Students of Design

Matt Dawson – Authenticity, Graphic Design “Influencers,” and Slab Serifs – Ep9

Episode Summary

Matt is an Austin-based graphic designer, illustrator, and type designer. You probably know him as StayGray Ponyboy, and even though he has a new logo, he assured me he's still the same PonyBoy. Matt has worked with big-name clients like Disney, Jeep, Adobe, UnderAmrour, and the Atlanta Braves. He's also the founder of Crop, an annual creative conference showcasing real stories from real people. Tune in for a talk about focusing on quality, updates to his logo, and the problem with the phrase "Fake It Till You Make It."

Episode Notes

Matt is an Austin-based graphic designer, illustrator, and type designer. You probably know him as StayGray Ponyboy, and even though he has a new logo, he assured me he's still the same PonyBoy. Matt has worked with big-name clients like Disney, Jeep, Adobe, Under Armour, and the Atlanta Braves. He's also the founder of Crop, an annual creative conference showcasing real stories from real people. Tune in for a talk about focusing on quality, updates to his logo, and the problem with the phrase "Fake It Till You Make It." Follow Matt and Crop on Instagram and find more information about the conference at cropcons.com.

Questions for this interview.

• (Listener Question) As the founder and creator of Crop, what do you hope people take away from attending Crop?
• What do you look for when putting together the lineup of keynote speakers for the conference?
• Can you think of a friendship that wouldn't exist without Instagram?
• In your Medium article titled Designer Dysmorphia, you mention feeling inadequate. Do you still struggle with that feeling today?
• In your opinion, what's wrong with the phrase "Fake It Till You Make It?"
• What do you think about current graphic design content trends on Instagram?
• You recently redesigned your logo. How did you decide it was time for a change?
• You switched hosting platforms for your portfolio website. Why did you move from Squarespace to Wix Studio?
• How do you decide which projects to feature in your portfolio?
• Did you place a cap on the total number of projects to include on your website?
• You create a lot of designs that revolve around analog audio. Where does the inspiration for those designs come from?
• Is the design for your typeface, Zilker, based on a specific source of inspiration?
• (Listener Question) Do you have beginner tips for someone interested in designing a typeface from scratch?