Welcome to my first Graphic Design Studio Notes post for 2026! There is a lot to include, so buckle up.
MAKING: GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO NOTES
Let’s start with what I have been making.
I redesigned the logo for a previous client, ZDEN Technologies. With their business taking a different direction, they want to go for more of a vintage aerospace look. If you want to see the full project, CLICK HERE.
Another fun project was this flash sheet for Turning Point Hyphen. If you have never heard of flash sheets, take a look CLICK HERE.
You have probably heard that Spirit Airlines went under, so in honor of the budget-no-frills flights Spirit was so famous for, I created Spirit Designs.
In addition to design projects, I have also gotten back into coding and created a satire website about the Strait of Hormuz. How it works under the hood is that once an hour it looks at a News API for headlines and, based on keywords, it tries to determine the status. It can also choose to display a few other “statistics” based on keywords found in the headlines. While not entirely accurate, it was meant to be used as a demo for APIs and Python logic. Take a look HERE and you can check back every so often to see how it changes.
WHAT I HAVE BOUGHT RECENTLY
Lately, I have been trying to go more analog, so here are some cool things I recently bought for my office.
- Guest Check Pads – Chances are you have probably seen these at a local restaurant. Turns out, they are very cheap and make excellent notepads. They tear off easily and are thin, which makes them good for keeping in books. Here is a link to the ones I bought.
- Buddha Board – I picked this up on a recent trip to Epcot, but you can buy them in many different places. No paint, no ink, just water. Draw, scribble, or doodle and in a few minutes it will fade into a blank slate. Perfect for taking a moment to clear your mind. More Here
- Star Wars Credits – I am a huge Star Wars fan and am always looking for decor for my office. Hyperspace Props makes very realistic props, so I bought several of their credits. They are actual metal and have a heavy feel; I keep one or two on my desk at all times as something to fidget with. Hyper Space Props
- Camp Snap Pro Camera – This has become my favorite camera. It is always in my bag whether I’m headed to church, the office, or the park with my kids. It’s as analog as you can get with a digital camera. No menu, no screen—just taking photos in the moment. It’s not about quality; it’s about the nostalgia of living in the moment and snapping photos as memories rather than something to share instantly for likes. As a side note, all the photos in the blog post were taken with this camera. Get Your Here
WHAT HAS INSPIRED ME
One of my favorite designers, Matthew Pahl, has created the ultimate resource for designers. The Design Index is a curated list described as “The internet’s best graphic design resources, collected so you don’t have to.” Make sure you bookmark this page and check it often.
Thanks for stopping by! I’ll be back with more Studio Notes from time to time.