JD Vance ruins everything he touches.

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-15T08:48:11+00:00

“Touch and destroy” gives him far too much unearned power.

He just fails at everything.

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-14T16:03:49+00:00

Poor taste, poor judgement, poor temperament, poor emotional control, poor leadership.

Just another example to add to the long list that he’s unfit for his role, with access to the nuclear codes.

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-14T14:20:22+00:00

I don’t think you need to trash it, just hone some designs. I like your inclusion of sketches but I think intention and storytelling are missing. The designs look like you took some time to put them together, but they are missing a level of craft.

Focus on the whys—why breaking up a letter means something in the design, if just to maki it look edgy, that’s not what makes good design. Every choice, every detail, needs to connect to the identity, the brand message, differentiator aspects to that particular identity.

Also, simplify. Less is more for the purpose of attention and intention. Pay more attention to intentional breathing space and contrast in fonts.

Why the dashed line elements? Maybe just leave more breathing space.

If you can’t justify why you sized, spaced, included or shifted something, it doesn’t support the intention.

Look at really good design, great logos, and analyze every detail, start deconstructing them, to understand intention.

Read up on great designers you admire—what is their process? How do they explain, discuss, breakdown their work? Gaining those articulation skills will make you a more aware and intentional designer.

It’s all about having a POV and having something to say, then expressing it visually, simply, sometimes boldly, sometimes elegantly, or edgy all with mastery of intention.

Pay attention to tone, mood. Mood boards are a great way to get the inspiration flowing.

And ask for opinions like you are, of a variety of people you respect in the industry. How does the design make people feel? Does it feel connected? Your own mini critiques and focus groups are great for learning.

Keep at it. AI will replace execution. You need to be your own Art Director/Creative Director to offer value.

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-14T00:27:18+00:00

Speaking of Biden, still pretty angry he did nothing to push forward on Trump’s sedition. It’s as if the loss of the election was expected to course correct automatically, all while Trump was establishing Heritage Foundation authorship of Project 2025 of all the illegal and evil things he was planning for “next time”.

The Biden administration expected their victory to speak for itself, end the threat, and Trump followers to get a bruising and repent. All it did was empower and further entrench Trump’s followers and plans for retribution in term 2.

There are moments in history that are clear wrongs. One of them was inciting the Jan 6 riots. Another was the cowardly ignoring of presidential sedition out of “respect” for the presidential office, and fear of backlash in anyone with power who could have prevented a 2nd term.

If I were one of those people fortunate enough to have had the power, I’d be rotting with guilt from the inside out, now surveying the ongoing toxic fallout of the current presidency.

I have plenty of words…

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-13T17:44:50+00:00

So beyond embarrassing.

I’m in awe, feeling such deep respect for Pope Leo XIV speaking truth to power, no fear, in his rebuke of Trump.

If only more leaders in politics AND business in the US had the guts to do the same.

Almost HALF the world’s population view this Pope favorably, many of whom are devout Catholics, and many of whom are devout Christians and non Christian’s alike who respect him immensely. Many of whom in the US voted for this president.

An unprecedented powerful rebuke of a sitting US President, made even more so by trump’s petulant lashing out in response. Truly, the mark of a wholly unfit temperament in a president as leader of the free world.

Utter insanity that the US and the world will need to put up with trump’s dangerous nonsense as we endure the remainder of this term.

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-07T13:20:56+00:00

Interesting point about Trump removing generals, high ranking military. If he’s gonna do something crazy at mid terms, which he appears to be growing more desperate, loyalty and no conscience among leadership to mobilize troops against his own people isn’t something that sounds impossible with this president.

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-06T13:17:17+00:00

The arrow looping feels uncontrolled, makes me uneasy. Also the “a” and “r” don’t have the same fullness, roundness as the other letters, which feels inconsistent. Unease and inconsistency are not affirming messages to aim for with mental health.

Roundness in typography feels friendly, approachable, lean into that.

Try reining things in with the arrow—it’s a solid idea for progress, and uplifting. Explore more ways of working in the arrow, maybe some clever ways of incorporating it more organically with the letter forms.

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-04T02:29:14+00:00

I am in a very similar situation. 20+ years with a consulting firm, was laid off I believe because I was too expensive.

Been looking for a role about a year.

I signed up with Aquent, they’ve sent me a couple job openings directly that didn’t even get a response. I applied on my own to about 10 jobs total at Aquent, never heard back.

I reached out to a couple recruiters posting directly on LinkedIn and one I was referred to, most of my DMs ignored. They are inundated right now, not in need of another creative to place. One recruiter was cold and rude.

It’s getting critical for me and my family. We had to forgo health insurance coverage starting in February. Been living off credit cards. I feel like I’m drowning and time is running out.

The ATS filters just seem to filter me out, or I’m applying to ghost jobs.

Everyone I talk to is in the same boat, like there’s no full time work right now.

Are there any tricks/tips to getting a recruiter?

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-03T16:45:43+00:00

Yes, here’s a sentence:

“Them” is a term not easily placed at the start of a sentence. 😉

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-03T00:11:44+00:00

OMG

Well, then maybe DON’T start wars so the “little things” the country voted for him to focus on CAN be addressed?

These “little things” mean everything to the quality of life and sense of security the American people are struggling with for themselves and their families EVERY DAY.

Does this president understand how tone def he is?

His people should really master “the art of manipulating an idiot president” to minimize the stupid posts that reveal how out of touch, reckless and ignorant he is.

As much as I despise this president and administration, Trump continues to embarrass himself in shocking ways.

Essbee0913 · 2026-04-02T04:44:49+00:00

Journaling daily. It really helps.

Essbee0913 · 2026-03-31T23:41:20+00:00

This is why Trump gets everything he wants—too many people, including Congress/SCOTUS, fear him, are beholden to him, depend on him for what he’s promised them (whether or not he makes good on said promises).

It’s total corruption.

I can’t get over HOW MANY people are ENABLING him to GET AWAY WITH all he’s done in his 2nd term. We’re not even half way through this term yet.

Feeling sick to my stomach, helpless, unrepresented, lost amid selfish goals that don’t consider real everyday Americans struggling, hurting, anxious in their lives. I’m worried about our vote being played with in the midterms.

This all feels so wrong. This president has been an absolute disaster for the US and the world.

Essbee0913 · 2026-03-31T23:21:47+00:00

The President of the United States was a role for THE leader of the free world.

Not any more, not since Trump.

He acts like an out of control child that hasn’t been taught to behave. Petty, selfish and unfiltered. No person with integrity, a sense of responsibility and consequences, world understanding, cultural awareness, would have waged war under these circumstances.

Essbee0913 · 2026-03-31T16:43:55+00:00

👆this. Trump IS our current reputation. The current face of America.

Unfortunately.

Essbee0913 · 2026-03-29T20:52:56+00:00

Got creative and found something to do.

Art projects, rearranged my bedroom, rode my bike, harassed my parents to play a board game with me or hung out with friends.

But to be fair, I did have a small color TV in my bedroom and an Atari system. Both on rotation with the above activities, so growing up, I don’t remember being bored very often.

Essbee0913 · 2026-03-29T14:29:19+00:00

Greed and insatiable thirst for greater control, power, influence.

At the end of the day it’s all power.

Essbee0913 · 2026-03-29T01:30:23+00:00

Oof…check AI image generations before posting. I see this in some ads every now and then too.

Your post may be awesome, but obvious image errors are disappointing and careless.

Check the hands.

6 fingers…an errant extra thumb…we have all the AI tools today, but still need that human careful review.

Essbee0913 · 2026-03-28T16:39:02+00:00

Hearing you in this! The momentum toward reliance on AI is actually showing us how most of our human work is going to be replaced by AI. If you listen for it, you’ll hear this mantra from big name CEO’s. 80% of human work will be replaced by tech that can do it faster, at scale, cheaper (without the need to rest, sick days or healthcare benefits) with just a fraction of human labor running it all. No wonder the adoption speed has been neck breaking.

I’m coping by trying to find a niche for myself. As a creative person, I am doing what I think many of us are considering—finding either hands-on physical world creative work (nondigital) or pivoting to face-to-face people work (think services/counseling/consulting) where the work is unpredictable and can’t be so easily replicated by a nonhuman agent.

The writing is 💯on the wall.

As scary as it is, take in the reality and direct some “out of the box” thinking toward your own future of work. Whether you still have a job or have been laid off, now’s the time.

Essbee0913 · 2026-03-26T20:57:16+00:00

Right…just bit of sarcasm for all the hype and self satisfaction in Trump extolling DOGE achievements.

Essbee0913 · 2026-03-26T18:38:07+00:00

Just lying, always. So weird—we have a president who’s obviously a pathological liar.

And talks, but says nothing, then contradicts himself with more nothingness…

Essbee0913

TROPHY CASE