On this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we sit down with Aaron Draplin, Michigan-born designer, maker, and co-founder of Field Notes. You’ve seen his work everywhere, from Nike, Burton, Red Wing, Patagonia, Fender, Target, NASA, and Arc’teryx, to posters and merch for Chris Stapleton and John Mayer, and campaign work for Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama. Draplin has spoken at Adobe MAX, TEDx, and over 500 events nationwide, bringing honesty, humor, and a hardworking, blue-collar approach to creativity.
We talk about the business of merch, the grind of freelancing, why community and collaboration matter, and the joy of archiving your mess. Draplin gets real about sweating the details, helping the underdog, and staying true in a world that moves fast. We also run him through a live AI logo challenge to get his unfiltered reaction. If you’ve ever filled a Field Notes notebook or geeked out on simple, iconic design, this one’s for you. Check it out on YouTube and get trippy with the visuals.