I test the AI tools, design trends, and brand moves marketers are talking about, then tell you what holds up and what doesn’t. Written by the author of the bestselling The Visual Marketer, after 20+ years leading brand, creative, and digital experience marketing teams.
Welcome to Life After Design!
Welcome to Life After Design! |
Welcome!After Design is the new newsletter for the graphic design community on the cusp of the AI revolution. In a world where generative AI tools pose an increasing threat to the livelihood of designers, After Design steps in to demystify this transition, offering in-depth insights, actionable advice, and compelling case studies to empower its readers. With a keen eye on the future, it bridges the gap between the intricacies of AI-driven design tools and the creative minds behind them, fostering a dialog that is vital in this rapidly evolving landscape. This newsletter is not just about understanding the impending AI surge, but also about proactively preparing for it. A significant part of the content will be dedicated to profiling individuals who have successfully pivoted their careers away from traditional graphic design. These riveting stories are more than just narratives – they are roadmaps, offering guidance on new skill sets to acquire, industries to explore, and roles that could be a perfect fit for the creativity and visual communication expertise designers possess. In this ever-changing tech-scape, After Design encourages you to view AI not as a threat, but as an opportunity to reinvent your career, to broaden your horizons, and to grow with the times. Through understanding, adaptability, and forward-thinking, After Design aims to help its readers navigate their careers in an era of AI ascendance. So what will this be? To start, the primary focus will be this newsletter. The plan is to interview people who have successfully made the transition to a new career after graphic design. Later on, there will be courses to help you gain an understanding of how your existing skills can be applied to different careers. In the meantime, feel free to check out AfterDesign.me to see what is available. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments, or if I can help. Thanks, -Jim |
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Marketing by Design – Design thinking that makes marketing work
I test the AI tools, design trends, and brand moves marketers are talking about, then tell you what holds up and what doesn’t. Written by the author of the bestselling The Visual Marketer, after 20+ years leading brand, creative, and digital experience marketing teams.
09 November 2026 | Issue #139 In this issue: Marketing is your starting pitcher MPB2B Design quote of the week Marketing is Your Starting Pitcher In baseball, the starting pitcher is the star. Fans pick the night they buy tickets around who is on the mound, and an ace can make a game must-see and nearly guarantee a win. Teams pay for it. In 2026, a pitcher was the highest-paid player on 12 of 30 MLB teams, and Zack Wheeler leads the way at $42M. Middle relievers carry the game to the closer,...
26 October 2026 | Issue #138 In this issue: Creativity is less important than consistency Amazing real-world video effects Design quote of the week Why Consistency Beats Creativity in B2B Branding Your audience isn’t nearly as familiar with your brand as you are. And that’s a problem when you’re constantly changing it. Years ago, I worked with a CMO who had a habit of explaining our solution story to the marketing team. Over and over again. He’d stand at a whiteboard or one of the glass walls...
11 October 2026 | Issue #137 In this issue: Avoid these AI design tropes Don't use Muse if you like privacy Design quote of the week I Know You Used AI for Your Design You already know the em dash is a dead giveaway of AI writing (sorry, Ann Handley). Design has its own tells, and there are a lot of them. None of them is wrong on its own. A good writer can use an em dash on purpose, and a good designer can use any pattern below on purpose. They become a tell when they show up because nobody...