Some seasons feel clear. Others feel cloudy, uncertain, and slow.
But creative careers move like weather patterns. The biggest opportunities are usually built on groundwork nobody sees coming.
Keep showing up. Keep building. Forecasts change fast.
We all have that list… the things we’ve been meaning to do.
Reach out. Start something. Finish something. Say yes to something.
But most of it just lives in our heads as “what if.”
Today’s episode is a simple push, what if you actually did it?
Not everything. Not perfectly. Just one thing.
Because the difference between where you are and where you want to be usually isn’t talent or timing…
It’s action.
Pick one. Make the move. See what happens.
hi @logoarchive
i made these logos because i really like toys and games and stuff. i tried to draw them from memory and some are a little wonky but i think they still look cool.
my favorite one is the nerf one because it looks fun and bouncy. also atari because it looks like a spaceship or something.
when i grow up i want to make toys and maybe design the logos for them too so they look AWESOME on the box.
i like drawing letters and making them look different and chunky.
hope you like them!!!
from,
nick (age 7)
Just got back from Crop Con in Austin and I’m still processing how good that experience was. I went in excited to teach my workshop on storytelling and case studies, but I walked away just as inspired by the people, the conversations, and the energy around where our industry is headed. I built this session as a full experience with a brief, workbook, exercises, and real takeaways, all focused on helping creatives better communicate their work and their value. Seeing it all come to life in the room was something I won’t forget.
Huge thank you to @cropcons and Matt Dawson @staygrayponyboy for continuing to raise the bar for what a creative conference can be, and for inviting me to be part of it. What you’re building is important for this industry and it shows in every detail. Also big thanks to my buddy Tyler Pate @thecreativepain . It was awesome comparing notes on our workshops leading up to the event. You’re always pushing things forward and it’s motivating to be around.
One of my favorite parts of the whole experience was the people. From the workshop attendees who showed up ready to engage and push themselves, to the portfolio reviews, to all the hallway conversations that turn into something bigger. This community continues to prove that growth happens when people are open, generous, and willing to share.
And to all the friends I now call family, you know who you are. Always grateful for this crew and the chance to keep building something meaningful together.
We tend to think of mentorship as something that comes from the top down.
Someone older. More experienced. More established.
But some of the most meaningful advice I’ve ever received didn’t come from a “mentor” at all.
An alumni once told me,
“When you get over that hurdle, there’s just another one waiting.”
That stuck with me. It changed how I think about progress.
A student asked me,
“Who exactly is asking for everything to be done quicker?”
And honestly… I didn’t have a great answer. But I think about that question all the time.
A peer once told me to niche down into food and beverage branding.
That one conversation shaped my path more than I realized at the time.
And my students are constantly showing me new tools, new platforms, new ways of thinking.
Looking back, I didn’t really think much about mentorship in the moment.
But now I can see how many different voices played a role.
Mentorship isn’t about who’s ahead of you.
It’s about who helps you see differently.
Good ideas don’t check titles.
We hosted, you showed up and it meant everything! Thanks for being part of another great night. New friendships were made, fresh ideas sparked, and familiar faces reconnected. Looking forward to seeing you at our summer meetup! You won’t want to miss it!
Thank you to our sponsors:
@adobe@macleodale@clearimageprinting
#GlyphicLA #AdobeLive #DesignCommunity #CreativeCommunity #CreativeMeetupLosAngeles LosAngelesMeetup
I’ve been thinking about this one a lot lately… mostly because I catch myself slipping on it too.
It’s easy to say you’re working on something. Easy to say it’s “in progress.”
A lot harder when no one’s actually checking.
And if I’m being real, when it’s just me holding myself accountable… I don’t always win that battle.
That’s the gap I’ve been trying to close.
So I’m curious…
Who’s actually holding you accountable right now?
Or is it just you… and the version of the story you want to believe?
A strong portfolio doesn’t just show the work, it tells the story behind it. Learn a simple visual storytelling framework for building compelling case studies. This Virtual FieldTrip is hosted by Nick Longo @longodesigns and presented by @Adobe as part of our Level Up series. Sign up at the link in our bio. #CMfieldtrips
We obsess over the work.
But people remember the feeling.
After reading Unreasonable Hospitality, it clicked, the most memorable moments aren’t louder or bigger… they’re more thoughtful.
As designers, that might be how you present an idea, how you explain your thinking, or the unexpected detail you didn’t have to include… but did anyway.
Good work gets approved.
Thoughtful work gets remembered.
Most people stop at the first idea.
It’s fast, it works, it gets the job done.
But the real shift happens when you go back in.
The second draft is where you start making decisions instead of just reacting.
It’s where taste, restraint, and intention start to show up.
Don’t just finish the work.
Challenge it.
You don’t get qualified first, then make the work.
You make the work, then you become qualified.
Too many designers are waiting for permission that’s never coming. Waiting for the right client, the right opportunity, the right moment.
Meanwhile, the people getting hired?
They already made the thing.
They didn’t wait. They built the brand. Designed the packaging. Created the system. Told the story.
Even if no one asked for it.
Even if no one paid for it.
Even if they had no “experience” yet.
Because your portfolio isn’t a record of what you’ve been hired to do.
It’s a signal of what you want to be hired for.
So if the work isn’t there… go make it.
No permission needed.
First impressions usually end when the conversation ends.
Unless you leave something behind.
I’ve been collecting creative “leave-behinds” for years, stickers, mini books, trading cards, little zines. Tiny pieces of personality that turn a quick conversation into something memorable.
The funny thing is, I rarely remember the exact moment we met. But when I pull one of these out later, I remember the person.
That’s the power of a good leave-behind. It gives someone a physical reminder of your work, your style, and your story.
If you’re a creative, make something small, make it memorable, and keep a few with you. Opportunity doesn’t send a calendar invite.
