The Latest at VOMP Studios - I splurged a bit on BFCM weekend buying myself a new bedframe, pendant, boots, dockers, a chain, and some new art. What’d you get?

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

• Create Cooler: The father of modern design & why he matters

• Build Better: Hormozi’s MAGIC formula for naming your offer

• Earn Easier: The art of luck (without wealth)

• Break The Rules: The professor of brand collabs

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

The Godfather of Modern Design (and Possibly the World’s Coolest Grandpa)

Let’s talk about Paul Rand.

If you’re a designer and that name doesn’t make you feel a little giddy, you’re either in the wrong profession or living under a very aesthetically unpleasant rock.

Congratulations - you’re Patrick Star (but I’m afraid nobody’s laughing).

This man didn’t just “work in design”—he defined it.

Six decades of sheer genius that turned graphic design from a “cute, artsy hobby” into a corporate weapon sharper than a double-edged Helvetica.

A Kid from Brooklyn with Big Ideas (and a Way Cooler Name)

Born Peretz Rosenbaum in 1914 Brooklyn, Rand ditched his old-school name for one that wouldn’t be butchered by clueless clients.

From day one, he was doodling his way to glory.

By 1930, he was finessing his skills at Pratt Institute on his dad’s reluctant dime.

Later, he landed at Parsons School of Design, rubbing elbows with design gods like Frank Lloyd Wright.

In short: prodigy unlocked.

From Nobody to “Art Director”

Rand’s first gig was humbly designing labels and packaging at a small studio, but by 23, he’d snagged gigs with Esquire and Apparel Arts.

Young AF, right?

Kinda like Ryan Holiday marketing his face off for American Apparel at 22.

His early work screamed, “I’m not here to play,” mixing European modernism with an American swagger that made everyone take notice.

He was flipping traditional design on its head, and boy, did it look good.

Logos That Outlived Their Owners

Rand’s corporate logo game?

Untouchable. Immaculate. Un-fuck-with-able.

IBM, UPS, ABC, Westinghouse—these weren’t just logos.

They were legends.

His UPS logo, for example? A sweet, little parcel with a bow that even an 8-year-old could decode.

Literally—he tested it on his kid.

And IBM? Those iconic stripes are the graphic equivalent of a mic drop.

Simplicity Meets Smug Genius

Rand was a minimalist’s minimalist.

His motto: “Simplicity isn’t the goal. It’s the byproduct of a damn good idea.”

BANGER.

He loathed gimmicks—dingbats, bullet points, and other fluff—preferring bold typography and wit.

His work for Direction magazine in the ‘40s?

A masterclass in turning barbed wire into Christmas cheer (yes, you read that right).

The Steve Jobs Connection

When Steve Jobs needed a brand identity for NeXT, he turned to Rand.

Jobs asked for options; Rand responded, “No. I’ll solve your problem, you’ll pay me, and you’ll like it.”

Savage.

Naturally, Jobs was floored and admitted Rand was one of the most thoughtful people he’d ever met.

The result? A logo as sleek and future-proof as Jobs’s black turtleneck.

A Legacy That’ll Outlast Us All

Rand didn’t just leave us logos — he left us a playbook.

Functional minimalism, bold ideas, and an unwavering refusal to compromise.

He signed his work like an artist because, let’s be real, that’s what he was.

So next time you see a logo that feels just right, tip your hat to Paul Rand—the man who made design a language everyone can speak.

Paul Rand: proof that good design is good business (and good taste also makes you a legend).

How To Name Your Offer So It Slaps, Tickles, & Steals Wallets (and Hearts)

Ever wonder how some product names feel like they’ve reached into your soul, extracted your wildest desires, and handed you a credit card?

That’s the power of Alex Hormozi’s MAGIC Formula he revealed in $100 Million Offers.

It’s a step-by-step method for crafting offer names so compelling they’ll leave your customers screaming, “Shut up and take my money!”

Let’s break this bad boy down, piece by piece.

The MAGIC Formula: Five Steps to Name Nirvana

Hormozi’s MAGIC Formula isn’t just an acronym—it’s the cheat code for offer names that practically sell themselves.

Here’s the breakdown:

Magnet: Make it intriguing.

Create a theme that’s sexier than your last Tinder match.

People love a good reason to buy, so give them one.

“Winter Solstice Sale”? Boom, you’ve just made December slightly less depressing.

Avatar: Call out your people.

Be ultra-specific about who your product is for.

Is it “Soccer Moms of Waterville” or “Broke College Bros Who Love Protein Powder”?

Narrow it down.

The more personal it feels, the more your audience will assume you’ve been stalking their Pinterest boards.

Goal: Hit them where it hurts (or helps).

Tap into their deepest desires and say it loud.

“Effortless Marketing” screams, “You’ll get rich without trying!”

“Beach-Ready in 30 Days” says, “Yes, Karen, you can totally rock that bikini by July.”

Interval: Set the clock.

Humans are suckers for a ticking timer.

Mention time frames like “72-Hour Black Friday Blitz” or promise results like “Double Your Clients in 6 Months.”

Urgency is your best sales buddy.

Create the expectation.

Container Word: Make it sound unique to your process.

Add a touch of pizazz with a word that screams “This isn’t your grandma’s offer.”

Think “Method,” “Accelerator,” or “Revolution.”

They’ll eat it up like it’s a $2 Taco Tuesday deal.

Pro Tip: Tell a damn good story.

A killer name gets attention, but storytelling seals the deal.

Seth Godin (marketing deity and professional bald man) says storytelling connects on an emotional level.

People don’t buy products—they buy promises, identities, and dreams.

Think Tesla selling “saving the planet” or Apple selling “being cooler than Android users.”

Putting It All Together

Hormozi recommends using at least three of these elements to create an offer name that slaps.

Need some inspo? Try these gems I came across this week:

• “10K Club: High-Ticket Client Accelerator” (Baller alert.)

• “Luxury Valentine’s Escape for Newlyweds” (Get ready for some Instagram humblebrags.)

• “72-Hour Cyber Black Friday Blitz: Marketing Pro Toolkit” (If it’s not urgent, is it even a sale?)

So, whip out that MAGIC Formula and tell a story that turns browsers into buyers.

How to Get Lucky Without Selling Your Soul

Let’s talk about luck—not the “I just inherited a yacht” kind, but the kind you can make.

Because, guess what?

Luck isn’t just some mystical force sprinkling fairy dust over your life.

It’s a skill.

Ian Stanley taught this to me in Boise, ID on a life-altering business trip with my brother and my best friend.

And if you want to double your luck in the next six months, George Mack’s got a killer thought experiment that’ll flip the script on how you think about opportunities.

Here’s how I’m working to get luckier in 2025:

1. Stop Netflixing, Start Mingling

When you’ve got two options, pick the one with more luck potential.

Example: cocktail party vs. binging New Girld for the sixth time.

Sure, Nick Miller is hilarious, but guess who’s not at the party making valuable connections?

You.

2. Avoid the Snooze-Fest

Boring people suck your energy and repel opportunities.

Be interesting. Share stories. Crack jokes.

As Chriss Voss says, “Interesting people are interested - on others.”

And whatever you do, don’t be the guy droning on about weather patterns.

Cool people attract cool opportunities.

Simple math.

3. Play Poker, Not Roulette

Roulette is blind luck. Poker is strategy.

Always assume there’s something you can control.

Even if you’re in a losing hand, bluff like your rent depends on it.

Because often, it does.

4. Smash the Scoreboard

Stop keeping track of what people owe you.

Just give. Help good people. Make connections. Share ideas.

The payoff?

A life so full of opportunities you’ll need a bouncer at your funeral.

This is what Jordan Palmer calls the “Palms Down Approach.”

5. Be the Ultimate Wingman

Friend A needs a job, Friend B’s company is hiring.

Introduce them.

It’s a 30-second email for you, but it could change their lives forever.

And guess who they’ll remember when they’re sitting on top of the world?

Yeah, you.

And if they forget? Your soul still feels good anyway.

6. Stay Curious, Not Crusty

Curiosity shrivels with age like a dude jumping in ice water unless you fight back.

See a new trend? Dive in.

Even if it feels like nonsense (talking to you NFT super-believers).

Put 20 hours into understanding it before you dismiss it.

Who knows? You might just stumble onto the next big thing.

7. Chill With Purpose

Not all relaxation is created equal.

Rank your chill-out activities by their impact and time efficiency.

Yoga? Great.

Doomscrolling Twitter? Not so much.

High-leverage relaxation keeps you sharp enough to spot lucky breaks.

Rest should be intentional.

8. Master Advertising

Persuasive advertising isn’t just for selling stuff—it’s a meta-skill for life.

Write a killer resume. Ace a job interview. Sell yourself in any situation.

Most people suck at this, so get good, and you’ll stand out.

You’re always selling.

Here’s a killer book for beginners on that concept: Sell Or Be Sold

9. Screw the News Cycle

By the time the media tells you something’s important, it’s already old news.

Trust your instincts. Think independently.

Make moves before everyone else catches up.

10. Reverse Prison Advice

Forget the “punch the biggest guy” storyline.

Instead, find the best people in your life and help them.

Promote their projects. Give thoughtful feedback. Make intros.

Building others up is the fastest way to build your own luck.

The 1% That Changes Everything

The magic of this thought experiment?

It shifts your focus to the 1% of luck you can control and lets the other 99% go to hell.

That 1% is more than enough to keep you busy—and thriving—for lifetimes.

Now get out there and let’s make our own damn luck.

Collab Culture Needs a Reset and Bimma Williams Has the Plan

Bimma Williams is one of my favorite follows of 2024.

And he’s here to slap the sneaker industry awake with his unfiltered take on what’s working, what’s failing, and what’s straight-up embarrassing.

From Jordan retros to Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton collabs, Bimma’s Collab Lab is dissecting it all—no punches pulled.

The Sneakerhead Origins

At nine years old, Williams was lacing up his Air Jordan 9s, dreaming of being as fresh as his cousin.

By college, he was tracking down rare drops like a heat-seeking missile, amassing a collection that had athletes knocking on his dorm room door for plug status.

This passion turned professional when Williams brought his marketing chops to Saucony in 2013, then to the adidas YEEZY team and Nike, working on collaborations with Travis Scott and ACRONYM.

Why Collabs Are Broken

According to Bimma, today’s sneaker collaborations often lack heart.

They’ve become revenue bandages for brands rather than storytelling masterpieces.

Lazy designs, predictable releases, and a complete neglect of their core audience have left collabs feeling like factory churn.

“Brands are skipping the ‘why,’” he says, emphasizing the need for meaningful stories and creativity over cash grabs.

The Collab Lab Effect

Collab Lab started as a one-off discussion but quickly grew into a platform for unapologetic critique.

Williams isn’t just calling collabs trash; he’s breaking down why they’re trash—or gold.

His aim?

To educate and elevate the next generation of collaborators, ensuring they’re equipped to innovate rather than imitate.

The Recipe for a Killer Collab

For Bimma, a great collab combines two unique perspectives and stays true to a compelling story.

When he worked with Saucony on a project spotlighting up-and-coming creators, he ensured the process—from budget discussions to design revisions—reflected this ethos.

The result?

A partnership that felt authentic and fresh.

The Future of Sneaker Collabs

Williams is on a mission to rip up the recipe book.

To reignite excitement, he believes brands need to:

• Stop pandering to the masses and focus on visionary audiences.

• Ditch the predictable silhouettes and collaborators.

• Reintroduce mystique and surprise.

”The best collabs trick you,” he explains. “They make you feel like you’re part of something special.”

Looking Ahead

With Collab Lab, Williams is shaping the future.

He’s not just critiquing—he’s inspiring.

Whether it’s long-form analyses, books, or speaking tours, his goal is to make sneaker culture smarter, sharper, and more exciting.

Because let’s face it, we all deserve collabs that don’t feel like leftovers.

Bimma Williams is flipping the sneaker world on its head, one collab critique at a time.

His message? Brands, step it up—or step aside.

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