The Latest at VOMP Studios - I didn’t finish last week’s newsletter til Friday afternoon and figured it would get read more on a Monday morning than a Friday night. Life happens. So that’s why you’re getting this now and another at the end of the week. Ayoooo!

This week’s riffs for the creative vandals, outlaws, misfits, and pirates of the internet:

• Create Cooler: Remembering one of the best designers of all time

• Build Better: This 26-year-old kid built a $250M business

• Earn Easier: How to craft a killer homepage for your new website

• Break The Rules: Do less. Watch more happen. Let’s talk about minimalism

• The Hit List: Music to turn up and tune out

The Vignelli Way to Kick Ass in Graphic Design

So, let’s talk about Massimo Vignelli—an Italian design God who took a one-way flight from Milan to New York and never looked back.

Born in 1931, he didn’t just dabble in design; he grabbed it by the horns and wrestled it into submission leaving a trail of artistic works in his path.

This dude was a master of all trades: graphic design, furniture, interiors—you name it.

His motto? “Design is one.”

That’s right, hoss.

Whether it’s a visual identity or your grandma’s coffee mug, the dude treated every project like it was his masterpiece.

Discipline, coherence, and function?

Yep, he was all about that.

*Sounds like growing up with my Detroit father. Anybody else?

Your Guide to Design Nirvana

In 2010, Vignelli dropped the Vignelli Canon, a little gem he made free on his website because he was generous like that.

Think of it as the Bible for design nerds.

The first half? All the fluffy stuff—semantics, timelessness, and discipline.

The second half?

Get ready to roll up your sleeves, because we’re diving into grids, colors, and typography, straight from Vignelli's legendary portfolio.

Vignelli believed in searching for meaning before you start designing.

If your design doesn’t have meaning, it’s as useful as a t-shirt pocket.

And if it’s confusing as hell? You’ve failed.

Vignelli’s Masterpieces

Starting in the 60s, Vignelli rocked the design world like a hurricane.

He made posters for Milan’s Piccolo Teatro— using text only! No nonsense.

Then, he launched Unimark and conquered NYC like a design gladiator.

His subway map? Iconic.

It’s just colored lines and dots, yet it revolutionized transport maps worldwide. Talk about taking a minimalist approach to the max.

And then there’s Bloomingdale’s. Vignelli’s packaging was so iconic it made Christmas gifts look basic.

No logo on the bags? Just a tape that vanished once you ripped it open.

That’s the kind of magic you want at your birthday party.

A Life That Screamed “Design”

This guy lived for design. Literally.

He even planned his own funeral with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker—down to the layout of chairs. That’s dedication.

His urn now chills at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in NYC, which he designed with his wife, Lella, because what else would you expect from a design superhero?

Michael Bierut, a design legend in his own right, learned from Vignelli and ended up sticking around for a decade. Why?

Because Vignelli taught him that good work leads to more good work.

Sounds simple, right? But in a world full of mediocrity, that’s a revolutionary idea.

The Ultimate Total Designer

Vignelli didn’t just dabble in design…

He threw himself headfirst into everything—posters, magazines, chairs, wine labels—you name it.

He even created a modular system for the U.S. National Parks Service.

It’s still in use today because, spoiler alert, it works like a motherfucker.

His philosophy?

Three levels of responsibility: to yourself, to your client, and to the public.

Because at the end of the day, design isn’t just about looking pretty, it’s about solving problems.

Election Madness Meets Million-Dollar Moves 

If you’re over this never-ending election cycle, trust me, you’re not alone.

But while we’re all out here praying for it to end like a bad rom-com, one dude decided to get rich off the chaos.

Yep, while the rest of us were arguing over conspiracy theories and pretending to know what a caucus is, Shayne Coplan was busy stacking cash and building a company worth more than your wildest Powerball dreams.

From Upper West Side Kid to Crypto Whiz 

New York, New York - it’s a concrete jungle where Shayne Coplan made his first moves.

Raised on the Upper West Side (you know, where bagels and existential crises are in equal supply), Shayne grew up coding like a teenage digital ninja.

Crypto folklore claims he was the youngest investor in Ethereum's 2014 sale when you could buy tokens for the same price as your daily cup of 7-Eleven coffee.

By 2020, Shayne ditched NYU—because who needs a degree when you're already a crypto wizard?—to dive into the world of prediction markets.

Pandemic Panic and a Genius Idea 

The pandemic hit, and like everyone else, Shayne had questions.

Would New York reopen before we all went stir-crazy? When’s the vaccine coming?

Would restaurants open again so he could finally get back to overpriced avocado toast? No one seemed to have a clue.

So he turned to a little concept called “the wisdom of the crowds.”

You know, the idea that a bunch of average people collectively know more than the so-called experts.

Using crypto, Shayne set out to build Polymarket—a place where everyone could bet on the future and maybe get a few answers.

Polymarket: Betting on the Future 

Here’s the lowdown on Polymarket: It’s like a futuristic casino for your brain.

Users bet on yes-or-no outcomes:

“Will Candidate X win the election?” or something like “Will Elon Musk start a colony on Mars and call it ‘Muskville’ by 2030?”

You pick a side—YES or NO—then buy tokens priced between zero and one dollar.

If Trump’s chance of winning is at 64.4%, a YES token will cost you 64.4 cents.

The price reflects the market's collective wisdom and real money on the line tends to make these markets freakishly accurate.

From Lockdown Bets to Major Investment 

Polymarket’s first wager? When New York would reopen after lockdown.

Classic.

And the platform worked so well that by October 2020, he had raised $4 million in seed funding.

But fast forward to 2024, and this baby’s hit the big leagues.

The presidential election became Polymarket’s shining moment.

Forget polls—real money bets have become the new crystal ball, and journalists now consult Shayne’s creation like it’s the Oracle of Delphi.

Luck or Strategy? The Secret Behind Success 

By May 2024, Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund poured in $45 million, pushing Polymarket’s worth into the stratosphere.

With August hitting a record $472 million in monthly volume, the platform is hotter than a New York subway car in July.

And yeah, you might think Shayne got lucky with the election hype.

But let’s get real: luck is like an Uber—it’s only useful if you’re ready to jump in when it arrives.

Shayne didn’t just wait around; he built the damn app and booked his ride.

The Flirty, Flashy Wingman Your Brand Deserves

Your homepage isn’t just some bland landing page floating in cyberspace; it’s your brand’s Tinder profile.

First impressions are everything, and your homepage’s job is to swipe right on potential customers and convince them to swipe right back.

So, what’s the goal here?

Let’s break down 5 steps:

1: Seduce Them With Smarts 

Your homepage needs to charm even the clueless masses—those who couldn’t pick your product out of a lineup with “Product 101” plastered on it.

Explain who you are, what you do, and why your brand is basically the savior they never knew they needed.

2: Make Buying STUPID Simple 

If a caveman can’t figure out how to purchase from your site in less than 30 seconds, you’ve lost.

Give them the VIP treatment with a bundle or “starter pack” that screams, "Take me, I’m yours!"

3: Show Off Your Street Cred 

Customers are like skeptical parents meeting their kid’s new partner: they’ll assume you’re guilty of being a fraud until you prove otherwise.

Reviews, UGC (user-generated content), and glowing write-ups from big-name publications are your golden tickets here.

Drop those proof bombs and watch skeptics melt into buyers.

4: Solve Their Problems, Stat 

Look, everyone’s carrying around a nagging issue your product can fix.

But if you don’t spell it out—loud and clear—your competitors will.

Identify the problem, showcase your magical solution, and make damn sure they understand why you beat every wannabe on the market.

5: Flaunt Your Competitive Edge 

Think of your brand as the Brad Pitt of your industry.

You need to make it painfully obvious why you’re better than the knockoffs and half-baked ideas lurking in the competition’s corner.

If it’s a beauty contest, make sure you’re winning, even if it's by a mile.

Innocent Until Proven... Whatever

When people browse your site, they’re not rooting for you.

No, they’re half-expecting to be scammed, and it’s your job to convince them otherwise.

Ever heard of buyer’s remorse? It’s real, and you better make sure your customers don’t feel like idiots when your product lands on their doorstep.

Pro tip: leverage those glowing reviews, user-generated selfies, and snippets from the press like your reputation depends on it—because it does.

Your brand screaming “We’re the best!” is the equivalent of your mom saying you’re handsome.

But when GearPatrol or that influencer everyone drools over gives you a shout-out?

Now that means something.

Personalize Like a Pro

If you want your website to feel less like a generic brochure and more like a mind-reading genie, personalize your homepage for different visitors.

Skincare brand? Push products suited for local weather.

Selling drinks? Recommend flavors that match the time of day, because yes, even morning people have flavor preferences.

The secret sauce? Cater to buyer personas like a master sommelier pairing wine with a steak.

Give Value Away Like It’s Going Out of Style

Even if they don’t buy right away, make sure your visitors learn something useful before they ghost you.

At JUDY, for example, they hand out emergency preparedness tips like candy.

You? Figure out the digital goodie that aligns with your brand and dish it out.

You’ll boost your street cred and maybe, just maybe, snag them as customers on round two.

The Power of Minimalist Marketing

If Leonardo da Vinci were alive today, he’d probably invent a time machine and haul ass back to 15th-century Florence faster than you can say “Mona Lisa.”

Why?

Because in our chaotic world, with ads bombarding us like confetti at a frat party, the last thing you want is to drown in the noise.

Da Vinci himself once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

Smart guy.

The Chaos We Live In

Back in the day, advertising meant shouting at your neighbor over the fence or having a church bell ring louder than your family's arguments.

Fast forward to now, and we’re living in a dystopian nightmare of digital overload.

The average consumer faces over 5,000 ads a day.

Good luck getting anyone to remember your message when their brains are busy trying to dodge the digital debris.

Enter Minimalist Marketing

Welcome to the glorious realm of minimalist marketing—the superhero of clarity in a sea of clutter.

It’s a strategy that strips away the BS and gets to the heart of the matter.

Think of it as the “clean eating” of marketing; no preservatives, no fillers—just pure, unadulterated messaging.

This approach is inspired by minimalist design, which champions simplicity, functionality, and elegance.

Why It Works

Why does minimalist marketing hit harder than a sledgehammer?

It’s all in the brain.

Cognitive load theory tells us that our brains can only juggle so much information before they short-circuit.

By decluttering the verbal and visual chaos, you make it easier for consumers to get your point.

Let’s talk about decision fatigue, shall we?

Every day, the average person makes over 35,000 conscious and unconscious decisions.

Minimalist marketing cuts through the bull and gives consumers straightforward content, helping them make choices faster than a kid picking candy at a store.

But here’s the kicker: simplicity evokes emotions.

A clean design can make people feel calm and trusting.

In a world where chaos reigns, your clear message can cut through the noise like a samurai sword.

Legends of Minimalism

Some of the biggest brands in the game have figured this out and wield minimalist marketing like a weapon.

Let’s take a look at the Titans:

Apple: The poster child of minimalism. Their branding is so slick that even butter feels jealous (that seems like something Muhammad Ali woulda said about himself).

Every product ad screams simplicity, showcasing the features without shoving extra crap down your throat.

Calvin Klein: Their ads? Clear.

With just a model, some black-and-white magic, and the product, they’ve maintained a chic image that’s more timeless than your grandma’s pearls.

Google: The king of simplicity.

Their homepage is like a blank canvas, focusing all attention on the search bar.

It's user-friendly because let’s be honest, if you’re not getting straight to the point, what’s even the point?

IKEA: They make minimalism a lifestyle.

With ads featuring a lone product against an empty backdrop, they turn furniture into a superstar. It’s about straightforward design that fits the real world.

Nike: With “Just Do It,” they’ve taken the minimalism cake.

A three-word slogan that hits you right in the feels—simple, memorable, and universally relatable.

Volkswagen: Their “Think Small” campaign is a classic.

They embraced white space like it was a long-lost lover and nailed it with simple, witty copy.

How To Start

Ready to jump on the minimalist bandwagon? Here are five killer tactics to get you rolling:

1. Focus on Essentials: What’s your core message?

Nail it down and chop away everything else. No fluff allowed.

2. Use White Space: Embrace the void!

Give your content room to breathe; it’s like yoga for your visuals.

3. Be Concise: Less is more, remember?

Get to the point faster than a squirrel on caffeine.

4. Choose Quality Over Quantity: One stunning image can slay a thousand mediocre ones. Invest wisely.

5. Keep It Balanced: Don’t oversimplify.

There’s a fine line between minimalist genius and a half-baked idea.

The Final Word

So, what’s the takeaway from this whirlwind of minimalism?

Leonardo was onto something when he said simplicity reigns supreme.

In a world where more often feels like a burden, embracing minimalism can be a refreshing, game-changing approach.

Cut through the clutter, create emotional connections, and watch your marketing soar.

Different creative pursuits call for different music to jam to. Here’s what I jammed to this week on The Vomp Playlist: