Newsletter

A monthly newsletter about branding, visibility, and figuring it out as you go, straight from someone in the thick of it.

The 2025 End of Year Recap

It's been a year of plenty...of everything. Maybe we do a little less? A recap. Plus: the state of marketing survey and a free brand questionnaire.

AI, art, and a very Philly design controversy

Between DNS meltdowns, Adobe MAX, and the Philadelphia Art Museum’s controversial rebrand, there's a lot to think about.

Hello Again. Tincan Is Back!

Talking Taylor Swift, too much content, and a new imaginary brand from the Tincan universe: Trash Habitats.

Out of Office

Stepping back isn’t just about disappearing.

What Makes a Designer (and Who Decides)?

Reframing what great design really means for small brands and DIYers

Nobody Owes You Their Attention

And other things I wish I’d thought about before I started building a brand in public

Beyond the Feed

Rethinking what “content” means in an era of consumption burnout.

Is anything actually a “community” online?

That word feels strange. Plus: How to know when a website has kicked the can.

On Not Being a News Org…

(But Not Going Quiet Either!)

Savvy, Cynical, and Over It: This is Political Communications in 2024

Kamala’s social team is using balance, humor, and just enough chaos to turn political engagement into a meme-worthy vibe.

Brat is…What, Exactly?

The Power of Being Authentically Uncool

it's not a slog

At least, it shouldn't have to be. A big project like building a brand needs a beginning, middle, and end.