In this episode, we sit down with Marlon Antunez, a talented graphic designer. We explore Marlon's career journey, from his days as a product design major at Stanford to his innovative work at a leading media agency in LA. Marlon reflects on his approach to creativity, balancing design with other passions like photography and tennis, and the significance of forming friendships within the design industry. We delve into his popular Substack '1500 Fridays,' the inspiration behind it, trends in social media, and his vision for the future. This conversation offers insights into staying inspired, the evolving landscape of design, and practical advice for aspiring designers.

Marlon:

https://substack.com/@1500fridays

https://www.instagram.com/ojomarlon/

00:00 Introduction to Marlon: A Talented Designer

00:41 The Importance of Design Friendships

02:29 Marlon's Journey and Substack

03:21 The Story Behind 1500 Fridays

08:31 Life in LA and Design Inspirations

11:04 Favorite Cafes in LA

13:05 Navigating Social Media as a Designer

21:05 Music Recommendations and Spotify Tips

24:05 Navigating Music Discovery

24:21 Exploring KCRW and Local Radio

24:59 Curated Music Apps and YouTube Channels

26:27 Recession Core and Office Vibes

26:50 Quick Break and Announcements

27:54 Advice for Aspiring Designers

31:32 Dreams Beyond Design

34:42 Rapid Fire Questions

37:42 New Media and Design Trends

49:08 Personal Reflections and Career Insights

In this episode of 'The Pool Party,' host Jules delves into the significance of passion projects and their role in cultivating creativity and resilience in the ever-changing design and content creation industries. Jules shares personal stories, insights about the current job market for designers, and practical advice on how beginners can bootstrap and maintain motivation. Lastly, the episode touches on the importance of balancing work with creativity and self-care. Tune in for inspiration and actionable tips to keep your creative dreams alive and thriving.

00:00 Welcome to The Pool Party

00:34 Introduction to Design Education and Branding

01:53 The Role of Social Media Agencies

02:56 The Shift in Marketing Strategies

03:12 Starting and Sustaining Creative Projects

04:33 Today's Episode: Passion Projects

07:31 Jules' Journey with Passion Projects

16:04 Navigating the Current Job Market

24:22 Balancing Passion Projects and Health

33:12 The Reality of Pursuing Creative Careers

40:12 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

In this episode of 'The Pool Party,' host Jules discusses the emerging trend of working multiple part-time jobs in startups and creative fields to diversify income sources. Jules emphasizes the importance of online portfolios over traditional resumes and cover letters for creatives, providing tips on where to create and host portfolios. They delve into personal experiences in graphic and visual design, project management, and obtaining practical skills, advising listeners to do thorough online research or seek affordable alternatives to formal education. Jules shares insights on reading the room during networking, building confidence in creative work, handling multiple work profiles on social media, establishing career goals, and maintaining work-life balance. Practical advice on handling economic uncertainty and personal anecdotes from Jules' winding career path offer valuable lessons for aspiring creatives.

00:00 Introduction: The Future of Work

00:40 Welcome to The Pool Party

00:42 Creative Work Portfolios: An Overview

01:14 Skills for Work-Life Balance

02:30 Building Your Portfolio: Tips and Resources

03:52 Choosing the Right Platform for Your Portfolio

07:35 Content and Structure of Your Portfolio

08:40 Case Study: Alex Cooper's Unwell Network

10:22 Personal Journey and Design Education

22:33 The Importance of Social Media Separation

29:17 Networking and Reading the Room

31:41 Dealing with Creative Insecurities

32:42 The Reality of Working as a Creative

35:10 The Role of Therapy and Coaching

37:03 Balancing Education and Practical Experience

45:24 Conclusion: Navigating the Creative Career

A Masterclass on Key Art and HOT takes on Generative AI in Design

In this episode of the Poe Party, Jules delves into the world of key art, its importance in branding, and practical steps to create impactful visuals for campaigns. The discussion extends to the evolving role of generative AI in design, assessing its benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations. Jules also shares hands-on examples and personal insights from professional experiences, offering a comprehensive guide for designers and artists on leveraging both traditional techniques and cutting-edge technology in their work.

00:00 Introduction to Key Art Workshop

01:31 Understanding Key Art and Campaigns

07:42 Creating Key Art for a Music Festival

09:50 Thumbnailing and Brainstorming Techniques

13:05 Developing High-Fidelity Art

17:18 Generative AI in Design

27:40 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Self-Care for Creatives: Reassessing and Revisiting Your Work

In this episode of 'The Pool Party,' Jules explores the importance of self-care for creatives and the need to regularly reassess, revisit, and revise one's work. She emphasizes the challenges faced by multi-hyphenates in the creative industry, including burnout, the pressure of social media trends, and maintaining creative integrity. Jules introduces the concept of 'Ikigai' to help creatives align their work with their personal values and passions. She also shares personal experiences and offers practical advice on setting boundaries, conducting social media cleanses, and finding joy in missing out. Tune in to learn how to create a balanced and fulfilling creative career.

00:00 Welcome to The Pool Party

00:05 Self-Care for Creatives: Reassess, Revisit, Revise

02:02 Navigating the Changing Creative Industry

03:23 Creating Offers Aligned with Your Values

06:04 The Reality of Branding and Design

11:53 Burnout in the Digital Age

16:36 Setting Boundaries and Finding Balance

25:11 The Joy of Missing Out (JOMO)

32:52 Final Thoughts and Ikigai

35:42 Conclusion and Community

Mastering Designer Collaboration: A Comprehensive Guide

In this episode of The Pool Party, host Jules delves deep into the essential aspects of working with designers. Jules discusses different hiring capacities including freelance, contract, part-time, and full-time, and outlines key factors to consider such as budget, project scope, and deliverables. The episode includes tips on creating effective project briefs and highlights the pros and cons of using platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Jules also shares personal experiences and recommendations for fostering successful working relationships with designers, emphasizing the importance of clarity, preparation, and mutual respect in the design process.

00:00 Welcome to the Pool Party

00:26 Understanding the Importance of Designers

01:59 Types of Designer Contracts

05:51 When to Hire a Designer

08:15 Common Mistakes When Hiring Designers

13:31 Creating an Effective Project Brief

27:53 Finding the Right Designer

41:59 Setting Up a Process for Working with Designers

50:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Pool Party, host Jules discusses the importance of creating mood boards for DIY artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone building their own brand. Jules breaks down the step-by-step process of structuring mood boards, focusing on three essential pages: colors, fonts, and images. Listeners will learn how to efficiently gather and select high-quality inspiration sources and translate their brand values into a cohesive visual presentation. Jules also shares practical tips on using tools like PowerPoint or InDesign, and emphasizes the importance of refining choices to create a strong branding package. The episode is designed as an audio workshop to help both designers and non-designers streamline their creative process.

00:00 Welcome to The Pool Party

00:04 Recap of Previous Episodes

01:15 Introduction to Mood Boards

01:55 Creating Your Mood Board: Colors

06:11 Creating Your Mood Board: Fonts

08:26 Creating Your Mood Board: Images

09:33 Finalizing Your Mood Boards

10:51 Tips for Refining Your Mood Boards

12:28 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Branding Resources for DIY Artists and Entrepreneurs: A Guide to Inspiration and Mood Boards

In this episode of The Pool Party, Jules continues the series on effective branding and design for DIY artists and entrepreneurs. The focus is on resources for inspiration, including websites for mood boards, website design, stock images, and colors. Jules discusses key websites in four main categories: Arena, Pinterest, and Behance for mood boards; Dribbble, Designspiration, and Godly for design inspiration; Death to Stock, Pexels, Unsplash, and Coolors for stock images and color palettes; and Creative Market and ILoveCreatives for freelancers and DIY tools. The episode emphasizes the importance of using these resources efficiently to save time and effectively communicate design needs.

00:00 Welcome to The Pool Party

00:02 Understanding the Basics of Branding

00:20 The Importance of Inspiration in Design

01:45 Websites for Collecting Inspiration

06:28 Websites for Website Design Inspiration

09:53 Websites for Stock Photos and Colors

14:49 Websites for Creatives and Templates

19:09 Final Thoughts and Resources Recap