A man of few Google Search results, Chad Makerson Michael the man, has been a mystery to the digital world as we know it, but his work speaks volumes to who he is and his capabilities. Under the design studio of Chad Michael Studio he has developed brands for a vast array of spirits companies such as Jack Daniels, St. Laurent, Gold Bar Bottle Co. and nearly 75 more. His work has a way of pulling you in and giving your eyes the chance to journey through all the nooks and crannies of his intricately designed work.  

We had the opportunity to sit down with Michael and dig a little deeper, get to know the man behind the design. From childhood cologne preferences, to his middle name, to his thoughts on pumpkin flavor trends, we asked enough dumb questions so the internet will never have to wonder about Chad Michael again.

Imagine the coral-infused streets of Havana, where hand-painted walls and lettering is a common sight. It seemed natural for Cinthia Santos, half of the mural duo Chalk and Brush, to take the visuals from her Cuban childhood and use it as inspiration for a booming business.

The venture from Point A to Point B was as winding as a paint stroke – it started with fashion drawings and continues on the walls of some of the most beloved spots across South Florida. Her client list includes Starbucks, Shake Shack, Spotify, Jack Daniels,Veza Sur Brewing and more. We caught up with Cyn to ask her about chalk, brushes, walls and more.

Author, educator, and visual artist Reyna Noriega is having a big moment, but she is no stranger to the art industry or classroom. A native of South Florida, her career has spiraled from artist to teacher to art director to full-time illustrator and Instagram darling. Her Afro-Latin culture is a guiding light in a body of work that spotlights women of color, and she’s committed to portraying vibrant females of different shapes and shades that have been historically underrepresented in the art world.

Reyna was gracious enough to chat from her Miami Beach home, with her cozy apartment currently serving as home, studio, and now quarantine locale. We were lucky enough to catch her over a late breakfast and between work sessions. Thanks for answering our silly questions, Reyna.

How is designer, collager and bonafide California surfer Tyler Spangler waiting out quarantine? Dutifully wrangling a four-year-old, painting with pixels and creating colorful artworks reminiscent of a clown car dipped in acid-tinged Kool-aid. Though his artwork first catches your eye for its bold and flashy appearance, it’s also unexpectedly supportive and encouraging, featuring phrases like, “You Have All The Power You Need” and “Trust What You Are Doing.”

A punk rock enthusiast since he was learning how to catch his first waves, he even managed to score his own interview with Poly Styrene of the X-Ray Spex as a kid. He was kind enough to answer our interview questions while sheltering in place, talking 90’s flannel, confusing music and baby dinosaurs.

Writing a brief summary of Debbie Millman’s career is nearly as challenging as running a 4 minute mile. Her body of work and lifelong pursuits span every cultural touchpoint you could imagine. Millman’s first dive into graphic design was with Sterling Brands, a small company of 15 people that she built into a 150 person powerhouse. During her time there, she worked with mega-brands such as Pepsi, Colgate, Burger King and Star Wars (and we are just getting started).

In 1993, Millman lent her talent as creative director of Hot 97, the first ever hip-hop radio station, designing the branding in ‘94 and ‘99. Always known for being ahead of the curve, Millman started a podcast in 2005 aptly named Design Matters, which she still hosts to this day. On her podcast, she has interviewed over 400 of the most notable designers, artists and creative thinkers.

Millman is now President Emeritus of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and chair and co-founder of the Masters in Branding Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. And just for good measure, she is also a past editorial and creative director of Print magazine.

With such a storied career and masterful interviewing skills, you could imagine the anxiety of having to ask her some seriously dumb questions, but without further ado…

Kevin Cantrell creates work that forges a human connection, curiosity, and understanding, paying the utmost attention to each sway of line, curve, and dot. Kevin’s work is exceptional and his client list is bragworthy – he has been recognized by Graphis, Type Directors Club, and Print Magazine’s as one of their 20 under 30 New Visual Artists 2014, and his distinguished style has been hired by Nike, Putnam, Wired, Harvard and Princeton, just to name a few. 

Between running his own design studio, raising 4 children (with one on the way), and schooling us on the Star Wars universe, Kevin’s a busy guy. We’re lucky he indulged us and answered a few seriously dumb questions. His tenacious character was contagious and inspiring. Thanks, Kevin!

Nothing tickles us more than highbrow art mixed with lowbrow humor. Interdisciplinary artist and educator Ariel C. Wilson may create elegant optical sculptures and installations, but she’ll also wax poetic about forgotten fridge items, flying pigs and sweet-talking temperamental printers.

Ariel’s work has been exhibited internationally and in twelve cities across the United States. Her multidisciplinary creations investigate the experience of sight and present the audience with realms of space in which to explore wonder, pleasure, and uncertainty. Ariel’s work challenged us to dig deep into the corners of our art school memories and may have unearthed repressed flashbacks of pre-crit all-nighters. But that’s neither here nor there.

In addition to teaching photography at Marshall University, Ariel also spends part of her time in New Mexico, and we are so thankful she answered our “Dumb Questions” while away from home.

Singer, mathematician and designer Lauren Peters-Collaer seems to find success around every corner. With a slew of book cover designs for legendary names such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Hillary Clinton under her belt, our newest interviewee has been staying busy living in Manhattan and creating clean, conceptual and vibrant pieces of work. 

While settling into her new-ish job at Penguin Publishing, Lauren chatted with us about New York Chinese food, Irish hostel bathroom doors and the best bookshelf organization technique. Keep singing, designing and kicking ass, Lauren! 

Luke Tonge’s world is weaved in technicolor, bursting with shape, shade and saturation turned up to 11. He grew up in the quaint countryside of Nottinghamshire and has taken his talents to the U.K.’s “second city,” Birmingham.

Luke has made a splash spearheading the creation of the Glug Brum design talk series and the Birmingham Design Festival along with his friend Dan Alcorn, as well as art-directing and in general, kicking ass and taking names.

He was kind enough to talk to us over 6 time zones about his affinity for shorts and obsession with ice cream. Cheers, Luke!

New York Times best-selling writer, artist, and speaker Mari Andrew doesn’t need to have it all figured out. In her opinion, that’s what art is for – to decipher the world around us, to lift our spirits, even to wistfully daydream – and the internet agrees. Her 1 million Instagram followers connect deeply in her daily watercolor vignettes showcasing her vulnerability and inner monologue.

Mari was kind enough to carve out some time to talk likes and dislikes, favorites and phobias, and she’s just as kind and bubbly as you’d imagine. When she’s not dominating social media, Mari travels to speak about her own creative process and how to use one’s unique personal journey when approaching artmaking. You can catch her on the road or online on Skillshare. Thank you for sharing, Mari!

And Michael B. Jordan – if you’re out there – she’s into tapas.