Inspiration is on tap as Teresa Au speaks to graphic designer, entrepreneur, and author Aaron Draplin. Known as much for his warm and direct personality as for his signature thick lines design style and ample use of Pantone Orange 21, Aaron is beloved by designers everywhere. In this episode, he shares lessons gleaned from his midwestern upbringing, nearly 20 years in business on his own, and creating his Field Notes and DDC-branded merchandise.
What you’ll hear on this episode:
What Aaron wishes he knew when he went out on his own
Why a job transition should be an overlap, not a hard stop
Getting financially prepared for going into business for yourself
Why you should take every job that comes your way
Lessons learned from difficult jobs
The difficulties of the corporate environment
How to control your own time
The value of keeping your word
What you can learn from your clients that can help you in your own business
Use merchandise to make your business look as big — or as small — as you wish
How Aaron started his Field Notes brand
When it’s time to bring in a team
Is passive income actually passive?
Corporate clients don’t have to mean endless meetings and emails
A big client can also be a passion job
Give clients what they need, not necessarily what they think they want
No one has to know which jobs have big paychecks and which ones you do for nothing
What Aaron learned from his Dad
The importance of appreciating the people who help you get your work done
Planning a follow-up book to Pretty Much Everything
ABOUT THE GUEST
Aaron Draplin is the founder of Draplin Design Co. a shop specializing in print, identity, and illustration. His clients include Nike, Sub Pop Records, Marc Maron, Patagonia, NASA/JPL, and even the Obama Administration. He co-created the Field Notes brand with Jim Coudal, and their memo books are sold the world over. Aaron is the author of eight Skillshare classes, and his first book, Pretty Much Everything, is in its 12th printing. His DDC merch line is a cult favorite, featuring 300+ products. You’ll find Aaron in his backyard studio in Portland, Oregon, or crossing the US in his orange van, putting on “speaking fiascos” for audiences ranging from Adobe MAX to vocational school students.
ABOUT THE HOST
Teresa Au is an executive for community engagement at Adobe. Her career spans diverse creative fields, primarily in New York’s fashion industry, as well as architecture firms, and now Silicon Valley tech companies. She has always prized working with distinctive design and the interesting people behind it — from designer Elie Tahari to start-up CEOs.
See the full list of episodes from this season of In the Making.
