Makers Of Sport Podcast

"As soon you start worrying about outcomes and not worrying about processes, then you're lost." This week we are joined by some of my favorite podcasters for Episode 50, Adam Bradley and Alan Stein of the Hardwood Hustle podcast. This isn't our typical sports design-related show, but it is filled with great content in regards to leadership, hustling in your craft, coaching and creativity in the sports business. Hardwood Hustle's mission is "for those that know basketball is more than a game." The guys interview folks such as Mark Cuban, Kevin Durant, Jay Bilas and many other sports entrepenuers and personalities. In this episode, we discuss the story of the Hardwood Hustle, why they started a podcast and the intimacy of the podcasting medium for developing an audience or teaching your mission. We also touch on sports entrepreneurship and its crossover with coaching. Including why combining your passion with what you are good at is vital. Lastly, the guys share their views on the problems of youth sports

Success is something we obsess over in this day and age. We are inundated on social media and television with the success of others. Sometimes we envy the success of others but what we really to understand is that success is subjective. It is different for every person. What is successful to you might be the same for me. In this Halftime episode, I talk about why you should define what success is to you on your own terms and not the terms of others. Mentions include: Matt Stevens Matt Stevens Makers of Sport interview OverSuccess by Jim Rubens Dribbble Behance Josh Ash Mtn. & Co. My next couple of guests are the guys from the Hardwood Hustle podcast. Show hosts Alan Stein and Adam Bradley are joining the podcast to discuss combining the passion for sports with business and making a living from it. As touching lives through the sport of basketball and youth sports in particular. Both gentlemen are equally successful on their own with Stein being the strength and conditioning coach for DeMatha Cath

"We're constantly looking for inspiration...it always comes down to the passion of it. So when you get a cool opportunity you want to maximize it." This week on the podcast, Matt Coyle of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment joined the show. Matt is the creative director at MLSE where he leads a team of designers working on projects for the company's sports properties such as the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies and Toronto FC. Matt's team has won many awards for their creative work. We discuss the importance of entering awards show as an in-house team and how it can help you get a voice and seat at the table in the front office. We also discuss the new uniforms and branding of the Raptors, what Drake's role is with the organization and the "We The North" campaign. Hockey being Cananda's sport and the Maple Leafs being Canada's team, we don't leave out the hockey conversation as we discuss up coming projects for the Maple Leafs' 99th season and do a deep dive on some of their season

In continuation of giving you a behind-the-scenes of my experience at Major Level Creative Connect, this week's Halftime is a compilation of quick interviews with many of the guests at the conference. Attendees shared who they are, where they work and some of their key takeaways from MLC. You may hear some cameos from some of the talented people you follow on twitter and possibly find some new folks to follow as well. Mentions include: Todd Radom Torch Creative Th13teen MLC Connect 2015 Bethany Heck Jon Contino Chris David Garcia Episode Our next is Matt Coyle. Matt is the creative director of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment where he leads a team of in-house designers on award-winning creative campaigns for the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto FC and the Toronto Marlies. Sign up for the weekly email newsletter for updates, discounts on future products and exclusive content for subscribers. Did you enjoy this episode? Then please rate and/or write a review of the show on iTunes. Als

"Today with how easy it is to start something that demonstrates your passion and your ability...there's no excuse. You shouldn't be waiting for this job that's gonna let you show the world what you can do, you should just be doing it." This week's episode is chock-full of information and predictions from the future of sports tech & startups. Kyle Bunch, Managing Director of Social and Mobile Media at world-renown digital agency R/GA joined the podcast to talk about sports startups, media and software-as-a-service (SaaS). Kyle works directly on the Nike account at R/GA and discusses how starting his own side project, TrojanWire.com helped him land a gig at the agency. We discuss R/GA's founding as one of the first digital agencies and their innovation in tech + brand space. We also discuss their relationship with Nike in comparison to Wieden & Kennedy's relationship with the brand. Lastly, we wrap with discussing the Dodgers Accelerator and talk about athletes' involvement in venture funds and ange

"We are in the business of cultural identity. We rally communities. We rally people around a movement." This week's episode is a bit different than our normal interview shows or Halftimes. Recently, I had the pleasure of attending Major Level Creative Connect to moderate a panel with the keynote speakers which inluded Todd Radom, Brad Bishop and Michael Thurman of Torch Creative, and RiCardo Crepo of th13teen. In the panel, we discuss battling design-by-committee, the importance of niche communities and portfolios, standing out in a saturated world full of creatives, cultural branding and creative entrepreneurship. The audience included designers and project managers from nearly every MLB organization, as well as a few MLB, MLS and NFL designers. Mentions include: Todd Radom Design Torch Creative Th13teen MLC Connect 2015 Chris David Garcia Episode Sportslogos.net Under Consideration's Brand New Designing Brand Identity Our next is Kyle Bunch. Kyle is the Managing Director of Social at R/GA and a co-

"Design by focus group, is like ordering a pizza for 10,000 people." On this week's episode, the co-founders of Torch Creative (Brad Bishop and Michael Thurman) join the show. Torch is a creative branding shop based out of the Dallas, Texas area that has worked with many clients ranging from NCAA Division I to Division III colleges to the NHL. Brad and Michael discuss how they got into sports design and what made them decide to make the jump in to starting their own creative business, which includes building their company on the side while they each worked full-time jobs during the day. We also touch on navigating the bubble of the college athletics business and making connections in a world where everyone knows everyone and references are key. Including how to handle vitriolic feedback from alumni or forum keyboard warriors. Many of Torch's sports branding projects include custom typography. The guys give us some insight into their passion for creating custom letters, as well as touching on the visual st

We live in the best time period in the history of the world when it comes to following our passions online. On today's Halftime, Adam talks about working remotely (telecommuting) and why it is no longer the future of work but the present. He touches on why you should never let your area code hinder what you can do professionally and gives some reasons why remote work may actually be more productive than in-office work. Mentions include: Gun Media Breach & Clear Slack Dropbox Jason Fried's TEDtalk: Why Work Doesn't Happen at Work Basecamp Slack's 2.8 Billion Dollar Valuation Give People the Freedom of Where to Work by Richard Branson Makers of Sport Episode 16: Tyson Beck Makers of Sport Episode 9: Rodney Richardson Makers of Sport Episode 2: Joe Bosack Our next episode will include the co-founders of Torch Creative, a Dallas, Texas-based creative shop that has worked on team branding ranging from NCAA Division I to Division III, as well as the NHL. Did you enjoy this episode? Then please rate and

"If there's ever an idea and you realize there is an opportunity there, opportunity has a shelf life. You gotta do it. You gotta do it quick." This week on the podcast, Chris David Garcia of the Houston Astros joins us. Chris has been creative director of the Houston Astros where he has been working for 8+ years. He is also the founder of the upcoming sports design conference, Major Level Creative Connect (MLC Connect). Chris discusses his path to the Houston Astros and how important it is for in-house creatives to make clear business cases to their superiors when it comes to defining a career ladder and advancement within sports organizations. We also touch on the founding of Major Level Creative Connect and discuss why Chris pursued the endeavor to scratch his own itch of talking with other creative professionals working in-house that may be too busy to network outside of their organization. Lastly, Chris tells us where we can register for the conference, gives some insight on who will be speaking this

Sometimes things just don't work out. Deciding when to fire a client and then firing the client is very hard. It's possibly one of the toughest and most uncomfortable things we have to do in business. On this week's Halftime, Adam discusses some reasons on why you need to fire clients sometimes and also gives pointers on how to fire them professionally without burning bridges. Jeremy Darlow will be joining us on next week's podcast. Jeremy is a Director of Brand Marketing for adidas Football and Baseball. He is also the author of Brands Win Championships, a book for college athletic departments that aids in marketing and promoting their brands to the masses. Did you enjoy this episode? Then please rate and/or write a review of the show on iTunes. Also, be sure to follow the show, @MakersofSport, as well as the host @TAdamMartin on Twittter and Dribbble.

"If I wasn't myself [through my work] then it really wasn't worth doing. I don't see why anyone would wanna do something where they just have to just kind of put on a mask everyday and pretend to be something they're not. I just wanted to be myself and see where it would lead me." One of New York's finest, Jon Contino is on the podcast this week. Jon is a designer, illustrator, letterer and creative director based out of upstate New York. His work has adorned apparel, digital, print and environmental graphics for the likes of Nike, Jordan Brand, ESPN the Magazine, Sports Illustrated, IBM, Microsoft, Miller Lite and more. Jon talks about his upbringing in Long Island, NY and how being a passionate baseball and New York Hardcore music fan plays into the reasoning and inspirations behind why he became a designer. He also gives us some insight into the ups and downs of starting an agency while learning on the fly, as well as tells a few stories about how his former agency OneTwentySix Design Studios spun off i

"When you passionately express your true point of view and you show exactly how you wanna do something, it shows other people how they can use you as a tool if they want to." On this week's podcast, Doubleday & Cartwright parter, Chris Isenberg joins the show. D&C is a Brooklyn-based creative agency focusing on work at the intersection of sports and culture. Chris gives us some insight into his career before founding Doubleday & Cartwright which includes stints as a freelance writer and working for Details Magazine until the eventual founding of his personal brand No Mas — a website that makes apparel, art and digital media dedicated to "The Thrill of Victory and Agony of Defeat". We elaborate on the importance of side projects and how they can lead to your dream client work as the D&C published magazine, Victory Journal did for Isenberg and company. Lastly, we discuss the infamous Milwaukee Bucks rebrand, how Doubleday & Cartwright dealt with online criticism on such a large team rebr

Side projects can be good for our careers and even our mental health. They help us grow as creatives and give us something to look forward to that we can control. Something that doesn't have the pressure of a client or other stakeholder. In this episode of Halftime, Adam discusses the importance of side projects, how they can make us become known for something and can lead to our dream clients. Mentions include: Jeni Herberger, The Fulcrum Agency AIRMAX 100 Project Episode 15: Matt Stevens Episode 22: Fraser Davidson Jessica Hische Daily Drop Cap Tobias van Schneider, Spotify Spotify's Design Lead on Why Side Projects Should be Stupid Dan Simon, Studio Simon Episode 2: Joe Bosack & Co. Episode 10: Ben Jenkins, Warstic Bat Co. Episode 27: Bethany Heck, The Eephus League Lifehacker: Why Side Projects Are Good For You Episode 34 (Halftime): Just Start On the next podcast, the partners of Doubleday & Cartwrightwill be joining the podcast. D&C is a New York City creative a

"Do as much work as you can. Do it the best that you can." Matt Lange, Director of Creative for the 15-time national champion University of Alabama Football Program, joins the show this week to discuss his career path and give us some insight into designing in-house for big-time college athletics. Matt tells his story regarding his climb from being laid off at a small ad agency, being forced into freelance grinding away to find work and eventually landing a gig as a photographer and designer for the Atlanta Falcons before landing his dream job at the University of Alabama We discuss Matt's passion for photography, how having a deep understanding of it influences his composite work, as well as where he finds inspiration. Lastly for you hip-hop fans, Matt and I talk about Southern Hip-Hop, specifically No Limit Records and its early influence on the graphic design styles of work we see today. Mentions Include: Matt Lange Follow Matt on Twitter Matt Lange's Behance Panini America Scott Kelby Photoshop Wor

The best client relationships begin with trust and mutual respect. Clients that are controlling – using you as their pixel-pushing pets – have not been acclimated to working with professional creators, those that have valuable knowledge, expertise and are business-driven. Do you want to be a technician or a respected professional? In this episode of Halftime, Adam discusses professional authority – having clients respect your opinion and look to you for guidance when performing your craft. Adam reveals a few of his own strategies when it comes to setting the tone of a professional relationship early in order to exert authority when as it regards to clients valuing your opinion, skillset and knowledge of your field. Mentions include: Paul Rand Massimo Vignielli Saul Bass NeXT Computer Company Steve Jobs's conversation with Paul Rand Fraser Davidson Cub Studio Vignielli Canon Our next guest is Matt Lange. Matt is the Director of Creative for the historic University of Alabama Crimson Tide football progra

"You're in the emotions business, and the emotions business is exciting. It's fun. It's something that you jump out of bed to do every day...what we are creating for people is an emotional, tribal experience with their [team]." Tom O'Grady – hired by David Stern as the NBA's first creative director – joins the podcast this week. After 13 years with the NBA, Tom left to found Gameplan Creative, a strategic creative agency for sports and entertainment brands. On this episode we discuss Tom's tenure with the NBA during its growth in the 90s. Nostalgia is prevalent as we discuss uniform designs, branding and the NBA's impact on culture. We discover that the 4 big American sports leagues had a mastermind group of league creative directors from the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL that all shared ideas, sports branding processes, nomenclature and contacts — further emphasizing the value of relationships in this business. Tom gives us some insight into Gameplan Creative's work, including their flexible business model in sca

Starting is hard. It's very hard. In fact, it's probably the hardest thing creative people do. We often have ideas that we never pursue because we are either afraid, lazy or just unsure where to start. Ideas are great all and but execution is where the true value lives. If ideas only live in our heads, they benefit no one. On this week's Halftime, Adam gives some insight into starting and encourages you to move forward by starting. Mentions include: Steven Pressfield The War of Art The Legend of Bagger Vance Seth Godin Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? Makers of Sport Episode 30: What Makes You Different? U.S. Post Offices closing by NPR College implosion by Mark Cuban Dan Benjamin 5by5 Networks Leo Laporte TWit.tv Serial Podcast Startup Podcast with Alex Blumberg Creative South Diane Gibbs, Design Recharge Our next guest is Tom O'Grady. Tom is a partner and chief creative officer at Gameplan Creative, a Chicago sports agency he founded after his 10+ year stint as the NBA's first creative director. Did

"Creative people can't be afraid of letting other creative people [critique] their work...sometimes to bring life into the magazine, it's good to give it to another creative person and have them look at it." For me, The Masters symbolizes the beginning of spring and especially the beginning of golf season. Therefore, this episode's guest is only fitting this time of year. Tim Oliver joins us on this podcast to to talk golf and design. Tim has been an art director at Conde Naste's Golf Digest for 15+ years where he has worked on everything from laying out the publication, writing content, art directing photoshoots to designing digital products. Tim gives us a little insight into his journey from designing at the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the New York Times to his eventual landing at Golf Digest — a company where employees tend to go and stay for many years; a rare trait in today's business world. We discuss the evolution of the game of golf from a fitness perspective, Pentagram's early-2015 redesign

This week Adam had the great pleasure of attending Creative South in Columbus, Georgia. Former guests Joe Bosack, Todd Radom, Bill Frederick, Fraser Davidson, Matt Walker and TJ Harley were attending the conference as well. The inital plan for this episode was to sit a digital recorder on the table with all of these gentlemen and just talk. No pressure, just shop talk over a few craft brews. Unfortunately the audio was botched. So for this week's Halftime episode, Adam takes some time to reflect on Creative South and tells you why he believes you should budget time and money to attend to small, creative conferences. Mentions include: Mike Jones, founder of Creative South Creative South Serve Studios Realtree HOW Design Live South by Southwest (SXSW) Joe Bosack on Twitter Todd Radom on Twitter Bill Frederick on Twitter TJ Harley on Twitter Fraser Davidson on Twitter Skye Dillon on Twitter Von Glitschka on Twitter Tim Frame on Twitter Colorwerx on Twitter Listener, Adam Eargle on Twitter Listener, Jimmy Par

"If you do good work, hopefully people will respect that and want to hire you again." TJ Harley, founder and creative director of Harley Creative and Vectorloop comes aboard the podcast this week. TJ was the former creative director of the Collegiate Licensing Company where he lead branding and creative strategy on college sports brands for nearly 11 years before leaving to join the ranks of entrepreneurship. On this episode, we talk about TJ's career – from his first design job at a t-shirt shop in Clemson, South Carolina to his decade at the CLC, to starting his own businesses – TJ has a great story about his career climb struggling with confidence to later working on brands such as the NCAA, BCS and more. We also discuss the importance of business relationships, not burning bridges and how who you know is more important than what you know. The pleasures and challenges of full-time freelancing out of your house, including the fighting the urge to not shower daily also make their way into the conversatio