How to Draw a Startup Mark Grambau

A decade ago, the tech landscape looked a lot different. For our inaugural episode, we explore how one young startup's decision to put illustration at the heart of its brand and user experience changed everything.

Illustration isn’t child’s play, witchcraft, or snake oil. It’s the product of practical, proven processes. And alliteration. In episode two, we discover how illustrated styles leap from ideation to visualization.

There’s a big difference between a “style” and a “system.” One is fragile, the other is flexible. One is pretty, the other is proven. This week, we examine the end of the Putnam Process. How do you ensure the successful launch and legacy of an illustrated brand?

When humanizing technology means illustrating humans (or even human-like characters), opportunities and risks abound. A tone-deaf approach could irritate, or worse, offend. This week, we learn how to represent people with an eye towards representation.

Is the boom of illustration in tech all quantity, no variety? This week: the roots and risks of visual monoculture. Why do trends catch on and how do we rise above them to create truly unique voices?

Do you remember when you first discovered design? The balance of form and function? This week, hear how four young creatives—and the tech industry—came to embrace design and illustration.