Draplin Design Co. - Draplin Design Co.: pretty much everything

Table of Contents

Didnt Think It Would Come to This

I didnt get into this stuff with the goal of making a book. I just wanted to make a life in art. And typing this, it hits meI did it.

Early Influences

My cousin Tom Draplin is the first person I looked up to in the art world. He had the cool sketchbooks and colored pencils and was a natural artist. I remember seeing bits of drawings and illustration from his time at Parsons in New York City. Tom was also the first person who inspired me to hit the road. Tom made it out of Detroit to the big leagues of art school, and that was always something Id think about when weighing my options as graduation from high school neared.

I first learned about Charles S. Anderson at Northwestern Michigan College, from a French Paper poster promotion floating around the design studio. It was in a big pile of paper promos being kicked around, and somehow it ended up in my little cubicle. I studied that thing ferociously. His work was an incredible mix of type, illustration and wit. Which led me to the mighty CSA Archive in Minneapolis. I was hooked right away. There was an appreciation for the past, and yet it all felt fresh, considered and respectful. Chuck will always be my design hero, and Im proud to consider him a friend and mentor. Weve slayed some pretty serious pork chops over dinner in Minneapolis!

In the fall of 1997, I did my very first East Coast road trip. Starting from my parents home in Michigan, I went all the way to Portland, Maine. Then to Boston, New York, Philly, and all the way down to the doorstep of House Industries in Wilmington, Delaware. I loved their beautiful design, detailed typography and sense of humor. I knocked on the door and a confused Andy Cruz answered. My names Aaron Draplin. Im here to buy some fonts. He was a bit startled but let me in. They gave me the full tour and loaded me up with so much cool shit. They didnt have to accommodate my nerdy curiosity that afternoon, but still made time for me. And in turn made a lifetime fan with that little moment of spontaneous hospitality.

A Company, But Not A Company

When I got going in the mid-90s, the design world was at the height of the post-post-postmodern design craze, with the wild forms, damaged text and provocative boundary pushing. All the companies sounded technological, dizzying and cold. I liked the idea of using my name in my thing. And yet, youd meet a couple turds who were a company and theyd act the part. With all the pomp, plural-speak and lofty aspirations. And I set out to poke fun at that shit, and it stuck. Speaking in third person, and yet, the whole time, its just little ol me. That was funny to me when I had nothing, and still is, with a shop filled with equipment and treasures. I guess it was a reaction to designers who took themselves a little too seriously. So why not blow it out of the water, right? So I did. The we and us of the Draplin Design Co. was just me. This whole time. Secrets out! I call my shop a shop. Just like my dad did. Not a studio. Not a space. Not a multidisciplinary, form-challenging, content-resuscitating, image-recontextualizing, language-defetishizing firm/studio/collective/fart chamber a couple wheezebag Yale grad student pricks are starting. Anything but that bullshit.

Blue Collar? In Spirit, at Least

I always squirm when interviewers or fans ask me about how the blue collar quality of my work and way of doing business. Lets get something very, very straight: This is a white collar profession. And, can be embarrassingly pretentious. Could I apply some of the simple, hardworking values Id been around growing up to this stuff? Hell yes. Art school teaches you to elevate. Sometimes, a little too high. I was careful to learn as much as I could, and still be able to shoot the shit with the guys at the scrap metal yard. Its a badge of honor that I got myself out of the economic ruts Id find myself in. Ive had a factory job pushing thousand pound tool and die molds around. Ive trimmed trees with roughnecks. Ive washed dishes for five months at a stretch in Alaska. I used design to get me out of that shitplain and simple. Design is a trade to me. Artist? I guess? Tradesman? Closer. Hard worker? Always, always, always.

Took it on the Chin Just Enough Times

There were some stinging moments along the way. Ive had my my heart broken a handful of times. Be it snowboard graphics that fell through, gigs applied for and handed to folks who didnt give a shit or a logo job promised and then complete silence. Ive had things taken away. At the start, middle and end of jobs. And Ill never forget that feeling. It taught me to buckle down, savor the jobs I had and never, ever half-ass this stuff.

Six, Seven, Eight Trick Pony?

In twenty years, Ive seen some pretty fun tricks come and go. When I started, it was all that post-post-post-modern bullshit. Then some kind of techno thing. Then it was being ironic. Then it was snipped corner thing. Then fuckin antlers. Then everyone became a Supply Co. of some sort. Dont forget the Great Ampersand Epidemic of the early 2010s! I get a lot of flak for retro stylings in my work. I like things that work. Things that are time-tested. Free of superfluous elements. The grid. I like simplicity. Straightforward solutions. Ive tried to develop consistent styles to work in, but pride myself on being able to deliver whats approporate for the client. And that always isnt Futura Bold dipped in Pantone Orange 021.

Busy Being Busy

Man, Ive been busy. This stuff still doesnt feel like a job? I like being in the shop. Its where I am the most comfortable and can maintain a big ol golden buzz of productivity. At my pace. And Ive used all the hours, weeks, months and years to fight hard to make something out of this stuff. But I know that has a flipside and I missed some special things around me. Allow me to take this opportunity to apologize to my Mom, sisters and Leigh for always being busy, frazzled and all-consumed with this shit. But shit, I had to go for it.

Did it as Creatively as Possible

Im proud of the effort Ive put into my career. I can proudly say that I gave my all to this stuff. The whole fuckin time. Its a sickness, sort of. I just wont let myself phone something in. Im always afraid itll be some lazy little decision that is the lynch pin that get pulled, and then we go whirling off the rails. Ive worked my ass off in graphic design. And took advantage of the creative space it allows. I did things as creatively as I could. With humor, a little wit and was always careful not to take myself too seriously. What a privilege to operate within such a cool trade.

My Proudest Paragraphs to Date

I tried to build a life in design my own way. Can you make a career out of something on your own terms? I think you can. And yet, I still fear this stuff. That was pounded into me from a young age: No matter how good things seem to be, its up to you to keep it all going. Im always freaked when I take my eye off the ball. Which is irrational. My little thing has momentum, and I know itll keep chugging along. But then again, a little part of me feels so insanely entitled to write that out, and will never take my teeny nugget of success for granted.