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- BGBS 004: Aaron Draplin | Draplin Design Company | Get It Done: Work Hard & Figure Things OutBGBS Episode 004: Get It Done: Work Hard & Figure Things Out
If you’re a graphic designer, snowboarder, and/or skateboarder, then you probably know about preeminent designer Aaron Draplin of Draplin Design Company based in Portland, Ore. He tours the world to speak about his career, family, and even politics. He has created logos and done other work for major companies, including Patagonia and Nike. Aaron is a branding world celebrity now, but it wasn’t always that way.
You’ll Learn…
- Background on Draplin Design Company
- How Aaron’s upbringing affects how he approaches his work and views the world of design
- People are good at saying, ‘No,’ but Aaron takes every job and does what he says he will do
- How to get through rough times: Work hard, don’t waste money, buckle down to pay your bills, and accept what you need to do
- Get It Done: Make good use of your time, do your job, and figure things out
- Aaron’s Mom and Dad did not have a lot, but who cares – they were cool; they gave him Legos, love, and all the basics he needed
- Family’s blue-collar background helps supply Aaron’s design style
- Fight for people and stand up for them; don’t be mean and unfriendly, but accommodating, appreciative, and personable
- Aaron stays relevant by sharing his experience and knowing when to remove himself from a job
- Aaron wrestles with faith and existentialism and tries to be cognizant of and gentle with every lifeform
- Besides making money, what other kinds of paychecks are possible? Volunteer, be ethical/compassionate and help others
- The New Normal: Aaron communicates his story and is not afraid of offending others, but knows he has to be careful because people will come after him; stay positive
- Aaron loves the beauty, hard work that goes into design; function over fashion
- Is there any such thing as an original logo? It’s possible to come up with something new – that’s what Aaron wants to do
Resources
Draplin Design Co.
Pretty Much Everything by Aaron Draplin
Draplin Design Co. Merchandise
Aaron Draplin on Instagram
Quotes by Aaron Draplin:
“If the work is strong enough, hopefully, it will illicit a response, and I get hired for the next gig.”
“There is this weird midwestern work ethic shift that haunts me to this day. That’s why I work so much.”
“People are really good at saying, ‘No.’ You won’t get that out of me.”
“I took the money. They are going to get the service they paid for.”
1 hr 19 min - BGBS 004: Aaron Draplin | Draplin Design Company | Get It Done: Work Hard & Figure Things Out
If you’re a graphic designer, snowboarder, and/or skateboarder, then you probably know about preeminent designer Aaron Draplin of Draplin Design Company based in Portland, Ore. He tours the world to speak about his career, family, and even politics. He has created logos and done other work for major companies, including Patagonia and Nike. Aaron is a branding world celebrity now, but it wasn’t always that way.
You’ll Learn…
- Background on Draplin Design Company
- How Aaron’s upbringing affects how he approaches his work and views the world of design
- People are good at saying, ‘No,’ but Aaron takes every job and does what he says he will do
- How to get through rough times: Work hard, don’t waste money, buckle down to pay your bills, and accept what you need to do
- Get It Done: Make good use of your time, do your job, and figure things out
- Aaron’s Mom and Dad did not have a lot, but who cares – they were cool; they gave him Legos, love, and all the basics he needed
- Family’s blue-collar background helps supply Aaron’s design style
- Fight for people and stand up for them; don’t be mean and unfriendly, but accommodating, appreciative, and personable
- Aaron stays relevant by sharing his experience and knowing when to remove himself from a job
- Aaron wrestles with faith and existentialism and tries to be cognizant of and gentle with every lifeform
- Besides making money, what other kinds of paychecks are possible? Volunteer, be ethical/compassionate and help others
- The New Normal: Aaron communicates his story and is not afraid of offending others, but knows he has to be careful because people will come after him; stay positive
- Aaron loves the beauty, hard work that goes into design; function over fashion
- Is there any such thing as an original logo? It’s possible to come up with something new – that’s what Aaron wants to do
Resources
Draplin Design Co.
Pretty Much Everything by Aaron Draplin
Draplin Design Co. Merchandise
Aaron Draplin on Instagram
Quotes by Aaron Draplin:
“If the work is strong enough, hopefully, it will illicit a response, and I get hired for the next gig.”
“There is this weird midwestern work ethic shift that haunts me to this day. That’s why I work so much.”
“People are really good at saying, ‘No.’ You won’t get that out of me.”
“I took the money. They are going to get the service they paid for.”
1 hr 19 min - BGBS 004: Aaron Draplin | Draplin Design Company | Get It Done: Work Hard & Figure Things OutBGBS Episode 004: Get It Done: Work Hard & Figure Things Out If you’re a graphic designer, snowboarder, and/or skateboarder, then you probably know about preeminent designer Aaron Draplin of Draplin Design Company based in Portland, Ore. He tours the world to speak about his career, family, and even politics. He has created logos and [...]Read More...1 hr 19 min
- BGBS 003: Jedd Rose | Topo Designs | Anywhere On Your MapBGBS Episode 003: Anywhere On Your Map
Do you wear outdoor-inspired clothing while spending time in the great outdoors? Then, you may be familiar with Topo Designs, which is known for “backpacks, bags, and apparel for anywhere on your map.” In a day and age where we love to over-engineer everything, Topo Designs’ classic and retro-style products feel just right and perform flawlessly. Jedd Rose, Topo Designs co-founder, strives for such flexibility in each of his company’s products. Topo Designs is one of the fastest growing outdoor brands in America.
You’ll Learn…
- Do you remember the first backpack you ever had? Does it generate memories and meaning?
- From growing up in Wyoming and being hassled for what he wore to school to making fashion cool and courageous by creating fashion-forward lifestyle gear
- Inspiration came partly from both of Jedd’s parents to spot outdoor gear trends and be into fashion through activities, including camping, hunting, and fishing
- Jedd approached Topo as a missing piece of what he wanted in his fashion/gear
- Years ago, outdoor gear was focused on tech – a spacesuit quest for gear; Jedd wanted to integrate gear and make it functional in other areas of your life
- Quintessential Design: Products that serve a wide variety of use cases, yet are simple and timeless
- Despite limited creative training, Jedd’s college experience of fine art, printmaking, digital software, and sculpting prepared him on how to start a company
- From starting on his own in his basement to having about 60 employees and four retail locations, Jedd plans for Topo Designs to continue to reflect and expand
- Gear needs to be functional and comfortable, yet look good at the same time
- Topo Designs tribe practices what it preaches and is a good representation of the company’s customer base
Resources
Topo Designs
Topo Designs Locations and Retailers
Topo Designs on Instagram
Northern Exposure
Quotes:
“In a day and age where we love to over-engineer everything, Topo Designs’ products feel exactly just right.” – Marc Gutman
“There’s this huge piece of me that was always really into clothing and gear and just the esthetic of it.” – Jedd Rose
“I didn’t really ever approach Topo as a business when I was first coming out with it. I guess I did always approach it as there’s a missing piece of what I want in my fashion/gear life.” – Jedd Rose
“Our plan, as of now, is to open a zillion of our own stores.” – Jedd Rose
50 min - BGBS 003: Jedd Rose | Topo Designs | Anywhere On Your Map
Do you wear outdoor-inspired clothing while spending time in the great outdoors? Then, you may be familiar with Topo Designs, which is known for “backpacks, bags, and apparel for anywhere on your map.” In a day and age where we love to over-engineer everything, Topo Designs’ classic and retro-style products feel just right and perform flawlessly. Jedd Rose, Topo Designs co-founder, strives for such flexibility in each of his company’s products. Topo Designs is one of the fastest growing outdoor brands in America.
You’ll Learn…
- Do you remember the first backpack you ever had? Does it generate memories and meaning?
- From growing up in Wyoming and being hassled for what he wore to school to making fashion cool and courageous by creating fashion-forward lifestyle gear
- Inspiration came partly from both of Jedd’s parents to spot outdoor gear trends and be into fashion through activities, including camping, hunting, and fishing
- Jedd approached Topo as a missing piece of what he wanted in his fashion/gear
- Years ago, outdoor gear was focused on tech – a spacesuit quest for gear; Jedd wanted to integrate gear and make it functional in other areas of your life
- Quintessential Design: Products that serve a wide variety of use cases, yet are simple and timeless
- Despite limited creative training, Jedd’s college experience of fine art, printmaking, digital software, and sculpting prepared him on how to start a company
- From starting on his own in his basement to having about 60 employees and four retail locations, Jedd plans for Topo Designs to continue to reflect and expand
- Gear needs to be functional and comfortable, yet look good at the same time
- Topo Designs tribe practices what it preaches and is a good representation of the company’s customer base
Resources
Topo Designs
Topo Designs Locations and Retailers
Topo Designs on Instagram
Northern Exposure
Quotes:
“In a day and age where we love to over-engineer everything, Topo Designs’ products feel exactly just right.” – Marc Gutman
“There’s this huge piece of me that was always really into clothing and gear and just the esthetic of it.” – Jedd Rose
“I didn’t really ever approach Topo as a business when I was first coming out with it. I guess I did always approach it as there’s a missing piece of what I want in my fashion/gear life.” – Jedd Rose
“Our plan, as of now, is to open a zillion of our own stores.” – Jedd Rose
50 min - BGBS 003: Jedd Rose | Topo Designs | Anywhere On Your Map
Do you wear outdoor-inspired clothing while spending time in the great outdoors? Then, you may be familiar with Topo Designs, which is known for “backpacks, bags, and apparel for anywhere on your map.” In a day and age where we love to over-engineer everything, Topo Designs’ classic and retro-style products feel just right and perform flawlessly. Jedd Rose, Topo Designs co-founder, strives for such flexibility in each of his company’s products. Topo Designs is one of the fastest growing outdoor brands in America.
You’ll Learn…
- Do you remember the first backpack you ever had? Does it generate memories and meaning?
- From growing up in Wyoming and being hassled for what he wore to school to making fashion cool and courageous by creating fashion-forward lifestyle gear
- Inspiration came partly from both of Jedd’s parents to spot outdoor gear trends and be into fashion through activities, including camping, hunting, and fishing
- Jedd approached Topo as a missing piece of what he wanted in his fashion/gear
- Years ago, outdoor gear was focused on tech – a spacesuit quest for gear; Jedd wanted to integrate gear and make it functional in other areas of your life
- Quintessential Design: Products that serve a wide variety of use cases, yet are simple and timeless
- Despite limited creative training, Jedd’s college experience of fine art, printmaking, digital software, and sculpting prepared him on how to start a company
- From starting on his own in his basement to having about 60 employees and four retail locations, Jedd plans for Topo Designs to continue to reflect and expand
- Gear needs to be functional and comfortable, yet look good at the same time
- Topo Designs tribe practices what it preaches and is a good representation of the company’s customer base
Resources
Topo Designs
Topo Designs Locations and Retailers
Topo Designs on Instagram
Northern Exposure
Quotes:
“In a day and age where we love to over-engineer everything, Topo Designs’ products feel exactly just right.” – Marc Gutman
“There’s this huge piece of me that was always really into clothing and gear and just the esthetic of it.” – Jedd Rose
“I didn’t really ever approach Topo as a business when I was first coming out with it. I guess I did always approach it as there’s a missing piece of what I want in my fashion/gear life.” – Jedd Rose
“Our plan, as of now, is to open a zillion of our own stores.” – Jedd Rose
50 min - BGBS 003: Jedd Rose | Topo Designs | Anywhere On Your MapBGBS Episode 003: Anywhere On Your Map Do you wear outdoor-inspired clothing while spending time in the great outdoors? Then, you may be familiar with Topo Designs, which is known for “backpacks, bags, and apparel for anywhere on your map.” In a day and age where we love to over-engineer everything, Topo Designs’ classic and [...]Read More...50 min
- BGBS 002: Brad Ludden | First Descents | Out Living It…Fighting the Cancer Epidemic with Adventure
When you’re in your 20s, time is spent on holding down a job, making friends, and paying rent. On top of all that, could you imagine having to fight cancer at that age? About 70,000 young adults are diagnosed annually with cancer. Fortunately, Brad Ludden, a professional kayaker, created an organization called First Descents (FD). It leverages the healing power of adventure to help young adults diagnosed with cancer. The physical, social, and emotional transformation for participants is real and powerful.
You’ll Learn…- Quality of life that growing up in the mountains and with nature offers
- Brad started kayaking at 9 – spent much of the time being scared and crying; eventually, he fell in love with the sport and became obsessed with it
- Brad’s first experience with cancer (aunt’s diagnosis) – wanted to help, but didn’t know how to; it inspired him to create FD
- Brad started to teach kids with cancer how to kayak because of how much positivity and growth it brought to his life; could be transformational for them
- Kayaking helps cancer patients rise to the challenge and obstacle of the river and apply what they learn about themselves to recovery from cancer
- Society treats people differently after the diagnosis (like they’re fragile), but the river doesn’t discern – treats everyone equally, empowers them to face their fight
- Cancer creates a sense of isolation and alienation; outdoor adventures are catalysts that create a tribe around a shared experience of cancer
- People, passion, and processes involved in starting FD and making it successful; research now supports such alternative ways of healing
- Importance of nicknames to differentiate participants and develop a new identity other than the cancer patient
Resources:- First Descents
- Stoke Broker
- Lonesome Dove
Quotes by Brad Ludden:
“Rivers are ever present. They’re such a source of life around the world, and they are everywhere.”
“It’s (kayaking) all I knew. It’s the one gift I had to give.”“Most good things in life come with challenges (such as kayaking). I just knew that if we could deliver this experience in a positive way to people with cancer, that it could be transformational.”“That sense of accomplishment and growth and transformation is very real.”44 min - BGBS 002: Brad Ludden | First Descents | Out Living It…Fighting the Cancer Epidemic with AdventureBGBS Episode 002: Out Living It…Fighting the Cancer Epidemic with Adventure When you’re in your 20s, time is spent on holding down a job, making friends, and paying rent. On top of all that, could you imagine having to fight cancer at that age? About 70,000 young adults are diagnosed annually with cancer. Fortunately, Brad [...]Read More...44 min
- BGBS 002: Brad Ludden | First Descents | Out Living It…Fighting the Cancer Epidemic with AdventureBGBS Episode 002: Out Living It…Fighting the Cancer Epidemic with Adventure
When you’re in your 20s, time is spent on holding down a job, making friends, and paying rent. On top of all that, could you imagine having to fight cancer at that age? About 70,000 young adults are diagnosed annually with cancer. Fortunately, Brad Ludden, a professional kayaker, created an organization called First Descents (FD). It leverages the healing power of adventure to help young adults diagnosed with cancer. The physical, social, and emotional transformation for participants is real and powerful.
You’ll Learn…- Quality of life that growing up in the mountains and with nature offers
- Brad started kayaking at 9 – spent much of the time being scared and crying; eventually, he fell in love with the sport and became obsessed with it
- Brad’s first experience with cancer (aunt’s diagnosis) – wanted to help, but didn’t know how to; it inspired him to create FD
- Brad started to teach kids with cancer how to kayak because of how much positivity and growth it brought to his life; could be transformational for them
- Kayaking helps cancer patients rise to the challenge and obstacle of the river and apply what they learn about themselves to recovery from cancer
- Society treats people differently after the diagnosis (like they’re fragile), but the river doesn’t discern – treats everyone equally, empowers them to face their fight
- Cancer creates a sense of isolation and alienation; outdoor adventures are catalysts that create a tribe around a shared experience of cancer
- People, passion, and processes involved in starting FD and making it successful; research now supports such alternative ways of healing
- Importance of nicknames to differentiate participants and develop a new identity other than the cancer patient
Resources:- First Descents
- Stoke Broker
- Lonesome Dove
Quotes by Brad Ludden:
“Rivers are ever present. They’re such a source of life around the world, and they are everywhere.”
“It’s (kayaking) all I knew. It’s the one gift I had to give.”“Most good things in life come with challenges (such as kayaking). I just knew that if we could deliver this experience in a positive way to people with cancer, that it could be transformational.”“That sense of accomplishment and growth and transformation is very real.”44 min
About Baby Got Backstory
From the publisher's feed
Baby Got Backstory is the ultimate insider’s guide to business storytelling, brand storytelling, messaging, and communications for entrepreneurs, visionary leaders, and progressive businesses of all sizes. We ask inspiring creators, entrepreneurs, and storytellers to share their backstory by answering the questions: “Who am I? How did I get here? And Where am I going? Listeners will not only hear the story behind the story of our guests but understand how their own story and backstory have shaped who they have become.
Your host, Marc Gutman, is a story nerd. He’s served as Story Editor for Oliver Stone’s Illusion Entertainment, and written stories and screenplays for Oliver Stone, Warner Bros., and 20th Century Fox.
In addition to his time in Hollywood, Marc scratched the entrepreneurial itch by founding a multimillion-dollar tech company in Boulder, Colorado.
Today, Marc focuses his ene...