen year old girl proportions and the fine line to get it just right.
• Finding a client that feeds you all their customer facing design needs.
• Typographic hierarchy and unique purposes.
• Layering data into good design.
• Four tiers of confidence that make things easy to read and still leaves some flexible room for change.
• Treating data in steps and one of the best tricks in the book.
• Keeping MXPX and The Jesus and Mary Chain the same sizenand the problem solving skills behind typography.
• The many players involved in working on a licensing deal and establishing first contact. 
• Tonal lighting to bring your illustrations to life and using two separate types of light. 
• Showing a feeling instead of the details and turning the lights on in a bar at the end of the night.
• Logo placement and tangents.
• Making it all to deliberately lose some of it.
• Symmetrical elements and layering more shapes.
• The process in making a DKNG original illustration and the lego pieces they add in.
• One tiny part at a time and finishing all over the place. 
• Creating actual space in the classic Star Wars style.
• How much is enough to make you want more?
• Are you a painter or a designer?
• Mark's process on the Fantasyland print versus Dan's process on creating a piece.
• Going past the threshold on building real world gravity into every piece.
• Logos and limitations up in lights.
• The allure of signs that aren't structurally sound and the realistic storytelling behind it. 
• Setting a bar you're comfortable with.
• Creating feelings and the science behind it that is our job to understand.
• The importance of a good mockup to help bridge the gap in your client's imagination.
• Playing rhythm guitar to improve the feel of the room instead of stroking your design ego o the lead guitar.

Hammer Time is the latest addition to the AID Universe where Mark Brickey and Mike Hammer from Violent Gentlemen get together to out co-host each other in a ball busting extravaganza that leaves no stone unturned. Between strictly enforced mandates to a blossoming friendship of man dates, these two develop their own code of on and off air chemistry you can't fake... and they're giving out awards as well. Their first guest is Andy Williams of Every Time I Die fame and Pythons notoriety. Step inside the squared circle for all things wrestling as they cover everything from whose got the best moves to a one sided battle of Who Dies First. You better stay focused and get yourself into snake shape if you think you can keep up with these three aficionados of all things violent and gentlemanly.

Violence Of The Month Award: Matt Martin
As a modern enforcer in the NHL Matt is a presence of authority that put an end to the Maple Leafs getting bullied around on the ice.

Gentleman of the Month Award: Mark Brickey
Through better and through worse Mark has supported his wife at every turn and at the Women's March in Los Angeles he showed the world there are some pussies that won't be grabbed without some serious repercussions.

Talking Points

• Hammer Time is Hang Time.
• Clarifying the semantics between violence and violent.
• How to fight with skates on.
• Christmas parties, locker beignets, and bringing Mark out of retirement (again).
• Man dates and mandates.
• Mark's hypothetical first meeting with Tom Brady and how to make the Super Bowl better.
• Rock and roll as a back up plan and a whatever stance on wrestling.
• The origin story of the Pythons and being the David Bowie of hardcore.
• Neo Nazi getting punched in the ear for the win.
• Jon Lovitz theories, Bruno Mars' bubble butt, and how to get under any NHL Players skin.
• The amazing escape in live wrestling.
• Doing your job so well that people legitimately hate you and the importance of a villain.
• A few rounds of "Who Died First?".
• Whose in your wrestler death class?
• Mark officially throws his hat in the ring to be a ringside manager for The Pythons once he is back in Snake Shape.
• Misfits secrets and stories.
• Letting the machine run on autopilot or staying on the throttle?
• Sweaquity, Rancid, and giving hockey the jock pass.
• Giving one to the audience is getting two back.
• Living the lifestyle your brand is emulating.
• Heel Hogan in Japan and learning to give people what they want.

TEAM PYTHONS
TEAM SNAKE SHAPE

Biggie brings his business savior-faire back to Adventures In Design and pulls the curtain even farther back on a successful mindset. Once the romantic idea of starting a business has worn off there is still the day to day ditch digging that most people shy away from. Biggie is the first one there with a shovel, ready to go, and inspiring everyone else to get started. This episode is filled with business and productivity advice that can help you with your focus, motivation, and ability to finish. Biggie is beginning to reap the rewards of his hard work and we can all  learn from his discipline and drive to bring you to the same place... no matter which hallway you choose.

Talking Points

• Recapping 2016 for Good Fight and Biggie's life.
• The insane sci-fi concepts involved with human birth.
• What records are dropping in 2017?
• Romantic inceptions versus realistic expectations.
• Focusing on your goals and not getting sidetracked.
• Are you wired for multi tasking?
• Moderating your pie in the sky ideas with your daily goals.
• Avoiding complacency being the lion ready to go at the top of the hill.
• Keeping your employees motivated, thinking about yourself, and being fair.
• Delegation, communication, and being as hands off as possible.
• Inspiring the inner sect.
• Vision and inspiration.
• Looking ahead to plan out success.
• Keeping an eye on both your responsibilities and your employee's responsibilities.
• Touching on the Three C's and some impressive organization.
• Finding time to workout in a busy schedule.
• Energy upticks form working out.
• Shoestring Fries and Burpee Pull Ups.
• Using benchmarks to compare your life's progress.
• Overcoming the guilt in rewarding yourself.
• Living within your worst potential means and the wisdom in frugality.
• Poster framing as a metaphor for everything else in life.
• The flip side of the struggle and self parking cars.
• Watch wormholes that represent straight cash money.
• Paying your dues, taking lumps, and reaping your rewards.
• 2 Hallways. 1 Place.

The Double Dave bonanza on Shop Talk continues but this time we have David Smith and Dave Kloc breaking down the week with Mark. Everyone on today's episode brings their perspectives on financial strategies and how the ebb and flow of a Net 30 lifestyle can wear on you. Also Dave, Dave and Mark have all recently dealt with some professional pivots in their careers and the mental fortitude it takes to make it through an uncertain time in life that comes to just about everyone. This Shop Talk gets deep at a moment's notice and always knows how to come back up for some light hearted air so be ready for a rollercoaster of emotions similar to the one you're most likely on financially if you're a freelancer. Now let's go find that guy with the twenty grand and get another paddle in the water.

Talking Points

• The difference between small corporations, big dollar, and the freelance life.
• Getting emo in LA with all it's isolation.
• Choosing happiness over financial comfort.
• The rollercoaster of the grind or being chained to your paycheck.
• Financial strategies, multiple bank accounts, and staying ready for tax season.
• Buying equipment that you've earned.
• How one project should greenlight the next two.
• The Net 30 or Net 60 that can sabotage your motivation.
• Money, work, and the emotional side of getting paid (what you're worth).
• Both sides of the fence on privilege.
• The first VHS you ever watched.
• Bad money and more paddles in the river.
• Is working with the big boys even worth it?
• Building blocks versus road blocks.
• Natural selection in the creative community.
• Decreasing the distance between whats in your head and whats on the page.
• Professional pivots.
• Design past branding and the the importance of the right connections.
• Staying innovative when you;re an OB.
• The luxury of moving on from something once you're bored with it.
• What is crucial in your balance of life?
• Setting up boundaries and the mental shift it has on productivity.
• Does everyone feel behind? Does anyone feel respected?
• Getting stuck and living in the moment to appreciate what you have.
• Fighting for different results.
• Who can't you let down?
• Strength of character, sacrifice, and being kind.
• Making your work ethic less volatile than your bank account.
• The success of investing in yourself emotionally.

Ashleigh Axios took her creative talents to Capitol Hill and helped shape the human centered design approaches made during Obama's Administration. With a socially responsible mindset and checked ego, Ashleigh used her creative talents to better our nation and make The White House more accessible to the general public. Design truly has the ability to make a meaningful impact and when design exponents like Ashleigh rise to the challenge we all benefit from their expertise and a fresh perspective to push a more diverse agenda forward. This adventure focuses around representation, inclusion, and the ways we communicate to help open our minds to the multi faceted world we are actively a part of. Ashleigh continues her quest for empowering the masses at Automattic and helping organizations like AIGA and Design Observer.

Talking Points

• Transitioning into new leadership in the US.
• There's no room for error in your work when you're at The White House.
• Human centered design at the government level.
• Playing down what you're doing to overcome the high stakes with each project.
• Checking your ego, prioritizing what needs to be accomplished, and switching hats.
• Being a high energy introvert in a media-centric role.
• Getting energy from the ripple effect of change through design.
• Communicating to the emoji generation from Capitol Hill.
• The digital frontier reshaping how Washington DC works.
• How Obama's administration is an extension of its elegant design approach.
• Breaking down the barriers in an organization to facilitate a broader voice.
• Making the White House a place of hope and change.
• Finding diversity in design and the bravery of self assessment.
• Improving your Board Of Advisors to make better decisions.
• Do minorities feel comfortable in the world of design?
• Racial Justice By Design conversations that make everyone feel awkward.
• Being on the right side of history as a face of change.
• Making The Presidency Great Again with a scandal free record all with your hands tied behind your back for eight years.
• Putting people in office that represent everyone.
• Shaping the daily decisions we make as responsible citizens.
• Lost voting rights we fought to get in the 60's and the never ending vigilance for civil rights.
• Why don't talented people run for president?
• Switching to diversity and inclusion instead of the closed garden approach.
• Finding information from outside your comfort zone to engage people across the aisle about their pain points.
• The wolf in sheep's clothing preying off the Other America.
• Common denominators we can all get behind.
• Two steps back for every three steps forward.
• Snapping people out of the opportunity to learn.
• Taking your career past pretty pictures.
• Collaborating to advocate empowerment of the masses.
• Becoming a Design Exponent.
• Open Source Tools that change everything.
• The atypical elements of working in the private sector.
• Start Up Culture at an internet giant and designing happiness into your career.
• Would you divorce yourself from Red or Blue?
• Walking Obama through his first Facebook Avatar.

Mark and super fan Tony Mendez offer up a whole new intro discussing what made this episode so great and the concepts explored throughout the Tough Love this Poster Countdown with Mitch Putnam and Rob Jones.

On the second Wednesday of every month we get together with our friend Mitch Putnam from OMGposters.com and review the months best posters and art prints. However, this time we are reviewing the best posters of the year. New in 2016 we have added printmaking celebrity guests and started off with non other than Rob Jones, Rob is the art director for Mondo and an accomplished gig poster artist, he has a close working relationship with Jack White and has created all official concert posters for all of Jack White’s bands as well as album artwork. He joins us to give his behind the scenes information and his professional opinion on the top posters from 2015 as picked by Mark Brickey from the pages of OMGposters.com.

Talking Points

• The top 12 posters of 2015.
• Why the prints are successful, what makes them standout and background info on the artists that created these pieces.
• We give away the Toys4Tots prizes for donation to our December toy drive. 
• We talk to Rob Jones about his transition from gig poster collage artist to satiric illustrator for his developing personal work. 
• Using depression to stay creative but what happens when you get happy?
• The culture shift of Mondo as a company. How things are different for 2016 after a staff shakeup. 
• The benefit of work retreats and getting away from the office as a team.
• Rob’s work flow and work load as art director of Mondo.
• The tremendous expense of vinyl packaging artwork and the narrow profit margins. 

Bang the internationally conscientious drum at a reasonable pace because it's Canadian Shop Talk this Friday! Having walked over to our neighbors in the north on foot and disguised as a journalist, Mark gathers together three of Canada's top creatives to have a multi-cultural sit down and discuss everything from politics to The Tragically Hip. How do Justin Erickson from Phantom City Creative, Jason Edmiston, and Ben Playford of Tribal Worldwide compete on a global scale from their homebase of Toronto? Will Canada build a wall to keep us away from their life saving healthcare and class integrated metropolitan areas? Who's getting any of that sweet government funded grant money for the arts? Today's Shop Talk brings us some very polite opinions about art, time management, and a world issue or two as we say Goodbye to our friends in the Great White North.

Talking Points

• Why Toronto?
• How much work done in Canada is actually American based?
• The availability of the Canadian Government funded art grants.
• The difference in Fests up north and the hrudle for the arts in Toronto.
• A commercial free Canadian oddity.
• Industrial Music Bars and mirror walls.
• Singing Misfits Karaoke.
• How Canadians view Donald Trump and his potential effect on the world's economy.
• Loving a god dumpster fire.
• The Canadian way of disagreeing when it comes to politics.
• Balancing life with work and about fifteen other things!
• What's going on at Phantom City Creative.
• Real life in Toronto.
• Provincial Healthcare against the private interests that run America.
• Receiving a notice when the bill is already paid.
• What (these) Canadians want to run their businesses better in the Great White North.
• Competing in at a global scale in a creative market with a quarter of the budget.
• Urban planning and forgotten Americans.
• From freeway signage to ice shortages: what's wrong with Canada.
• Missing out on social media when your latest and greatest work is under lock and key.
• Inside Out meets Punk Rock.
• A real life Canadian Off!
• Who's the Ringo in this Shop Talk?