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Part 2 of “If I were Brett Veach” is live! I wrote about in-house free agents and who I would prioritize if I were Veach.
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I’m so excited to launch Design School and share my first post this week.
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My target audience on Substack is…
• Marketers – navigating generative AI and the evolving creative landscape
• Creators – considering how AI will enable new ways to monetize
• GenAI Artists – looking for inspiration and community
• Business leaders – who want to stay ahead of the curve
• Futurists – who love imagining the art of possible
• The AI-curious – fascinated by how AI is transforming the world
🚀🚀🚀
Trump is pushing forward with his plans to create a "Crypto Strategic Reserve."
No one has bothered to explain why diverting government resources into crypto has ANY STRATEGIC BENEFIT FOR THE UNITED STATES.
The only benefit is for people who are current investors in crypto.
It's a grift.
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For now, the Democrats’ calls to “reinvent themselves” are rhetorical than actual. Even if moderates try to shift the conversation away from identity politics or radical positions, it doesn’t make sense that the party base will follow. Even if progressives try to rally the rank and file around a bold economic populism, there is no reason…
I went to a party last week in Trump’s DC. It was exhilarating in a way that made me very uneasy.
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I have no idea what to make of this. It cannot possibly be as stupid as it appears, can it?
Washington Post columnist talked to my friend and colleague Jordan Castro about his writing and way of thinking about culture. What Jordan says in this interview encapsulates much of what the and the broader Cluny Institute is doing. I’m grateful to work alongside him. The profile:
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Research shows that speaking to strangers has a subtle but significant effect on our happiness. It turns out that the seemingly trivial social encounters — chatting up a person in the elevator, making small talk with the Starbucks barista, or even just smiling at a passerby — can have profound positive changes in your mood.
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At 4 p.m. today, the U.S. Senate votes to remove a rule that bans debanking, a practice where banks, financial institutions, payment processors, and even certain services in the digital finance sector, like cryptocurrency platforms, deny services to clients based on political, reputational, or ideological grounds.
You made it, you own it
You always own your intellectual property, mailing list, and subscriber payments. With full editorial control and no gatekeepers, you can do the work you most believe in.
I could never post this one enough.
I've been on Substack a few weeks but l've never really introduced myself, I'm Chris, editorial creative director of The Guardian, graphic artist and musician based In London with my wife, two children (and two cats)
Core to my design belief is the power of design to facilitate social change, something that has guided my career for the past fifteen years. As the Editorial Creative Director at The Guardian, I’ve spent these years using design to tell stories, challenge assumptions, and drive social change. To me, design isn’t just about making things look good—it’s about making people think, feel, and act. Real creativity isn’t about knowing more; it’s about noticing more. It comes from being present, embracing uncertainty, and seeing the world differently.
I’ve set up this Substack as place to explore where design thinking meets mindfulness, exploring how letting go of over-complication creates space for clarity, impact, and meaningful change—on the page and in life.
Portrait by: Ossi Piispanen (2025)
Proud: Typographic poster created for frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am subscriber. Please continue your independent thought. Jettisoned all other big media like NYT, Wapo, etc.
Thanks Roberto! Kind of you. 🫡
Chris, this introduction really resonates! The idea of design as a tool for social change and storytelling is something I deeply connect with. I’m also in London and just wanted to say I truly appreciate all the work you do at The Guardian. Excited to follow along as you explore the intersection of design thinking and mindfulness. And welcome to Substack! It’s such a great space for sharing ideas and connecting with like-minded people🙂
That’s wonderful! lovely to meet you Mary. Thanks for the kind welcome.
Ace bit of typography on your ‘Proud’ poster. I also loved your torn paper collage illustrations ( for what I can’t remember) but they were so refreshing after a media diet of manipulated, Photoshopped possible AI-masticated images.
Scissors, paper, glue, paint and a designer’s eye. Bliss, Chris!
Ah thanks! Kind of you and lovely to meet you. There’s more on that here:
Thanks Josh! Lovely to meet you!
Fellow believer that design has the power to spark conversation and ignite change. Love your mindset on how we see the world differently and simplifying things can help create a bigger impact.
Looking forward to reading more from you. Welcome to substack!
Amazing. In news reporting on ‘abstract’ matters such as climate change, visual language is so important to aid our collective imagination and translate it into action.
Oh absolutely — Climate has always been a tricky one to convey urgency without using imagery we’ve long desensitised ourselves too. A couple examples here.
Hello, worked as a designer/creative director in a publishing house or two. Welcome and good to meet you
Wonderful to meet you!
Chris, this is such a lovely intro, looking forward to reading your stuff here. You might be interested in the upcoming book “The Invention of Design: A Twentieth Century History.” Full disclosure that the author is my sister, so I’m biased, but it sounds like it might be up your alley!
This looks great! Thank you so much for sharing!
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Hey friends, I’m a senior editor at Penguin Random House.
New to substack, but I’ll be posting tips about writing and publishing here weekly.
Excited to connect with you all.
I could never post this one enough.
