Dumb Questions for Smart Designers

Dumb Questions

Random Question
What would your first thoughts be if you were asked to write Grease 3?
  • Aaron Draplin
  • Amy Nicole Schwartz
  • Andy J. Miller
  • Anna Laytham
  • Ariel Wilson
  • Ashleigh Axios
  • Beat Baudenbacher
  • Becky Simpson
  • Bradford Shellhammer
  • Brian Van Gogh
  • Cap Watkins
  • Chad Michael
  • Chalk & Brush
  • Chip Kidd
  • Chris Costello
  • Christopher Ayres
  • Courtney Macca
  • Craig Frazier
  • Dan Cassaro
  • Danielle Evans
  • Darren Booth
  • Debbie Millman
  • Don Clark
  • Gavin Strange
  • Gui Borchert
  • Harvey Shepard
  • James Flames
  • James Olstein
  • James Victore
  • Jared Erondu
  • Jean Jullien
  • Jeff Rogers
  • Jennifer Heuer
  • Jess Boonstra
  • Jessica Hische
  • Johnnie Cluney
  • Jon Contino
  • Jordan Scott
  • Josh Brewer
  • Josh Higgins
  • Joshua Taylor
  • Julieta Felix
  • Kendrick Kidd
  • Kevin Cantrell
  • Lauren Hom
  • Lauren Peters-Collaer
  • Lola Landekic
  • Luke Tonge
  • Mackey Saturday
  • Mari Andrew
  • Matt Curtis
  • Matthew Manos
  • Mikey Burton
  • Nicole Jacek
  • Paul Woods
  • Randy J. Hunt
  • Reyna Noriega
  • Robert Fisher
  • Sara Blake
  • Sara Blakely
  • Scott Allen Hill
  • Shogo Ota
  • Stefan Sagmeister
  • Steven Heller
  • Syd Weiler
  • Tad Carpenter
  • The Heads of State
  • Timothy Goodman
  • Todd Radom
  • Tyler Spangler
  • Veerle Pieters
  • Victor Melendez
  • Zac Petit

Aaron Draplin

Aaron Draplin is a damn good designer. His company, the Draplin Design Co., has worked with brands like Esquire, Nike, Red Wing, Hughes Entertainment, Wired, Coal Headwear, Patagonia, Burton Snowboards, and Ford Motors. When the Obama administration needed help on a logo for the DOT Tiger Program & Recovery.gov, they called Draplin.

On top of all the killer design work he has done, he then went and created Field Notes, a notebook for anyone with a back pocket and an idea. Through Draplin’s blood and sweat, he took the mundane concept of a notebook and made it into a necessary tool.

Behind the lumberjack myth, he is a simple man. He loves working, he loves junkin’ and he loves music. All in all, he is super nice and down-to-earth, a guy you’d want to grab a beer with, and simultaneously complain about and celebrate the world. Sidenote: I just ordered myself one of those badass Draplin Design Co hats.

Q. Worst Olympics logo?

2012 Olympics LogoThe 2012 thing was pretty unfortunate, and seemed out of place amongst years and years of greats. Clunky and forced? I mean, those things are just hallowed graphic landmarks? And then that thing? I get maybe why they were doing it, to get a little weird, but it just seemed a bit forgettable.

Q. If computers suddenly didn’t exist what would you do?

Build houses, furniture…or be a bandit on the run. Something with my hands, of course.

Q. Do you write your Field Notes in pen, pencil or blood?

All the above, you animals.

Q. What’s your favorite type foundry?

House Industries, hands down. Great craft, humor, products and good will to designers.

Q. What was the last record you bought?

01. High On Fire – Luminiferous
02. Bottle Rockets – South Broadway Athletic Club
03. Düngen – Allas Sak
04. Uncle Acid – The Night Creeper
05. David Rawlins Machine – Nashville Obsolete
06. Josh Rouse – Embers of Time
07. Jason Isbell – Something More Than Free
08. Tame Impala – Currents
09. Sun Kil Moon – Universal Themes
10. Jim O’Rourke – Simple Songs

Now caption this bad stock photo.

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“Considering the dizzying array of societal frivolities, technological advancements and tricky geopolitical climates, it’s amazing how a leotard will only hold a poorly-timed egg fart in just so long, that this here dame released into her sphere, which was potent enough to make her collapse, break a sweat and somehow knock her fuckin’ shoes off. What a world, what a world.”

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