profile

Marketing by Design – Intentional strategy for creative marketers in the age of AI

AI is redefining the marketing landscape. Stay ahead with this weekly newsletter on trends & how to prepare your career for an AI future.

PowerPoint vs. Canva
Featured Post

MBD109: PowerPoint vs. Canva

14 September 2025 | Issue #109 In this issue: PowerPoint vs. Canva: Should You Make the Switch? Canva in the Workplace Survey MIT AI Survey: Beyond the Hot Takes The Ultimate Guide to Website Color Schemes Kit Hikes Prices, Creators Revolt Where AI Gets Its Facts [Infographic] How AI Changes Your Customers Design Quote of the Week Midjourney prompt: two boxers are fighting it out. The camera is at eye level. A vibrant, high-contrast illustration using flat vector-style shading with neon and...

Marketing in silos illustration

07 September 2025 | Issue #108 In this issue: Automate the Boring Stuff with MCPs Modern Marketing Tools Can't Compete in the Age of AI The Most Human Marketing I've Ever Seen Imposter Syndrome Affects Everyone CEX recap Digital version of The Visual Marketer on sale now Design Quote of the Week Midjourney prompt: a marketer is sitting in the middle of the room. From a birds-eye view, we can see the marketer surrounded by silos. A vibrant, high-contrast illustration using flat vector-style...

01 September 2025 | Issue #107 In this issue: Marketing for Humans CEX recap Fractional CMOs are compounding marketing problems Execs are using AI more than rank-and-file employees How to Doodlebomb photos The human proximity marketing playbook My first book signing Digital version of The Visual Marketer on sale now Design Quote of the Week Midjourney prompt: a keynote speaker is on stage by herself, talking to an audience. The camera is low and looking up at her. A vibrant, high-contrast...

Taylor's version

24 August 2025 | Issue #106 In this issue: Why Color Matters to Your Brand Calendly -> TidyCal Use Creativity to Stand Out from AI Is Nano Banana the Next Great Image Generator? 95% of AI Pilots are Failing Free shipping on The Visual Marketer Design Quote of the Week The Strategic Power of Color in Branding When Taylor Swift announced The Life of a Showgirl, the internet turned orange. Brands from across industries temporarily swapped their logos for glittery orange versions, filling feeds...

Planning for how to use bots

17 August 2025 | Issue #105 In this issue: AI Operations: The Job of the Future? Calendly -> TidyCal The Most Important Question in Strategy Why the phrase “AI won’t take your job, but someone using AI will” is meaningless Stop Applying. Start Attracting: The LinkedIn Reverse Job Hunt Free shipping on The Visual Marketer Design Quote of the Week Midjourney prompt: a woman is writing on a white board. There are many diagrams and drawings of little robot heads on the white board. A vibrant,...

Disney changes

11 August 2025 | Issue #104 In this issue: Disney’s Strategic Reset: Quality Over Quantity ChatGPT 5 Reviews Why Aren't Women Using AI as Much as Men? Know Thy Audience Design Quote of the Week Midjourney caption: Disney trying to get back to the mountaintop. Include Mickey Mouse, Woody the cowboy, Grogu, and Spider-Man. A vibrant, high-contrast illustration using flat vector-style shading with neon and duotone color blocking. The characters are stylized with exaggerated lighting in yellow...

Accessibility

03 August 2025 | Issue #103 In this issue: Accessibility Should be a Given How to Get Quoted in the Press Negativity is Good Consistency is More Important than Creativity I was on the Business of Marketing podcast I was also on Business Book Pub Hub Design Quote of the Week Accessibility Should be a Given Even though I started building websites in the early 2000s, I really got into it during in the mid- to late-2000s when I was working for a small agency. Suddenly screens were getting wider...

An illustration of a pile of AI technology

27 July 2025 | Issue #102 In this issue: AI Sprawl is Becoming a Problem I'm booking for August LinkedIn Organic Reach is Down for Everyone 71% of Consumers Are Satisfied with AI-Powered Customer Care I was on the Business of Marketing podcast I was also on Business Book Pub Hub Design Quote of the Week Midjourney Prompt: a pile, stacked up in a giant mound made up of AI software boxes. A vibrant, high-contrast illustration using flat vector-style shading with neon and duotone color blocking....

Illustration of marketing team during rebranding.

21 July 2025 | Issue #101 In this issue: What Happens When Your Company Gets Acquired (And You’re in Charge of the Brand) The Website Is No Longer the Hub OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Agent: An AI Assistant That Actually Acts Polaroid Debuts a Powerful Anti-AI Analog Campaign What Do Colors Mean in Different Cultures? I'll be on the Business of Marketing podcast on 22 July Design Quote of the Week Midjourney prompt: a group of marketers who are working on a rebranding. The style is illustrated...

100th issue

13 July 2025 | Issue #100 (!) In this issue: Issue #100! Only 8% of People Willing to Pay More for AI The Creepy New World of AI Clones 2025 Logo Trend Report Sketched Out: An Illustrator Confronts His Fears About A.I. Art Denmark to Tackle Deepfakes by Giving People Copyright to Their Own Features Marketing Design: The Difference Between Moving People and Impressing Them I was a guest on Vativ's recent product launch roundtable Design Quote of the Week photo by eberhard grossgasteiger Issue...