Jason Frostholm is a graphic designer, educator, and former podcast host based in Mobile, Alabama. He did his undergrad at the University of South Alabama, went back for his master's during the pandemic, and spent several years teaching design full-time at a local Jesuit institution. His thesis focused on integrating business principles into design education — and it shows in how he structures his courses. He's worked in-house at an engineering firm, run a referral-based freelance practice, and attended Creative South (where he and Joe first crossed paths). He's still designing, still teaching, and still thinking hard about how to set the next generation of creatives up for the real thing.

Guest Info & Links

Website: jasonfrostholm.com

Studio: ildisdesign.com

Social: @jfrostholm

Chapter Timestamps

00:00 Cold open — production work & the reality of design jobs

00:15 Welcome to Mark It 2 Me + intro of Jason Frostholm

01:13 What made Jason want to teach

03:45 Teaching to each student differently

06:22S ketching — paper vs. digital, and why it still matters

10:44 Students as clients — why that framing is wrong

13:27 Writing creative briefs (and making students write them)

16:4 8What design schools are missing: the business side

21:43 What new designers don't understand about the job

23:59Being proactive, following up, and not waiting for work to appear

29:27 Tools don't make the designer — the Canva debate

33:50 Presenting work: why students hate it and how to fix it

36:44 Production work, in-house reality, and entry-level truth

39:27 Advice for landing your first design job

42:27 Conferences, workshops, and always be learning

43:57Rapid fire Questions

Notable Quotes

"Most design jobs out there are either production or in-house. Landing a huge client and becoming the next Draplin is few and far between."

— Jason Frostholm

"My job is to facilitate an environment where they can discover [their process] for themselves. There's no right or wrong process."

— Jason Frostholm

Find Jason at @jfrostholm on social and jasonfrostholm.com. His studio is at ildisdesign.com.

Mark It 2 Me is hosted by Joe Baron of Branded Baron.

BrandedBaron.com

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