How to Draw a Startup

Today’s guests:
Allan Comport, Marsha Lynn Hammond, Jennifer Hom, Ben the Illustrator, Ryan Putnam, Meg Robichaud, Whitney Sherman, Hannah Swann, and Khoi Vinh

Recommendations:
The Annual Illustrator's Survey
Now with two surveys completed, Ben O’Brien can start to identify changes in the illustration industry. It’s full of insight about the health and makeup of the industry, how illustrators are finding work, their business and emotional health, and more.

DhRemo Therapy
Faced with a daunting cancer diagnosis, Marsha Lynn Hammond created beautifully designed decals for her chemo infusion IV bags as a way to maintain a positive mindset. Now in remission, she’s dedicated to transforming the cancer experience for others.

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For illustrations and a full transcript of this episode, check out the show’s website.

Today’s guests:
Angela Guzman, Gedeon Maheux, Guillermo Mont, and Kristen Spilman

Recommendations:
Welcome to Macintosh
A podcast about the history and culture of Apple and its community, created by independent radio producer Mark Bramhill. The first four episodes of season three dive deep into the process of how new emoji are introduced.

Aqua Screenshot Library
An exhaustive gallery that demonstrates how Aqua has evolved over the years, created by podcaster, writer, and Mac collector Stephen Hackett.

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For illustrations and a full transcript of this episode, check out the show’s website.

Today’s guests:
Allan Comport, Jennifer Hom, Stewart Scott-Curran, Kristen Spilman, Quentin Vijoux, Khoi Vinh, and Kevin Walker

Recommended reading:
Two Very Different Kinds of Illustration and Illustration in the App Store
Khoi Vinh’s two articles that form the backbone of this episode. The former compares the diversity of style and expression in editorial illustration with the apparent monoculture in tech illustration. The latter looks at Apple’s editorial approach in the new App Store.

The Year in Illustration 2017 & 2018
Annual retrospectives of illustration in The New York Times. The 2017 edition was the impetus for Khoi’s article.

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For illustrations and a full transcript of this episode, check out the show’s website.

Today’s guests:
Jennifer Hom, Guillermo Mont, Meg Robichaud, Hannah Swann, Quentin Vijoux, and Kevin Walker

Recommended reading:
Your Face Here
Jennifer Hom’s case study on her work to create an inclusive illustrative brand at Airbnb.

You Can’t Just Draw Purple People and Call it Diversity
Meg Robichaud’s guide to illustrating characters with a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and confronting one’s unconscious biases.

The Life and Death of Microsoft Clippy, the Paper Clip the World Loved to Hate
A great profile on the history of Clippy—from inspiration to inception to derision.

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For illustrations and a full transcript of this episode, check out the show’s website.

Today’s guests:
Jennifer Hom, Ryan Putnam, Meg Robichaud, Stewart Scott-Curran, Kristen Spilman, Hannah Swann, and Kevin Walker

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For illustrations and a full transcript of this episode, check out the show’s website.

Today’s guests:
Ryan Putnam, Meg Robichaud, Kristen Spilman, Hannah Swann, and Kevin Walker

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Recommended reading:
Illustration Identities Are Our Thing
Ryan Putnam’s explanation of the Putnam Process

Also, literally everything Meg Robichaud has written on Medium. She’s written a ton of posts about illustration in tech, including how to run an illustration team, the differences between marketing and product applications, and inclusive character design. Each article is full of Meg’s singular wit and expertise.

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For illustrations and a full transcript of this episode, check out the show’s website.

Today’s guests:
Kristen Spilman and Ryan Putnam

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Recommended reading:
Illustrating a More Human Brand: The history of Dropbox brand illustration
Written by Michael Jeter, Associate Creative Director & Illustration Lead at Dropbox, this fantastic two-part essay (Part 1 & Part 2) helped inform this episode.

The Woman Who Gave the Macintosh a Smile
An excellent profile of Susan Kare, creator of the original Macintosh icon suite. Written by Alexandra Lange for The New Yorker.

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For illustrations and a full transcript of this episode, check out the show’s website

Technology products and brands are full of illustration: avatars, stickers, icons, emoji, the list goes on. But it hasn’t always been this way.

Introducing How to Draw a Startup: A step-by-step guide to illustration in tech. Created by illustrator & designer Mark Grambau and featuring creative leaders from across the industry, the first episode arrives December 20th!