The Deeply Graphic Designcast - DGDC

Friends, it's that time of the year again, and we couldn't be more excited to partner with Adobe for this year's Adobe Max. Paul Trani, Adobe Evangelist, joins us for a sneak preview of this year's BIG event. For the first time, Max will be a hybrid of Virtual and In-Person, and the Virtual Pass is still absolutely FREE! Join Adobe Max to spark your inspiration, learn how to bring your best ideas...

Just because everything is going smoothly in your design business doesn't mean there ain't room for improvement. In this episode, the team discusses how you can level up so many different facets of your business, ensuring success and growth.

Bill Gardner of Logo Lounge and Gardner Designs is back again for his intensive Logo Trends Report, 2022!  You can follow along with Bill's Report here . Or, you can watch the Video version on YouTube here .

Rethinking Your Meetings! Did you know workers lose nearly three hours per week to UNNECESSARY meetings! This results in FRAGMENTED schedules and video fatigue. Meetings are one of the biggest time sinks in organizations today. They consistently sabotage employees' productivity--especially in our new era of hybrid work. Why? They've become the cause for many other activities--coffee chats, brainst...

We thought it was time for an honest-to-goodness, no holds bar, Hot Takes Episode. And there was no shortage of fun topics to debate! We definitely had a lot of fun recording this one!

Are you juggling multiple clients, falling behind on projects, and can’t figure out how to escape? Feels like we are all in the same boat lately, continually in the heat of the moment, catching up on emails, project changes, and never-ending zoom meetings. It’s time to get a grip, the DGDC team is here to help! We discuss organization tools and tips, job tracking software pros and cons, setting re...

Here it is! Our predictions for Design Trends of 2022! We even prepared a Companion PDF to follow along with! Download our Companion PDF Here!

Our annual review of great gifts for designers! Nick, Mikelle, and Jordan go over their wishlists for the holidays! To make things super festive and easy this year, we have two useful tools to make this a joyous holiday experience! One, Download Our Companion Guide including all the links! Second, you can WATCH the Video Companion on our YouTube channel! Cheers and Happy Holidays! -Nick, Mikelle &...

As a designer in a fast-paced and demanding position, it can be tempting to let your mental health take a back seat during stressful periods. However, those are the moments when it becomes even more important to exercise proper discipline. Mike, Rubaie, Steven, and Narek discuss how stress and work affect their mental health, as well as their process for staying in a positive mindset. They speak w...

The job market is hot right now, making this a perfect time to advance your career. Employers are struggling to find and hire great talent—and as a result, they are offering increasing pay, perks, and opportunities. In this episode, the gang reveals their best tips to increase your odds of landing that new job, helping you take advantage of the tight job market to grow in your job and get on a pat...

We've all been there before. A frantic call, late in the day, from a client in desperate need of a rush job. Don't panic, we've got you covered. NIck, Mikelle, and Jordan discuss some tactical maneuvers to help you navigate these rough seas! We go over setting better expectations upfront, avoiding knee-jerk reactions, and even "homework" you can give your client to hopefully avoid future "red-aler...

In this episode, the gang chats with designer Jason Craig, all about working autonomously in the design industry. It's a round-table discussion about working on your own as a solo entrepreneur. We compare notes on keeping the momentum going, initiating new business and endeavors, plus some fun questions we can all participate in. Jason specifically talks about being a solo entrepreneur in his town...

In this episode, we are joined by Jim Morris, author of "BADVERTISING: An Exposé of Insipid, Insufferable, Ineffective Advertising." We discuss the ongoing struggles of Designers and Content Strategists, trying to work together in both agencies and design firms. Jim shares his 20+ years of experience, highlighting everything from common failures to hugely successful working relations. Be sure to f...

"Extra time equals extra opportunities" - David Jon Walker. In this episode, we are joined by David Jon Walker. A talented designer and Associate Professor of Art in Graphic Design. We chat about his experience over the last year and how he took advantage of 2020 to set new Creative and Personal Goals. We talk about how he set new goals, including: 1) Learning a whole new creative skill/talent he'...

After a difficult year in quarantine, The Test Pilots kick off with a new 2 part episode series on Mental Health in the Design Community and interview industry professionals Meg Lewis and Kate O’Connell. Tune in for the first episode of the series—filled with personal stories, helpful tips, and more! This episode is sponsored by Skillshare. To take advantage of our promotion, click here or go to:...

Our longest-running tradition here at the DGDC, Bill Gardner returns for the 2021 Logo Trends Report. Bill and the Logo Lounge team report what they have found by thoroughly scrutinizing the more than 35,000 logos submitted to LogoLounge since last year’s report. As always, this report comes with a disclaimer, "It is an observation of the trajectory and evolution of key design directions. Yours is...

"Most people comment on logo rebrands as if they're judging a diving competition when they should be judging a swimming competition. It's not what kind of splash you make when you hit the water. It's how long you can keep your head above the water." Michael Bierut said it best. We should review logo rebrands differently. Logos need to have a long life, not win points in a discussion. So we decide...

Despite running a profitable, successful design business, many of us have experienced a few failures. We see failure as the end result of our efforts, or worse, we see it as the definition of our character. In this episode, Nick and Mikelle reflect on our own failures – financial challenges, client relations, and communication dilemmas. Hopefully discussing these challenges can genuinely have an i...

The Potential New Client Nextdoor. Jeremy Slagle joins the gang to discuss all the wonders of working with small local businesses. With his vast knowledge working with Jeni's Ice Cream in its early stages, Jeremy shares some tangible insights including: Tips and Advice for listeners to find small local clients. How to align your business with clients who share the same values and goals. Discoverin...

Every business owner’s goal is to scale their company into something bigger, something that can serve their clients better. Freelancers shouldn’t be any different. Outsourcing fits right into any scaling plan or expansion goals. Mikelle and the team discuss some of the pros and cons of outsourcing with personal stories and practical advice. From project kickoffs to revisions, we highlight differen...

EPISODE TWO! THE DGDC PRESENTS THE TEST PILOTS SELF BETTERMENT "We are the Test Pilots, 4 young designers exploring advice that “Senior Designers” are always giving. In the Design World, folks who have already been there, done that, are spouting soundbite suggestions that sometimes are unproven, and we are going to put them to the test! We might succeed or we might fail, no harm no foul, it’s all...

Focus Lab's Bill Kenney joins us for an uplifting conversation inspired by their agency's slogan"Proceed with Courage." A perfect mantra to kick off 2021 with a better mindset, by being courageous and optimistic for the coming year! In this episode, we tackle: Tactical actions for better communication. Pricing and confidence in asking for more. Are you being authentic, putting your best foot forwa...

Agency Advice for the Freelance Designer - In this episode, we are joined by Dan Janssen, Creative Director of Lincoln Design Co. Dan's gives us an inside look at how their studio has grown into one of the leading design agencies out there. We cover a ton of great insight, stories, and advice for any designer looking to grow their own business! Topics include: The beginning stages of Lincoln Desig...

The gang is back together having a candid conversation reviewing the changes and pivots of last year and how we can set the groundwork for a better year ahead! Some of the topics discussed: Did 2020 change or affect any goals you set for yourself back in2019? What was the top “Growth Moment” you worked through in 2020? Did you go off the rails at all last year? If you could go back to the beginnin...

Our first "Round Table" episode talking about Virtual Learning in the Design industry. Nick invites fellow Design instructors Meena Khalili, Victor Davila, Matthew Flick, Jorel Dray, and Mitch Goldstein to check-in and discuss their notes on the Fall 2020 semester. A compelling conversation not only for current design students or instructors but any creative who's curious about how our universitie...