AI didn’t destroy Graphic Design. Designers did. We built this monster that fed AI. Every shortcut, every lazy template, every “good enough” logo fed the machine that’s now eating their lunch. Designers spent years trading thinking for trends, problem-solving for pixels, and originality for algorithms. So before we start blaming AI for stealing design, maybe we should admit some hard truths.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: AI isn’t exposing design… it’s exposing designers. We’ve been faking it for years relying on presets, copying styles, and calling it inspiration. The reason AI’s so good at design is because it learned from us. It’s not the villain. It’s the mirror showing how predictable, repetitive, and automated the industry has become.
This week on a Solo episode of The Angry Designer Podcast, Massimo breaks down how designers created their own competition and how the only way to survive is to stop thinking like machines and start thinking like designers again.
You'll discover
- How years of shortcuts and trend-chasing trained AI to replace us
- Why “inspiration” and “imitation” became the same thing and what that says about design
- How to design with intent, curiosity, and critical thinking before it’s too late
AI didn’t break design, we did. But we can fix it. The future doesn’t belong to those who resist change. It belongs to those who lead it. Real designers don’t copy, they create meaning.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
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 success
Rocky 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/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
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 preferences
This 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/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
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 thinkers
This 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/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
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:
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
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 originality
This 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/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Fiverr just fired 30% of its staff and announced it’s becoming an “AI-first company.” On paper, it sounds innovative. In reality, it’s poetic justice. The platform that devalued design and turned creativity into a $5 commodity just found a faster, cheaper replacement of its own bargain basement graphic designers...artificial intelligence. This isn’t just about Fiverr. It’s the clearest proof yet that shortcuts, cheap clients, and race-to-the-bottom thinking always come back to bite.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most graphic designers that helped build the monster, is now being replaced by it. By chasing low prices, skipping process, and trading craft for convenience, they became the very data that AI now feeds on. Meanwhile, the few designers who built real strategy, process, and brand value are standing strong and watching the collapse from the sidelines with popcorn.
This week on The Angry Designer Podcast, we expose Fiverr’s AI-first announcement for what it really is: a desperate move wrapped in PR spin. We break down what it teaches every real designer about protecting their designs and their future in this AI fuel hungry environment. This isn’t just a takedown. It’s a wake-up call about how easily creative platforms can turn your work into their training data, and how to make sure that never happens to you.
In this episode you'll discover
- Why Fiverr’s collapse proves cheap design was never sustainable
- The hidden fine print that lets companies like Fiverr and Adobe use your creative work for AI
- How real designers can use AI to their advantage instead of becoming its next victim
This isn’t about Fiverr, it’s about the entire creative industry. Because if you think staying cheap, fast, and convenient is your competitive edge, you’re already designing your own extinction. The future doesn’t need more Fiverr designers. It needs thinkers, leaders, and creators who value the process as much as the product.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Most Graphic Designers think the way to get noticed is by chasing likes, posting tutorials, or following design formulas. But James Barnard has lived both sides...the viral design influencer and the working designer. And he’s here to tell you the hard truth: clout doesn’t pay your bills, legacy client work does.
In this Live from Creative South episode of The Angry Designer Podcast, we sit down with James Barnard to talk about the future of design careers, how to win client trust, and why presenting logos is more about storytelling than style.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
This isn’t theory. This is the real-world playbook from one of design’s most trusted voices. Lessons every designer can use to turn influence into income, and content into credibility.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Graphic design is only projected to grow 3% over the next decade. AI is churning out logos in seconds. Bootcamps and Canva “designers” are flooding the industry. If you think that means graphic design is dead, you’re missing the bigger problem. The real threat isn’t AI or oversupply, it’s the way designers think about their future.
Here’s the part no one wants to admit: future graphic designers may be walking straight into a dead career. Students are drowning in overpriced programs, bootcamps are peddling false promises, and grads are competing against millions of cheap overseas designers. Now clients are asking if AI can do it faster and cheaper — and most designers don’t even see it coming.
This week on The Angry Designer Podcast, we tackle the uncomfortable question every designer is asking: Is graphic design still a good career choice in 2026? We break down the fear, the myths, and the cold hard truths every designer needs to hear right now.
In this episode, you'll discover
- Why a 3% growth rate doesn’t mean design is dying but actually good
- How AI gives false confidence to amateurs and superpowers to real designers
- The one mindset shift that separates decorators from problem solvers who actually get paid
This isn’t just about “graphic design” as a career path. It’s about you. Because if you don’t evolve, if you keep clinging to the old version of design, you won’t just lose jobs you’ll lose your career. The future doesn’t need more button-pushers. It needs thinkers who can adapt, strategize, and lead.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Most Graphic Designers think success comes from creating the perfect logo, expensive gear, or waiting to be discovered. Wrong.
The real killers of Graphic Design careers are perfectionism, overthinking, and flexing for likes instead of creating real value. With over 5 million subscribers and 1,000+ Photoshop tutorials, Unmesh Dinda, the face of Piximperfect, proves that consistency and process beat “perfect” every single time.
This week on The Angry Designer, we dig into how Unmesh built one of the biggest design education platforms on the planet without chasing trends or showing off. This is the straight truth Graphic Designers need if they actually want to grow a career that lasts.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why chasing perfection keeps designers broke and invisible
- How teaching and sharing process creates authority and opportunity
- The real limits of AI in Photoshop and why human designers still win
This isn’t fluff. It’s the reality check you need if you’re tired of waiting for perfect and ready to start building a Graphic Design career that actually matters.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Lettering Artist Dan Lee proves that graphic design careers aren’t built on safe degrees or raw talent...they’re built on obsession and the courage to ditch the rules.
This week on a special episode of The Angry Designer Podcast LIVE at Crop Con, we sit down with Lettering Artist Dan Lee, who walked away from chemical engineering to chase design, and built a thriving career without a design degree. His story destroys the starving artist myth and shows why obsession beats talent every time.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why playing it safe can kill your creative potential
- How personal projects can launch a real design career
- Why obsession, not talent, is the secret to surviving trends and AI
If you’re ready to stop following rules and start building a career on your terms, this one’s for you.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Every designer has heard it: “Pick a niche. Specialize. Focus.” Even on THIS podcast! But here’s the uncomfortable truth... niching alone is a trap. The wrong kind of niche doesn’t just slow your career, it cages you, makes you replaceable, and puts your future in the hands of clients, tech, or the economy.
This should sting: most of you are doing it wrong. You’re either chaining yourself to one fragile industry or boxing yourself into a single craft that AI and Fiverr can wipe out overnight. That’s why so many designers feel stuck — hustling project to project, disposable the moment the job is delivered. Few will admit it, but most are already losing the niche game.
But here’s the shift: there’s a better way. This week on The Angry Designer Podcast, we’re blowing up the myth of niching and showing you how traditional niching is failing, and how stacking your skills makes you harder to replace, stickier with clients, and impossible to ignore.
In this episode you'll learn:
This isn’t just about niches. It’s about whether you’re going to stay trapped in an outdated model or step into the future of design. The choice is simple: keep doing what every other designer does, or stack your skills and become the one they can’t let go of.
Subscribe to The Angry Designer Podcast for no-BS design truths, controversial takes, and the lessons that help you charge what you’re worth and build a future-proof creative career.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Every designer chases originality like it’s the holy grail. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: originality doesn’t exist. Nothing you’ve designed is original, and believing otherwise is killing creativity faster than bad clients ever could.
Graphic designers hate to hear this, but most of you are guilty. You worship originality, terrified that influence makes your work invalid. The few designers who thrive know the opposite is true: influence fuels design, while chasing “original” ideas traps you in imposter syndrome and mediocrity.
This week on The Angry Designer Podcast, we tear apart the myth of originality in graphic design, exposing why it’s nothing more than ego disguised as creativity and how this mindset is holding you back.
In this episode, you'll learn:
This isn’t just about originality. It’s about your career. Because if you keep clinging to the myth of originality, you’ll burn out, stay stuck, and watch other designers pass you by with work that’s influenced, effective, and unmistakably theirs.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Graphic Design isn’t about chasing trends or giving your work away for “exposure.” Scott Fuller, founder of Studio Temporary reveals the lessons he learned the hard way from turning down unpaid internships to creating logos that stand the test of time.
Scott’s story is as raw as it gets. From graduating as a valedictorian with an engineering scholarship, to walking away from stability for a future in graphic design, to nearly losing everything, eviction notices, dead-end jobs, rejection, his path to building The Studio Temporary and the time ESPN tried to take his work without credit...spoiler, he stood his ground, and that decision led him to designing for the Atlanta Hawks. Scotts story is a masterclass in resilience.
In this episode of The Angry Designer Podcast, we get real about what it takes to survive and thrive as a designer in a chaotic industry.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
Whether you’re a freelance designer, agency owner, or in-house creative, this conversation will make you rethink how you approach your work and why designers must demand more respect for their craft.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Cracker Barrel spent $700 million on a rebrand… and within a week, they had to run back to their old logo. Designers, this isn’t just a logo fail, it’s a brand disaster! It proves how dangerous it is when companies confuse modernization with progress.
Here’s the part that should sting: most graphic designers would have made the exact same mistake. Why? Because too many of us still think rebrands are about logos, not the bigger story brands are built on.
In this episode of The Angry Designer Podcast, we break down exactly what went wrong with Cracker Barrel’s rebrand and the lessons every designer needs to hear.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
This isn’t about Cracker Barrel, it’s about you. Because if you think “design” alone is enough, you’re already on the wrong side of branding.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Bad logo design is everywhere. From stretched fonts to unreadable colors, from stolen stock icons to AI disasters, the world is flooded with logos that should never have seen the light of day.
But here’s the kicker: these aren’t accidents. They follow patterns. And if you’re not careful, you could be making the exact same mistakes without realizing it.
In this episode of The Angry Designer Podcast, we flip the script with a sarcastic “MasterClass” on how to create the world’s worst logo. It’s a roast, it’s a lesson, and it’s the kind of reality check every graphic designer needs to avoid being the punchline in someone else's roast.
In this episode, you'll discover
Whether you’re a seasoned creative or just starting your graphic design career, this episode will help you see logo design disasters for what they are, and make sure you’re never the one creating them.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Most graphic designers think their biggest challenge is competition, AI, or not getting enough exposure. The truth? Many designers are sabotaging themselves every time they open their mouths.
From vague feedback requests to filler phrases that kill confidence, these everyday habits destroy trust, weaken authority, and make even talented designers look like amateurs.
But here’s the good news...once you recognize these self-sabotaging phrases, you can cut them out and instantly raise how clients see you.
In this episode of The Angry Designer, we expose the cringy things graphic designers say that sabotage their credibility and show you how to replace them with language that positions you as the expert you are.
In this episode, you'll discover:
This is the wake-up call designers need. If you want clients to respect your expertise, trust your process, and pay you what you’re worth, it starts with the words you use.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Most graphic designers think being “just” a designer is safe. But when a Reddit thread exploded over whether it’s actually risky, we didn’t just scroll past. We tore it apart!
Some takes were spot on. Others completely missed the mark and sounded like entitled designers crying because they didn't get their way (and we’re not shy about saying which is which).
In this episode of The Angry Designer, we break down the “Is Being Just a Graphic Designer Risky?” Reddit thread, calling out the most controversial opinions and revealing what really puts your career in danger. From AI replacing average work, to the trap of selling only the end product, to why skill stacking and process can be your ultimate advantage. Nothing is off the table.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- Why focusing only on design execution puts your career at risk
- How stacking complementary skills keeps you competitive
- The real reason some designers thrive while others fade away
Whether you’re freelancing, working in-house, or running an agency, this is your reality check on the future of graphic design. Learn how to stay relevant, charge what you’re worth, and outpace an industry that changes faster than ever.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Most graphic designers think they understand logo design trends. But after reviewing nearly a million logos, Bill Gardner knows otherwise.
As the creator of LogoLounge, the most iconic logo archive in the design world, Bill has seen the good, the bad, and the painfully average. He’s judged tens of thousands of marks, built trend reports that define the industry, and helped shape what logo design looks like on a global scale.
So what are so many designers still getting wrong about Logo Design trends?
In this episode of The Angry Designer podcast, we sit down with Bill Gardner to unpack two decades of logo evolution, the dangers of chasing logo design trends, and what actually makes a logo timeless. From judging 35,000 submissions per book to identifying the difference between trendy and trend-setting, Bill doesn’t just talk about design—he proves what works.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why most designers misinterpret logo trends and how it impacts their work
- The real difference between timeless logos and short-term eye candy
- How to future-proof your logos for relevance in a fast-changing design world
Whether you're an up-and-coming Graphic Designer or a seasoned pro, this episode delivers hard-earned wisdom from one of the most respected voices in the logo design space.
Get ready to challenge what you think you know about logos.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Graphic designers have mastered the art of making things look good, but the future of design demands more than pretty pixels.
The world is shifting faster than most creatives can keep up, and the biggest threat to your career isn’t AI. It’s you:
- clinging to outdated tools
- static portfolios
- a visual-only mindset 
The truth? Design is evolving beyond what you see, and those who don’t evolve with it are about to get steamrolled.
In this episode of The Angry Designer podcast, we break down what design will actually look like in the next 5–10 years and why graphic design alone won’t cut it. From spatial and sonic design to strategy, data, motion, and AI, we outline what future-ready designers need to survive and thrive.
You’ll learn:
- What the future of design will actually look like
- Why visual design is just the starting line
- What new skills clients will expect from you
- What to stop focusing on NOW
This is your Future Designer Survival Guide, brutal truths, bold predictions, and a tactical mindset shift every designer needs to hear.
Because the future doesn’t need more graphic designers. It needs creative thinkers who know how to lead, adapt, and evolve.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Most graphic designers think their biggest threat is AI, bad clients, or lack of exposure. But the real problem? They don’t think like designers at all.
Instead, they’re still stuck in the artist mindset—chasing aesthetics, taking feedback personally, and wondering why they’re underpaid, overworked, and overlooked.
But what if one mindset shift could flip your entire career?
In this episode of The Angry Designer, we break down the Designer Mindset Shift That Changes Everything. We’re talking about the hard truth every creative needs to hear: you’re not paid for how it looks, you’re paid for how it works.
You’ll learn:
- Why embracing logic over emotion changes how clients see you
- The 6 mindset traits that future-proof designers
- How AI proves artists are replaceable—but designers aren’t
- Why thinking like a strategist makes you indispensable
This isn’t fluff. This is the reality check designers need to finally charge what they’re worth, design with purpose, and never feel replaceable again.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Graphic designers have been fighting the wrong battle.
While the design world panics about AI taking jobs, a more dangerous threat has already arrived — Graphic Designers who know how to use AI better than you. They’re faster, sharper, and landing the work while you’re still debating whether it’s “ethical” to use the tools.
This isn’t a future problem. It’s happening right now.
This week on The Angry Designer podcast, we rip the mask off the real competition, and no, it’s not a robot. It’s the designer sitting across from you who embraced AI while you were still stuck in the past.
We’re not here to coddle. We’re here to wake you the hell up.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Why AI isn’t the enemy but other designers are
• How to spot the new wave of competition before it blindsides you
• What skills, strategies, and mindset shifts will keep you from getting replaced
If you’re serious about protecting your design future, it’s time to stop fearing the wrong threat and start levelling the hell up.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Designers are freaking out about AI, and for good reason. Clients are skipping strategy, bringing AI-generated logos to the table, and treating designers like disposable decorators.
But while most designers are still obsessing over execution, the smart ones are building brands, owning strategy, evolving and becoming irreplaceable.
This week on The Angry Designer podcast, we sit down with our friend Dan Janssen of Lincoln Design Co. to unpack the real shift happening in the creative world and why most Graphic Designers are totally unprepared for it.
Recorded live at CropCon 2025 in Austin Texas, Dan lays down
By the end of this episode, you’ll know why brand strategy is your new superpower in this AI powered world, and how to use it to stay relevant, respected, and paid.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Graphic Designers aren’t being replaced by AI.
They’re being replaced by their own clients using AI.
The real threat to a Graphic Designer isn’t AI. It’s lazy marketers, overconfident interns, and clueless execs showing up with AI-generated briefs, Frankensteined logos, and bloated brand docs pulled straight from a bot. And they expect you to clean it all up like a design janitor.
This week on The Angry Designer podcast, we expose the uncomfortable truth about the actual enemy designers are facing, and it’s not the tech. It’s the people using it wrong.
In this episode, we break down:
If you’ve ever been handed a “professional” AI brief that made zero sense… or had your strategy questioned because “AI said so”, this one’s going to hit hard.
This isn’t just a rant. It’s a damn wake-up call.
Because AI won’t replace you.
But your client, who THINKS they know how to use AI absolutely will.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
Many graphic designers are stuck and they don’t even know it.
They price based on feelings, take feedback like a punch to the gut, and chase originality over clarity…all because they’re thinking like artists, not designers.
This mindset starts early with crayons, sketchbooks, praise for creativity and it feels right. But in the real world? That same mindset is quietly sabotaging your career.
In this episode of The Angry Designer podcast, we’re exposing the artist mentality that’s quietly sabotaging graphic designers keeping them broke, burned out, and overlooked. You’ll learn how to spot the subtle red flags, shift your mindset, and start thinking like a designer – strategic, purposeful, and unshakeably valuable.
By the end, you’ll know:
- The real difference between artists and designers
- How the artist mindset is ruining your reputation and pricing
- What to do instead—so you get paid, respected, and future-proofed
Whether it’s pricing your work, dealing with client feedback, or trying to stay relevant in the age of AI, this episode delivers the straight-up truth that most design schools never teach. Let go of the starving artist myth. Start thinking like a designer. Your career depends on it.
Stay Angry our Friends 
–––––––––––
Join Anger Management for Designers Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/mr4bb4j3
Want to see more? 
See uncut episodes on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/theangrydesigner 
Read our blog posts on our website TheAngryDesigner.com
Join in the conversation on our Instagram Instagram.com/TheAngryDesignerPodcast
  
    How AI Changed The Future of Graphic Design Forever
  
  17:23
  
  
  
    How Graphic Designers Can Turn Chaos Into Creativity with Rocky Roarke
  
  33:44
  
  
  
    Chris Do’s Under Armour Logo Critique Misses the Whole Point of Design
  
  13:50
  
  
  
    The Real Reason Graphic Design is Undervalued by EVERYONE
  
  30:59
  
  
  
    Jason Craig on Why Designers Need to Stop Complaining and Start Creating
  
  27:22
  
  
  
    3 Real Dangers of AI Every Graphic Designer Should Know
  
  36:02
  
  
  
    Fiverr Replacing Graphic Designers with AI and WHY Real Design Still Wins!
  
  36:40
  
  
  
    James Barnard on Turning Graphic Design Tutorials Into Authority
  
  48:26
  
  
  
    Graphic Design Careers Are Under Attack. Here’s How to Survive
  
  39:35
  
  
  
    Habits that Hold Graphic Designers Back in An AI World with Unmesh Dinda
  
  1:07:39
  
  
  
    Lettering Artist Dan Lee on Why Graphic Designers Must Chase Obsession, Not Trends
  
  56:26
  
  
  
    Why Niching is Failing Graphic Designers and What to Do Instead
  
  13:06
  
  
  
    Is Originality in Graphic Design Real or is Everything Just Stolen?
  
  38:48
  
  
  
    Scott Fuller on Why Substance Beats Style in Graphic Design
  
  1:06:34
  
  
  
    Cracker Barrel’s $700M Rebrand: Logo Design Fail or Brand Fail?
  
  39:29
  
  
  
    Awful Logo Design. A MasterClass In Bad Logo Design for Good Designers
  
  31:40
  
  
  
    Cringy Things Graphic Designers Say That Sabotage Their Credibility. Do You Use Them?
  
  44:05
  
  
  
    This Reddit Thread Thinks Being "Just" A Graphic Designer Is Risky...Do You?
  
  1:00:19
  
  
  
    Why Designers Chase the Wrong Logo Trends & What to Do Instead with LogoLounge's Bill Gardner
  
  1:26:38
  
  
  
    The Future Won’t Need Just Graphic Designers
  
  46:25
  
  
  
    The Designer Mindset Shift That Changes Everything and How You're Falling Behind Without It
  
  43:16
  
  
  
    Forget AI. Your Missing the Real Danger to YOUR Design Career
  
  49:05
  
  
  
    Designers Who Ignore Brand Strategy Are Getting Replaced with Dan Janssen
  
  40:00
  
  
  
    AI Isn’t Replacing Graphic Designers. Your Client Is
  
  12:04
  
  
  
    This Mindset Is Limiting Your Graphic Design Career
  
  35:24