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Ben Says1. Improve handwriting, drawing, and programming skills
2. Organize my digital assets (files, websites, accounts, backups etc...)
3. Visit Europe
4. No candy or soda for the entire year
5. Run a marathon
6. Go on 2 or more 30+ mile bike rides each month
7. Finish building my first project bike
Frank SaysLearn.
Finish.
Say no more frequently.
Say yes more strategically.
Be good.
Be well.
Ben SaysHopefully much smarter, humbler, more traveled, more well read, and more focused. The last one I think is key because I feel like I dabble in lots of areas of design and as a consequence I’ve gotten mediocre at a lot of things rather than really good at one or two things. I feel like I’m already taking steps toward this goal by learning to say no to projects and better manage my time and resources.
Ideally I would also like to get to the point where I am only working on meaningful projects that interest me. I actually feel like I am pretty close to achieving this already.
Perhaps a little bit farther out than 5 years or right around that mark I would very much like to start a small studio with some of the talented designers I know.
Frank SaysIdeally, I’d love to diversify the projects I work on. There’s so many things that interest me that I’d eventually like to address in this little career of mine: interiors, patterns, product design, and animation.
Five years from now, I’d really love to be working on projects where I can tell stories with my work. The craft of story-telling is a subject I think I’ll always love, and I’d be thrilled if I could devote some time to think about and personally explore ways to make a cross section of that and design and illustration.
Oh, and I’d like to be writing more. And sleeping more. Just more of all the good stuff.
Dear Ben & Frank
Did you guys know that the RSS Feed isn’t working correctly?
Question Submitted by Josh
Ben SaysYeah opps...my bad. Sorry it took so long to fix too, I’ve been putting it off. Should be working now, if you have issues please email me.
Frank Says
Dear Ben & Frank
What is the best way to gain exposure as a young designer?
Question Submitted by Anonymous
Ben SaysIt was extremely valuable to me that I made friendships early on with older students in the design program. I also met lots of people though our student design club, professional organizations and student conferences. You have to be doing solid work but you also have to get out there and not be afraid to get out there and promote yourself. As far as getting my work out there the internet has been invaluable.
Frank SaysYou do quality work. Meet people, be personable. More than anything, you put your feet to the pavement and get moving. Some people will never believe it, but action is always better than inaction, no matter what the quality of your work.
Dear Ben & Frank
Do you ever look at old work and wonder what you were thinking?
Question Submitted by Anonymous
Ben SaysI usually remember what I was thinking and why I was thinking what I did. I can be a bit stubborn about defending ideas and decisions I believe in, and I do sometimes look back and see that I was wrong. From a more purely aesthetic standpoint I always see things that I could have improved or redrawn one more time.
Frank SaysOh man. I teach at Missouri State University and decided to look through my student work one day to help me prep for a lesson. I think I was averaging about What the Hell Was I Thinking’s per hour.