The Angry Designer Graphic Design, Freelancing, Branding & Creative Business Podcast
A Graphic Design Podcast that cuts through the industry bull to help frustrated Designers charge what they're worth and build rewarding creative careers
How Graphic Designers Can Turn Chaos Into Creativity with Rocky Roarke
Rocky Rourke proves that you don’t need employees, investors, or a perfect plan to build a successful design studio. Just creativity, guts, and a little weirdness.In this Live from Creative South Episode of The Angry Designer Podcast, Rocky shares how he turned his imaginary friend into a brand, his freelance hustle into a thriving agency, and his ADHD into a creative superpower.From losing clients overnight to using ChatGPT as a fake client, Rocky’s story is proof that being different isn’t a disadvantage, it’s your unfair advantage.In this episode, you’ll discover:- How to turn freelance chaos into a real business without losing freedom- Why personal projects often lead to more revenue than client work- How to use AI tools like ChatGPT to simulate clients and sharpen your design skills- How designers with ADHD can channel hyperfocus into creativity and successRocky is the founder of Blue Cyclops, a fully freelance-run creative studio specializing in branding, web, and illustration. He’s worked with creatives across the globe, building a business model that gives designers flexibility, growth, and control proving that freelancers can win.Stay Angry our Friends –––––––––––Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3Want to see more? See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.comJoin in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
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Chris Do’s Under Armour Logo Critique Misses the Whole Point of Design
Chris Do called one of the most iconic sports logos “garish.” But here’s the truth: the only thing ugly about the Under Armour logo is how designers keep confusing personal taste with design. This isn’t about one logo, one critique, or one YouTuber. It’s about the dangerous way our industry lets opinions outweigh principles and why that mindset is killing real graphic design.Here’s the part that’ll sting: most designers would’ve agreed with him. Because too many of us still judge work by how it looks, not by how it works. We’ve become addicted to trends, grids, and “aesthetics” instead of ideas, function, and strategy. Real designers think...the rest decorate. Which side are you on?This week on The Angry Designer Podcast, we take apart Chris Do’s Under Armour critique and reveal why his argument, like most hot takes online, misses the real point of logo design. We’re not here to hate. We’re here to remind you what good design actually means, and why “taste” will never beat thinking.In this episode you'll discover:- Why confusing taste with design is the biggest mistake graphic designers make- The truth about what makes a logo work and why Under Armour nails it- How to build design opinions on principles, not personal preferencesThis isn’t about Chris Do. It’s about you; the designer who thinks good taste makes good work. Because if you’re judging logos by how they look instead of what they do, you’re already on the wrong side of design.Stay Angry our Friends –––––––––––Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3Want to see more? See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.comJoin in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
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The Real Reason Graphic Design is Undervalued by EVERYONE
Everyone thinks they’re a designer.Your boss. Your client. That intern with Canva.And somehow, they all think they can do it better than you until they realize they can't.That’s the mess we’re living in.Graphic Designers aren’t just fighting clueless clients, pretend design software or AI prompts. We’re fighting a system we helped create. Because somewhere along the line, too many of us stopped designing and started decorating. We traded questions for quick fixes, strategy for style, thinking for templates. And that’s how design lost its backbone.This week on The Angry Designer Podcast, we’re taking aim at a hard truth. It’s not just clients or AI killing design. It’s graphic designers who traded thinking for easy answers. If you’ve ever felt like a pixel pusher instead of a problem solver, this one’s going to sting.In this episode you'll discover:• How “good enough” design is killing creativity (and your value)• Why real designers ask why, not “how fast”• The one mindset shift that separates order takers from strategic thinkersThis isn’t a pep talk. It’s a wake-up call.Because if you think a graphic designers job is to make people happy, you’ve already stopped being a designer.Stay Angry our Friends –––––––––––Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3Want to see more? See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.comJoin in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
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Jason Craig on Why Designers Need to Stop Complaining and Start Creating
Too many designers are stuck blaming AI, TikTok, and clients. Jason Craig says it’s time to shut up and make better work. In this brutally honest episode, we talk about perspective, perseverance, and purpose in design.Most designers think the industry’s dying. Jason Craig thinks they’ve just forgotten how good they have it. From designing for the Atlanta Braves to seeing his work blow up on SportsCenter, Jason’s proof that consistency, humility, and showing up still matter more than anything.In this Special episode of The Angry Designers Live from Crop Con, you’ll discover:Why complaining about AI and trends kills your creativityHow showing up every day can open doors you never planned forWhat “designing for love and longevity” really meansStay Angry our Friends –––––––––––Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3Want to see more? See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.comJoin in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
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3 Real Dangers of AI Every Graphic Designer Should Know
AI isn’t the future of design. It’s the biggest threat most designers don’t see coming. While everyone’s celebrating faster workflows and effortless logos, AI is quietly reshaping the creative industry, and most designers are sleepwalking straight into irrelevance. This isn’t just about tools or technology. It’s about control, creativity, and whether designers still have a seat at the table.Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most graphic designers are using AI the wrong way or not at all. They’re either ignoring it completely, abusing it for shortcuts, or sitting in the “safe middle” pretending they’ll adapt later. And when AI finally outpaces them, they’ll wonder where their clients went. The few designers who do get it are evolving into something entirely new: strategic, fast, and unstoppable.This week on The Angry Designer Podcast, we break down the 3 real dangers of AI for graphic designers and what every creative needs to understand before it’s too late. Whether you’re a freelancer, agency owner, or in-house designer, this conversation will change how you think about AI and your future in design.In this episode you'll discover• The 3 biggest AI mistakes destroying designers’ credibility• Why ignoring AI could cost you your creative career• How to use AI strategically without losing your originalityThis isn’t just about AI. It’s about you. The designer who either adapts and evolves or becomes a cautionary tale in the history of creative work. AI won’t replace designers, but another designer using AI will.Stay Angry our Friends –––––––––––Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3Want to see more? See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.comJoin in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
About The Angry Designer Graphic Design, Freelancing, Branding & Creative Business Podcast
The Angry Designer is an entertaining No-Bull unapologetic design podcast for Graphic Designers, Freelancers, and In-house Creative Pros ready to take their careers to the next level. Hosted by a Creative Director who built and sold a 7-figure Creative agency, this design podcast breaks down the business of design, branding, freelancing, logos, UX, strategy, AI, and more—without the industry fluff and pointless jargon. The Angry Designer tackles the topics other Graphic Design podcasts avoid: burnout, ageism, toxic clients, pricing, imposter syndrome, with an unapologetic take on what it really takes to build a creative career that lasts.Whether you’ve been a Graphic Designer for decades or just starting out, get ready to feel vindicated because this podcast will challenge how you think, push you to grow, and give you the tools to design a life on your terms.
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