Scratching the Surface 269. Matt Owens
Apr 16, 2025
Matt Owens, co-founder and Chief Design and Innovation Officer at Athletics, discusses the evolution of graphic design from the 1990s to today. He highlights the significant gap between design education and real-world application, stressing the need for critical thinking. The conversation dives into the influence of Flash on early digital creativity, contrasting it with today's tools. Matt also emphasizes the importance of curiosity and a rebellious spirit as designers navigate their careers, seeking personal expression amidst the industry's challenges.
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Mindset of Independent Designers
- The mindset of independent design is consistent: to maintain authorship and align with personal values.
- Today's complexity arises from fragmented sub-disciplines unlike the smaller, more unified scene of the late 90s.
Balancing Expression and Commerce
- The tension between personal expression and commercial demands has long shaped design practice.
- Today, while academia fosters less individual experimentation, digital platforms enable personal creative expression.
Foster Full Stack Designers
- Assign designers to unfamiliar projects with strong team support to foster skill growth.
- Encourage overlapping capabilities and collaboration to cultivate full stack design skills.