Jason Carne has been doing lettering professionally for two decades. His client list reads like a mashup of a record store, a sports bar, and a spirits cabinet — and that range isn't accidental. It's the result of staying a student of lettering long after most people would've gotten comfortable. In this conversation, Jason and Joe get into how that career actually gets built: the early days doing hardcore merch, the pivot toward packaging and branding, the Stanley Cup project that came in during COVID and somehow still landed, and the ongoing challenge of positioning yourself without losing what makes your work yours.

• Jason started in design through the NJ hardcore and metal scene ( making flyers, album art, and MySpace layouts for friends' bands
• The Stanley Cup project came through Fan Brandz (via a conference connection with Mike Sulik), got shelved when COVID hit, and was quietly approved once sports resumed
• When he works with big names (Harley-Davidson, NHL, Wu-Tang ) he's rarely talking directly to them. There's always a layer between. Know what you're claiming and how.
• Closer and Closer reps him; roughly 50% of his work comes through them, the rest direct
• He's currently repositioning his site to focus on two things: high-end spirits packaging and logo/branding work
• Carmel Type Co fonts (including Botanist, Railroad Company)
• The Lettering Library to preserve lettering and design from the past.
• His ideal art director gives some guardrails, then trusts the creative like the positive experience working with Joe Baron
• When work slows down: focus on personal work, fill gaps with less glamorous jobs, and reach back out to clients you already have relationships with

"Give me some guardrails, but trust me enough to do my thing." - Jason Carne

0:00 - Preview
0:04- Intro
1:19 - Influence of the Hardcore Scene on Design
2:34 - Tom was everyone's 1st friend
3:01 - Creative Challenges in High-Stake Projects
4:12 - The Stanley Cup Project
5:45 - Working with Smaller Agencies vs. Big Brands
7:50 - Navigating Client Relationships and Expectations
8:52 - Lettering is Easy
12:52 - Relationships in the Creative Industry
16:57 - Quality Work and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
19:45 - Client Needs vs. Personal Vision
22:19 - Marketing Yourself as a designer
25:10 - Art Representation
28:26 - Navigating NDAs
30:07 - Jason Carne's Type Foundry
33:08 - The Business of Fonts
35:57 - Preserving Design History with the Lettering Library
40:02 - Art Directors nailing it like Joe Baron
44:46 - Adapting to Slow Periods
45:18 - Rapid Fire Questions

Connect with US

https://markit2me.com/

Jason Carne

http://jasoncarne.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasoncarne

Behance: https://behance.net/jasoncarne

Joe Baron

https://www.brandedbaron.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandedbaron/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/brandedbaron

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

Follow the show, leave a review, and if this episode hit — share it with someone who's still in school or just starting out.

Anthony “Biggie” Bencomo — Owner and CSO (Chief Sandwich Officer) of Deli Fresh Threads — joins Mark It 2 Me to talk about building a concept-driven apparel brand rooted in nostalgia, packaging experience, and real-world community.

From launching KnightMare Apparel at the University of Central Florida in 1997 to founding Deli Fresh Threads in 2013, Biggie shares lessons learned from nearly three decades of entrepreneurship. He breaks down how turning a sandwich into a brand universe led to restaurant partnerships, monthly SandwichEatUp events, and a loyal following built through connection — not just content.

We dive into:
• Why packaging is marketing
• The power of community over paid ads
• Hard lessons in production and inventory
• Expanding beyond parody into sports-inspired designs
• Transparency in small brand building
• What it really means to measure success

This episode isn’t about sandwiches, it’s about turning a product into a place.

CONNECT WITH US

Guest Info

Anthony "Biggie" Bencomo

Website: http://delifreshthreads.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/delifreshthreads/

Host Info
Joe Baron
Website: https://www.brandedbaron.com/

Mark It 2 Me
Website: http://markit2me.com/
instagram - / markit2me

In Part 2 of this conversation, Joe Baron continues his discussion with logo designer, author, and Logo Geek founder Ian Paget.

The episode picks up as Ian shares the thinking behind his book, including an overlooked intermediate step in the logo design process that helps clients better understand creative decisions. From there, the conversation expands into self-publishing, his Kickstarter experience, and the realities of using Amazon KDP.

Joe and Ian also discuss design awards, industry trends, and why designers should focus less on gatekeeping and more on helping the next generation grow.

The conversation ends with some fun conversation on pop culture and history as Ian discusses his fandom for Star Wars and meeting Mark Hamill as well as Stan Lee and moon walking astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• The missing “intermediate step” in logo design
• Why Ian wrote his book and what designers should take from it
• Lessons from launching a Kickstarter campaign
• Pros and cons of Amazon KDP and print-on-demand
• Why community matters in creative careers
• Thoughts on design awards and industry credibility
• Easy hack to win design awards
• The problem with “fixing” brand logos
• Why sharing knowledge matters
• Getting an autograph from Buzz Aldrin
• What Mark Hamill is really like
• What makes a good logo
• Ian talks about his logos
• Does it matter if you go to school for design

0:00 - Preview
0:10 - Intro
0:46 - New Book and Presenting Concepts
11:35 - Awards and how to win them
20:21 - What makes a good logo - Logo Reviews
32:42 - Ian talks about his logos
39:53 - Not going to University for Design
44:12 - 16 Year Old Me would learn AI Tools
50:07 - Running a Science T-shirt Company
52:31 - Moon Landings and Buzz Aldrin
56:16 - Star Wars Fan
59:31 - Meeting Stan Lee
1:01:58 - Leaving a Legacy

Website: https://logogeek.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/logogeek

Website: https://www.brandedbaron.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandedbaron

Website: https://www.markit2me.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markit2me

If you haven’t already, check out Part 1 of this conversation where we discuss:

• Mental health in the creative industry
• The reality behind “fixing” brand logos
• Why creative block might not actually exist
• The importance of community

What does it actually take to build something meaningful as a creative without burning yourself out in the process?

In this episode of Mark It 2 Me, I sit down with logo designer, educator, and founder of Logo Geek, Ian Paget, to break down the early stages of his journey to building a respected platform within the design community.

We talk about how he got started in graphic design, the realities of freelancing, and what it takes to stay consistent long enough to see real progress.

A major part of this conversation also focuses on mental health. the pressure creatives face, the importance of work-life balance, and why taking care of yourself is just as important as developing your skills.

Ian shares insights on overcoming creative block, why it’s often more about mindset than ability, and how building a supportive community can change the trajectory of your career.

This isn’t a conversation about shortcuts or overnight success. It’s about the long game, building something sustainable, staying grounded, and creating work that actually lasts.

If you’re a designer, freelancer, or creative trying to find clarity in your path while protecting your mental well-being, this episode will resonate.

Ian Paget

Website: https://logogeek.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/logogeek/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianpaget/

Joe Baron

Website: https://www.brandedbaron.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandedbaron/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/brandedbaron

Mark It 2 Me

Website: https://markit2me.com/

Instagram: instagram.com/markit2me

• Ian Paget’s journey into graphic design
• From warehouse job to building Logo Geek
• The realities of freelance design and early career growth
• Mental health in the creative industry
• Work-life balance and avoiding burnout
• Creative block and why it’s often a mindset issue
• The importance of community for designers
• Staying consistent and building something over time

Mark It 2 Me explores how working creatives turn their work into brands, careers, and creative communities.

In this episode of Mark It 2 Me, I sit down with Brianna Calero, founder of Pastel Creative and Fractional CMO, to unpack what real strategic marketing leadership actually looks like.

We talk about the difference between visibility and authority, why most companies chase acquisition instead of retention, and how serving your “super fans” can build stronger revenue than chasing mass audiences.

Brianna shares how she transitioned from wanting to be a pastry chef to becoming a growth engine for founders, how she approaches market intelligence before building strategy, and why she believes discernment is more profitable than hype.

We also dive into marketing alignment, authenticity in business, and the mindset shift that separates sustainable growth from hustle culture.

If you’re a founder, creative, or marketer trying to build authority instead of just traffic this conversation is for you.

Guest Info

Brianna Calero - https://pastelcreative.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pastel-creative/

Host Info

Joe Baron - https://www.brandedbaron.com/

Mark It 2 Me instagram - https://instagram.com/markit2me

In this episode of Mark It 2 Me, Joe Baron sits down with New Jersey's Larry Krayn an attorney, street photographer, curator, and rapper known as IL Lusciato.

Larry opens up about rediscovering his creative identity after building a legal career, releasing his album Life’s Legacy and A World Not For Everyone, and embracing the idea that none of us are one-dimensional.

The conversation explores:

• Releasing music after 10+ years and overcoming self-doubt
• Balancing a professional career with creative passion
• The rise of Newark as a cultural hub
• Building community through Grit Gallery
• Breaking through gatekeepers by creating your own platform
• Why thinking like a beginner can elevate advanced creative work
• The tension between art and algorithms in the social media era

This episode is about confidence, proof of concept, creative resilience, and embracing all dimensions of who you are.

Follow Larry Krayn

https://www.instagram.com/xquisite_grit/

http://youtube.com/il_lusciato

Don't forget to follow Joe Baron

https://www.instagram.com/brandedbaron/

https://www.brandedbaron.com/

Mark It 2 Me Podcast Instagram account - https://instagram.com/markit2me

In this episode of Mark It 2 Me, Joe Baron sits down with designer, dad, and community builder Michael Smith, founder of Dadsigner, host of The Dadsigner Podcast, co-owner of R5 CoLab, and creator of two successfully crowdfunded children’s books.

They dive into what it really means to build community, not just online, but in real life. Michael shares how a lonely coffee shop routine turned into launching a coworking space that prioritizes intentional connection. From setting clear expectations with a community handbook to fostering genuine engagement through pre-scheduled events, he explains why structure is essential to making culture work.

The conversation also explores entrepreneurship, fatherhood, and the mental tug-of-war creatives face between making meaningful work and monetizing everything.

Michael opens up about:

• The importance of hiring an accountant early
• Why crowdfunding is really a marketing tool in disguise
• What surprised him most about launching on Kickstarter
• How personal creative projects can have value years later
• Why professional growth isn’t just about titles and promotions
• The tension between ambition and family presence

They close with rapid-fire questions (including the official dad sneaker debate) and reflections on what it means to build something sustainable both in business and at home.

This episode is about ownership, intention, and creating community that actually feels real.

You can follow Michael Smith on Instagram, Threads, and Youtube at @dadsigner

His website: https://www.dadsigner.com/

You can follow the Mark It 2 Me official instagram: @MarkIt2Me

You can follow Joe Baron specifically at @brandedbaron
The website: https://www.brandedbaron.com/