How BMX culture taught me design as a visual language

Growing up, my family spent most of their time in questionable financial territory. Three kids plus a matrix of creative budgeting to give us the semblance of a normal life. And to my parents credit, it worked. I never felt deprived and I got a crash course in the value of a dollar.

So it was a huge deal in 1996 when, as a 6th grader, I got a GT Dyno BMX bike from them.

Back then, GTs and Dynos were the top of the heap, the holy grail. These bikes were different. They had a cool shape, they were louder in their design, they had personality and an edge to them. Mine was a bronzy gold with a metallic sheen to it. It said DYNO across the bar in big, red lettering. It came with a part called a gyro, which allowed you to spin the handlebars all the way around without the brake cables tangling. This might as well have been part of a spaceship. I still remember having an excuse to go out to the garage just to gaze upon my glorious hunk of metal.

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5 Tips for Creating the Best Podcast Cover Art

As a former member of the Spotify podcast marketing team, I’ve been a frontline witness to the rapidly growing medium of podcasting. As of 2023, there are over 5 million podcasts and 70 million episodes available on the platform alone. With such a vast number of shows, it’s crucial to make a great first impression and stand out with eye-catching podcast cover art and show packaging. Impactful designs can not only attract listeners but also contribute to brand recognition, audience engagement, and enhance the overall listener experience.

In this article, we’ll provide tips for creating compelling podcast designs that meet platform requirements and guide you through the process of creating outstanding cover art.

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