The Drop – Episode 4: Your Design Career, UpgradedIn this month’s edition of The Drop, we’re serving up four stories every modern designer needs to hear:🧠 Why design is now a must-have skill in today’s workplace💸 The smartest (and newest) ways designers are making money in 2025🤖 ChatGPT-4o—revolutionary tool or just more AI hype?🎯 A practical guide to landing better clients, fasterIt’s everything you didn’t know you needed—until now.Links to all the stories below. Let’s go.For more info on Wix Studio: https://www.wixstudio.comLinks to Articles:https://www.lifewire.com/canva-magic-studio-helps-employees-digital-design-8707602?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.manypixels.co/blog/get-a-designer/graphic-design-price?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/is-chatgpt-4o-the-end-for-graphic-designers?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.manyrequests.com/blog/client-acquisition-guide?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://fourthwall.com/blog/how-to-make-money-as-a-graphic-designer-10-strategies-for-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com🚀 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dgdcpod/🚀 Explore more at: linktr.ee/dgdcpod🚀Our Shop: deeplygraphicgoods.printful.me#GraphicDesign #DesignPodcast #CreativeBusiness

Hosted by Tom Lauro

In this episode of The Next Level, Tom sits down with Nader Boraie, Chief Creative Officer of NBDco., a design studio known for building holistic brands out of New Jersey and New York. With over 15 years in design and art direction, Nader has carved a path that blends visual storytelling with the rhythm and emotion of music.

Together, they dive into how music has influenced their creative journeys—from mixtapes to mood boards—and explore how a passion for sound has shaped their design sensibilities. They talk candidly about the highs and lows of working on music-focused design projects, share tips on how to attract clients in the music world, and offer up strategies for curating a portfolio that resonates with artists, labels, and creators.

To close things out, Nader answers our signature “Next Level” questions, sharing the advice he’d give to his younger self, the insight that changed the game for him, and what’s next on his horizon.

Whether you're a designer with a beat in your heart or just curious about the creative crossover between music and design, this one’s worth turning up.

www.nbdco.com

www.instagram.com/nbdco_

For More Information on Wix Studio:

https://www.wix.com/studio

In this episode, Nick sits down with longtime friend and fellow brand designer Chris Porter to talk about giving back to the creative community, from mentoring young designers and supporting student programs to helping with grants and industry advocacy.We’re diving into how you can show up, share your experience, and create real impact without needing a big platform or a fancy title. If you’ve ever wondered how to leave a legacy that goes beyond your portfolio… this one’s for you.We also touch on Adobe’s new Creative Career Center and why tools like this are game-changers for the next generation of creatives.https://www.behance.net/resources?tracking_source=nav20https://www.babygrand.co/🚀 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dgdcpod/🚀 Explore more at: linktr.ee/dgdcpod🚀Our Shop: deeplygraphicgoods.printful.me#GraphicDesign #DesignPodcast #CreativeBusiness

Inspired by love, legacy, and the hunger to create something real.

In this episode, we sit down with Connór Lock, designer, artist, and self-taught chef, who walked away from the expected path and leaned hard into the fire. What started in his mother’s kitchen turned into a life of storytelling through food, driven by resilience, love, and a deep refusal to play by anyone else’s rules.We talk about the emotional fuel behind his work, how design still shapes his cooking, and the powerful legacy of a tortilla with butter. Connór is currently competing in the Favorite Chef contest, and after hearing this conversation, you’ll know exactly why he’s one to watch.Vote for Connor Here: https://favchef.com/2025/connor-lockIG: @HeyStaahjwww.staahj.comIG: @7avisualcraftsmanwww.followseven.com

Dan Janssen, founder and creative director of Lincoln Design Co., returns to the show for a deep dive into the studio’s highly anticipated new release: The Brand Design of a Brand Design Agency. This 288-page book isn't about client work—it's a behind-the-scenes look at how Lincoln built its own brand from the inside out. Packed with unreleased logos, illustrations, internal marketing, swag, and studio stories, the book is a decade-in-the-making tribute to what happens when a studio treats itself like its most important client.

In this episode, we unpack the big ideas behind the book, why it exists, who it’s for, and how it challenges the traditional rules of branding and self-promotion. Dan shares lessons learned from building a dream studio culture, creating products that leave lasting impressions, and the importance of documenting your creative evolution.

We also talk about the value of getting outside the design bubble. Fresh off Crop Con in Austin and gearing up for the Licensing Expo in Vegas, we swap insights on how conferences, both design-focused and industry-specific—can fuel creativity, spark collaborations, and push your studio’s visibility beyond the usual crowd.

If you're a designer, creative director, studio owner, or student looking to understand what it really takes to build a brand-first creative business, this one’s for you.

📕 Grab the book and explore more:
👉 https://shorturl.at/MCWWF
🔗 https://www.lincolndesignco.com/

In this episode, we're diving into one of the biggest struggles freelancers are facing right now—getting clients to actually respond, give clear feedback, and stick to the original project scope. Nick and Mikelle kick things off by sharing real-world pain points and how this trend is quietly killing timelines, budgets, and creative momentum.

Then, we tackle your most burning questions about client communication: What do you do when a client vanishes mid-project? How do you steer the ship when direction is vague—or constantly changing? And how can you protect yourself from endless revisions and scope creep?

To wrap it all up, we serve up 5 super-practical, battle-tested tips to help you stay in control, set the tone from day one, and keep your sanity (and your schedule) intact.

If you’ve ever felt like a project manager, therapist, and psychic all in one—this one’s for you.

🔥 Designers, listen up—this one’s for YOU.

If you’re creating brand or packaging design for CPG, food & bev, or wellness products, this is the inside scoop you can’t afford to miss. We sat down with real retail buyers and asked them what actually gets a product noticed—and what gets it passed over. Spoiler alert: good design isn’t enough.

🧠 In this fast-paced breakdown, you’ll learn:
• What makes packaging instantly eye-catching (or invisible)
• How color, typography, and structure drive that first impression
• The trends buyers love right now—and the ones they’re sick of
• Why storytelling is your secret weapon (but not in the way you think)
• The #1 design mistake that kills a brand before it even launches
• How to balance sustainability, clarity, and visual punch

Whether you're designing for a client or your own brand, these buyer insights will sharpen your strategy, elevate your work, and help you design packaging that actually sells.

🎯 Want to create packaging that flies off shelves?
Start by thinking like a buyer.

In this episode of The Drop, we’re back with another hot roundup of design news you actually want to know. From bold rebrands to tech shake-ups, industry scandals to the next big thing in type and tech—we’re breaking it all down so you stay in the loop and ahead of the curve.

We’ve handpicked the stories making waves in April 2025—no fluff, no filler. Just the news, trends, and creative shifts that matter to working designers and creatives like you.

🧠 Insightful. 🎯 Actionable. 😏 Occasionally spicy.

Links to everything we mention are below. Let’s get into it.

https://www.designweek.co.uk/nine-creatives-reimagine-wiedenkennedy-londons-logo/

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/epic-universe

https://gdusa.com/the-design-skills-employers-need-right-now/

https://looka.com/blog/graphic-design-trends/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.designweek.co.uk/major-charities-creating-bold-new-brands-as-donor-numbers-fall/

https://www.creativeboom.com/news/earthling-studio-infuses-nostalgic-fun-into-iced-tea-brand-halfday/

https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/harvesting-heritage-bna-reimagines-polish-food-brand-dawtona-as-a-slavic-goddess/

https://www.creativeboom.com/news/hip-pop/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2uwy4MDZ_M&t=3s

THE SHOP: deeplygraphicgoods.printful.me  

What happens when two legendary type lovers turn their year into one big creative experiment? You get insight, income—and maybe even $100K.

In this episode, we sit down with the powerhouse duo behind Goodtype to talk about their bold new mission: using experiments to explore what brings them joy and financial success as artists. From their $100K art challenge to unconventional income streams, they're documenting it all—wins, failures, and everything in between.

We talk about:

• Why 2024 is the “Year of the Experiment”
• How artists can use small tests to unlock big growth
• Lessons from launching the $100K challenge
• Creative blocks, money mindset, and building happiness into your business
• Practical ideas you can steal to start experimenting today

Oh—and a spicy lightning round. Fonts were harmed.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a living from your art without selling your soul, this one’s for you.

Instagram

Website

The Kernference (we have student pricing!) 

Podcast (this has both apple and spotify)

Youtube 

What happens when you grow up inside a design studio? In this episode of The Next Level, Tom Lauro sits down with creative powerhouse Jeremy Slagle and his two insanely talented kids, Faith and Caleb, who are now working designers.

They share what it was like to be raised in a home bursting with creativity, the pivotal moments that shaped their careers, and the real talk on following in the footsteps of a well-known parent in the design world. This is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how a family turned passion into profession—and passed it on to the next generation.

Jeremy”s website: www.slagledesign.com

Caleb: www.calebslagle.com

Faith: www.Faithslagle.com

Instagrams:

@slagledesign 

@faithslagledesign

About Tom Lauro:

I'm a graphic designer / maker who dabbles in a little bit of everything. It all started with a career in landscape architecture, but over time I began drifting more and more into the world of vectors and graphic art. Molded by punk rock and east coast antics, I thrive on simple designs with big personalities. 

No matter what, I believe every project has a story to tell. Unfolding and discovering that narrative is what inspires my process, and creates the best possible product for my clients. With a holistic approach every project gets the same amount of time and effort; whether that be identity branding, marketing materials, product design, or just some die-cut stickers.

https://www.tomlaurodesign.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tlauro_design/