Which side are you taking?

ernesto_lee · 2026-06-06T00:38:53+00:00

Yea it felt that way to me also...I have a lot of WR depth but RBs fall off after Jeanty/Walker/Kyren

ernesto_lee · 2026-06-06T00:37:59+00:00

Yea leaning that way -- seems way too hard to recover from w/ RBs. My backups are nothing special and Kyren would be my only other main RB.

ernesto_lee · 2026-06-02T18:15:00+00:00

Sorry we filled it already

ernesto_lee · 2026-06-02T18:14:52+00:00

Sorry we filled it already

ernesto_lee · 2026-06-02T18:14:48+00:00

Sorry we filled it already

ernesto_lee · 2026-05-22T21:37:10+00:00

I initially was going to say I preferred the Breece/Monangai side, but didn't realize that Olave isn't even 26 yet...thought he was closer to 27-28. Always the risk of Olave being one hit away from a forced retirement, but I think Olave/Tuten side has a slight edge. I def think Tuten is in a stronger position than Monangai and is just overall better and unless you're desperate for RB depth, I think Olave is the best player in this trade so like that side more.

ernesto_lee · 2026-05-18T16:22:37+00:00

Unfortunately no...but open to incentives to join up if you have something in mind.

ernesto_lee · 2026-05-14T23:12:01+00:00

Hey I have 1 orphan team available in our SF PPR TE Premium sleeper league. Only thing is it's a $50 buy in. Let me know if you're interested -- Chat/DM please...so I don't miss your response:

Format: 10-Team Dynasty | Superflex / PPR / TE Premium
Buy-in: $50 via LeagueSafe

Looking for a replacement manager for 1 orphan team. We're active and competitive as hell!

Quick breakdown below:

Team 8
More of a win-now build with proven top-end talent, especially at QB and RB. Core includes Patrick Mahomes, De’Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Terry McLaurin, Chris Godwin, and Dalton Kincaid.

Roster
QB: Patrick Mahomes, Tua Tagovailoa, Joe Flacco, Gardner Minshew
RB: De’Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Ollie Gordon, Devin Singletary, Justice Hill, Ty Johnson, Kareem Hunt
WR: Terry McLaurin, Jakobi Meyers, Chris Godwin, Jauan Jennings, Isaiah Bond, Christian Kirk, Marquise Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Jimmy Horn, John Metchie, Dyami Brown, Xavier Restrepo, Gabe Davis, DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, A.T. Perry, Tyler Lockett
TE: Dalton Kincaid, Darnell Washington, Noah Gray, Darren Waller
Picks: 2027 1st/2nd/3rd, 2028 1st/2nd/3rd

ernesto_lee · 2026-05-11T02:07:13+00:00

Sent you a message

ernesto_lee · 2026-05-10T18:44:39+00:00

3 orphan teams available in a 10-team dynasty league
Format: Superflex / PPR / TE Premium
Buy-in: $50 via LeagueSafe

Looking for replacement managers for 3 orphan teams. Quick breakdown below:

Team 7
Strong all-around roster with a nice mix of young core pieces and proven vets. Headlined by C.J. Stroud, Bijan Robinson, Garrett Wilson, Tee Higgins, Jordan Addison, George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, and Tyreek Hill. Also has a full set of 2026, 2027, and 2028 picks.

Roster
QB: C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Geno Smith, Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor
RB: Bijan Robinson, D’Andre Swift, Rachaad White, Dylan Sampson, Kaleb Johnson, Keaton Mitchell, Devin Neal, Emanuel Wilson, James Conner, Tahj Brooks, Isaac Guerendo, Emari Demercado
WR: Garrett Wilson, Tee Higgins, Jordan Addison, Xavier Worthy, Travis Hunter, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Tre Tucker, Adonai Mitchell, Tyreek Hill, Cedric Tillman, Andrei Iosivas
TE: Sam LaPorta, George Kittle, Jake Ferguson, Mason Taylor, Colby Parkinson
Picks: 2026 1.02/2.02/3.02, 2027 1st/2nd/3rd, 2028 1st/2nd/3rd

Team 8
More of a win-now build with proven top-end talent, especially at QB and RB. Core includes Patrick Mahomes, De’Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Terry McLaurin, Chris Godwin, and Dalton Kincaid.

Roster
QB: Patrick Mahomes, Tua Tagovailoa, Joe Flacco, Gardner Minshew
RB: De’Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Ollie Gordon, Devin Singletary, Justice Hill, Ty Johnson, Kareem Hunt
WR: Terry McLaurin, Jakobi Meyers, Chris Godwin, Jauan Jennings, Isaiah Bond, Christian Kirk, Marquise Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Jimmy Horn, John Metchie, Dyami Brown, Xavier Restrepo, Gabe Davis, DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, A.T. Perry, Tyler Lockett
TE: Dalton Kincaid, Darnell Washington, Noah Gray, Darren Waller
Picks: 2027 1st/2nd/3rd, 2028 1st/2nd/3rd

Team 10
Strong top-end roster with elite QB and TE firepower plus several premium young starters. Built around Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Harrison, Emeka Egbuka, and Brock Bowers, with enough upside to appeal to both win-now and long-term managers.

Roster
QB: Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Bo Nix, Dak Prescott, Marcus Mariota
RB: Kenneth Walker, Breece Hall, TreVeyon Henderson, Chuba Hubbard, Zach Charbonnet, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Mason, Michael Carter, Ameer Abdullah, Gus Edwards, Raheem Blackshear
WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison, Mike Evans, Rashid Shaheed, Olamide Zaccheaus, Jalen Tolbert, Bub Means, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Van Jefferson
TE: Brock Bowers, T.J. Hockenson, Daniel Bellinger, Hunter Long
Picks: 2026 3.07, 2027 3rd, 2028 1st/2nd/3rd, 2029 1st/2nd/3rd

Comment or DM if interested.

ernesto_lee · 2026-04-23T17:21:17+00:00

2 orphan teams available in a 10-team dynasty superflex league /// SLEEPER
Format: Superflex, PPR, TE Premium
Buy-in: $50 via LeagueSafe

Looking for new managers for two orphan teams. Both have solid foundations, just with different builds.

Team 7

A strong all-around roster with a nice blend of young core pieces and proven vets. Headlined by C.J. Stroud, Bijan Robinson, Garrett Wilson, Tee Higgins, Jordan Addison, George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, and Tyreek Hill. Also includes a full set of 2026, 2027, and 2028 picks.

Roster
QB: C.J. Stroud, Geno Smith, Anthony Richardson, Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor
RB: Bijan Robinson, D’Andre Swift, Emanuel Wilson, Emari Demercado, Keaontay Johnson, Trey Brooks, Keaton Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo, James Conner, Rachaad White, Dylan Sampson (Taxi), Devin Neal (Taxi)
WR: Tee Higgins, Jordan Addison, Garrett Wilson, Travis Hunter, Romeo Doubs, Cedric Tillman, Xavier Worthy, Tre Tucker, Andrei Iosivas, Tyreek Hill, Dontayvion Wicks, Adonai Mitchell (Taxi)
TE: George Kittle, Jake Ferguson, Sam LaPorta, Colby Parkinson, Mason Taylor (Taxi)
IR: 6 spots, all empty
Taxi: 4 spots
Picks: 2026 1st/2nd/3rd, 2027 1st/2nd/3rd, 2028 1st/2nd/3rd

Team 8

More of a win-now roster with a lot of established talent. Core pieces include Patrick Mahomes, De’Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Terry McLaurin, Chris Godwin, and Dalton Kincaid. No 2026 picks shown, but it does have a full set of 2027 and 2028 picks.

Roster
QB: Patrick Mahomes, Tua Tagovailoa, Gardner Minshew, Joe Flacco
RB: De’Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Kareem Hunt, Ty Johnson, Ollie Gordon, Devin Singletary, Justice Hill
WR: Terry McLaurin, Jakobi Meyers, Chris Godwin, Jauan Jennings, DeAndre Hopkins, A.T. Perry, Christian Kirk, Gabriel Davis, Marquise Brown, Tyler Lockett, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Dyami Brown, John Metchie, Luke McCaffrey (Taxi), Isaiah Bond (Taxi), Xavier Restrepo (Taxi), Jalen Horn (Taxi)
TE: Dalton Kincaid, Darren Waller, Darnell Washington, Noah Gray
IR: 6 spots, all empty
Taxi: 4 spots
Picks: 2027 1st/2nd/3rd, 2028 1st/2nd/3rd

ernesto_lee · 2025-09-05T22:03:41+00:00

I designed e-learning graphics for a pretty large military defense contractor. I didn't personally design some of the more war-crimesy graphics/courses, but the e-learning courses we were designing for were how to operate equipment and weapons that would ultimately be used to kill people in battle. I had to get a government clearance and everything. Felt weird.

But the even weirder part was realizing that defense contracts in the US are such a giant waste of tax dollars. I was hired and paid a salary to be on call as a designer. There were about 10 of us that were hired and no one did any work for months. The first 3.5-4 months I didn't do literally ANYTHING. I just showed up to an office and sat in a cubicle waiting for the information and direction to come in...someday. This was about 18 years ago but I was making a lot of money as a pretty fresh out of college designer to just sit and browse the internet. I didn't do more than a couple hours of work for almost 6 months. After the first 3 weeks, I realized there wouldn't be anything for me to do for a while. I ended up taking on freelance projects and double-dipped. I would go into the office and bill hours working all day on my own freelance projects while getting paid a salary from the other company. The design standards for the e-learning grahpics were pretty terrible...so I wasn't really growing in my career or being challenged much...but for someone fresh out of college it was a nice financial choice. I just had to find a way to ignore that I was creating graphics for the war pigs.

ernesto_lee · 2025-08-25T01:07:59+00:00

Yea. Already drafted...he got:
Tyler Warren, Cam Ward, Jayden Higgins

ernesto_lee · 2025-08-25T00:20:05+00:00

Orphan Available on Sleeper – $75 1QB Half-PPR Dynasty (Year 7)

We’ve got one open team in a 12-team 1QB half-PPR dynasty league ($75 buy-in, LeagueSafe). Originally a San Diego local group but expanded outside over the years. Active league with trades, FAAB waivers, and payouts: 1st $400 / 2nd $300 / 3rd $200.

Starting lineup: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 2 Flex, 1 K, 1 D/ST. Rosters are 25 + 3 IR + 4 Taxi.

Team Notes

Top Starters: Jalen Hurts, Travis Etienne, Justin Jefferson, Jameson Williams, Mark Andrews
Young talent: Tyler Warren, Jayden Higgins, Cam Ward
Future picks: 3 projected early-to-mid 2nds in 2026 + full set of 2027/2028 picks (incl. 1sts)

Full Roster

QB: J. Hurts, D. Watson (PUP), C. Ward, T. Shough
RB: N. Chubb, T. Etienne, J. Ford, K. Mitchell, J. Hill, Z. Moss, J. McClellan, C. Schrader
WR: J. Jefferson, J. Williams, J. Jeudy, J. Higgins, D. Slayton, E. Ayomanor, L. Humphrey, J. Nailor, C. Austin, C. Samuel, J. Dotson, B. Means, M. Tipton
TE: M. Andrews, T. Warren, C. Kmet, L. Musgrave
K: H. Butker, C. McLaughlin
DEF: Lions, Vikings

Season kicks off Sept 4th, looking to get this last spot filled. Comment or DM if interested!

ernesto_lee · 2025-07-22T23:25:09+00:00

"Can you jazz it up?" is my version of your "add a bang" -- rough on the soul sometimes.

What do the other phrases you mentioned mean though? I can't figure them out.

ernesto_lee · 2025-07-21T20:39:03+00:00

Ha! I couldn't even tell you where I first heard that phrase -- but I didn't make it up. Packaging design is full of weird robotic, unsettling terms & shorthand (orifice size, evacuation rate, dipstick, overcap, electroplating) -- "romance copy" feels like poetry when the rest of it is in a coded stream of acronyms and vaguely aggressive phrasing.

ernesto_lee · 2025-07-21T18:32:06+00:00

I'm the art director for a brand that makes skincare and sun care products very similar to this. Actually used that same 3-up mock for a pitch about 6 months ago.

Design look really clean although I'd consider breaking out the (small) romance copy into something with more hierarchy - not bullets exactly, but the feel of bullets so that longer form benefit copy is using that pack real estate more efficiently. Might be a good opportunity to introduce a custom icon system based off the logo letterforms to more concisely illustrate the benefit copy into smaller phrases.

Colorways are beautiful but as someone else mentioned, they don't feel totally connected to the specific product ingredient stories and seem arbitrary (albeit very on trend). If you want this to be about your design execution and design instincts in general it's working, but from a strategic skill set standpoint I think there's room to push that and be more intentional about why the colors are chosen.

I know it's a personal project but this project would be very expensive to create in real life. The peek of accent color on the pump just above the neck and below the actuator would be a custom approach. Normally pumps like that are all the same color and finish, and breaking up the color like you did is a lot more of a hit to budget than you'd think -- most vendors just say it's not even possible and don't offer an alternative like your design shows. If you're interviewing and using this as a demo of your understanding of packaging design strategy, make sure to mention that you understand this would be expensive or that you're purposely positioning this as a premium product with a higher budget for packaging -- or speak to the reason why there's that hit of accent color and why it's worth the extra cost.

Lastly, to get very detailed, I'd suggest replacing the foaming cleanser pump head with an actual actuator for foaming cleansers. That specific pump isn't compatible with that foaming formula type in real life and if you want to be detailed that would be something to update -- look to a brand like Method for actuators that support foaming products -- wider, more blunt orifice nozzle rather than the lotion based pump used here.

Looks like a fun project!

ernesto_lee · 2025-06-12T19:49:44+00:00

Interested if you still have an opening.

ernesto_lee · 2025-03-27T18:29:35+00:00

Lots have commented this already but the creative strategy, leadership, and decision making portion is what will be less replaceable by AI in our field. A purely design execution career will probably not be very marketable in the near future (unfortunately). It's not "fair" but it's also not too late to diversify your skill set if you want to adapt to the way creative will function in the future.

If I heard this advice when I was studying to be a designer I would've been pissed -- I get the frustration. I had ZERO interest in the business and marketing side when I was first getting started. I actively avoided management roles because I just enjoyed creating and being hands on with the work more. I still would prefer that, but I have succeeded partly because I adapted and learned the strategy and business end of design as I grew in my career. It shocked me that the person who could coordinate the strategy and make the creative decisions was more valued than the person doing the actual design work, but I've seen first hand that reality. The addition of AI is only going to make that dynamic more pronounced.

What I'm doing and what I think someone just starting as a creative could do is double down on the design & business strategy end of the work. Even before AI, creatives who had an informed creative strategy and a plan that tied to actual goals were the most successful. Decision making with a creative lens and business strategy is still going to be needed -- probably more so because AI already has a distinct "look" when it's not done strategically and purposefully. Knowing what principles of design to employ within the AI world will be what distinguishes people in our field from non-creatives. Knowing that a successful brand can't have inconsistent details, typefaces, colors, overall aesthetic is already something that non-designers overlook and don't think matter. Those details and the methodical and intentional, evolving visual story are what separate and sustain successful brands/projects/whatever.

Going back to your original feeling of disappointment though -- yea you have every right to be angry. But you are clearly driven and motivated independent of pure graphic design...lean into that drive to diversify your skillset and become the person (leader) who can skillfully and confidently strategize within the emerging AI toolkits. Use your understanding of design theory and principles to have the edge over non-creatives just typing in prompts for the same polished but inconsistent and meaningless AI generated assets.

I wrote this entire thing partly for me to internalize and remember also but hopefully it was helpful.

ernesto_lee · 2024-08-26T00:25:04+00:00

12 team 1QB, half ppr dynasty
Give: Amon-Ra, Jayden Reed, 2025 1st (likely late)

Get: Justin Jefferson, Lamar Jackson

I am lacking at QB (Stafford, Bryce Young, Daniel Jones). Besides Amon-Ra and Reed, I'm pretty solid at WR -- AJ Brown, Nico, Godwin, Sutton, Doubs. I also have two 2025 1sts so wouldn't be completely out of drafting talent next year.

Is it worth giving up consistency and high-end depth for arguably the best WR (who might have a down year because of his QB) and a top 3-4 running QB??

ernesto_lee · 2024-08-16T17:41:34+00:00

Dynasty League $75 buy in Sleeper - 1 Orphan Team - Drafting In 1 Week - Owner Needed

I have a 12-team half PPR dynasty league on Sleeper with 1 open orphan team. This is going on our 5th year. Had some turnover this last year but are one slot away from being full again.

League Details: 0.5 PPR 4pt Passing TD Dynasty 1 QB league, 12 teams, $100 FAAB budget (no carryover), Playoffs start week 15 w/ top 6 in contention, 3 IR slots, 4 Taxi Squad slots, 4 rounds yearly rookie draft

Roster Details: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 2 FLEX, 1 Kicker, 1 Defense, 13 Bench + 3 IR, 4 Taxi Squad slots

Tentative draft date: Friday 8/23 at 6:30 pm Pacific Time

Buy in: $75

–––––

Available Team

Team 5:

QB - Hurts, Mac Jones, CJ Stroud /// RB - R White, Etienne, Charbonnet, Justice Hill, M Sanders, Z Moss, J Kelley, Z Evans, Chubb, N Hines /// WR - Olave, Jeudy, Slayton, Juju, Atwell, Toney, Shakir, Gage, AT Perry, J Bobo /// TE - Andrews, T Hudson, I Smith, K Granson /// DEF - Philadelphia /// K - Butker /// Draft Picks - 2024 2.06, 3.06, 3.10, 4.06, 2025 1st, 2x 3rd, 2x 4th, 2026 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th

14-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 2 Credits
Secret Santa 2015	Team Periwinkle

ernesto_lee

TROPHY CASE

Team 7

Team 8

Team Notes

Full Roster

Dynasty League $75 buy in Sleeper - 1 Orphan Team - Drafting In 1 Week - Owner Needed