David Brown

Orbit30 is a series reflecting on thirty years in design — looking back at the moments, lessons, and decisions that shaped the path forward. This one feels like a place to land. open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

Hi from the UK 👋 open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

DesignNova takes a behind-the-scenes look at some of the world’s most iconic brands, uncovering the stories, strategy, and systems that made them enduring. Some logos identify. Others guide. A rare few shape the way an entire city moves. open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

Orbit30 is a look back at the moments that shaped a 30-year career in design, leadership, and creative problem-solving. Over time, you realize great teams aren’t defined by avoiding mistakes. They’re defined by how they respond when things go wrong. open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

DesignNova takes a behind-the-scenes look at some of the world’s most iconic brands, uncovering the stories, strategy, and systems that made them enduring. Some logos identify. Others guide. A rare few shape the way an entire city moves. open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

Great story. Give it a read. "From crisis call to Elvis in about twelve seconds."

Great teams aren’t defined by avoiding mistakes. They’re defined by how they respond when things go wrong. Because things will go wrong. open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

To be continued tomorrow, but here's where we left off in the Ball-Eating Bush story arc:

"I will scrub everything to do with Trump from the national psyche and put every one of his shitheel accomplices through Nuremburg 2.0" would be extremely unifying

Why is President Trump denigrating the sacrifice of NATO allies? www.cnn.com/2026/01/22/p...

Way to go Carney! I continue to thank my lucky stars and thank my Ukrainian immigrant grandparents who chose to immigrate to Canada. We must never be complacent about our democracy. ( Just as a side note my grandparents left Ukraine because they were afraid the Russians would try to take Ukraine.)

Okay everyone we can relax, alert Trump, our Fentanyl border czar Bonhomme is on the job:

The fuck?

Saves us a billion dollars 🤷‍♂️

The reality is that 2024 was a fundamental test of the moral character of the nation and we failed spectacularly. We’re living with the consequences now. Maybe we improve. I hope so.

We need to, state by U.S. state, take our signs out of the window David. We've gone on way to long trying to get along and it's not working. The great rupture is as much domestic (U.S.) as well international. Mark Carneys speech, is blueprint of how to improve it all.

Do it. Americans need to feel the pain and suffer. It may help to finally get them off their asses and deal with Trump. www.cnbc.com/2026/01/20/s...

“Canada can be a stronger, better, fairer country once we close our door to the United States. There is neither need nor reason to panic. Trump’s trade war is our opportunity to remake Canada the way we want it.”

For no particular reason, I'm reposting this piece in The Atlantic about why America would not survive an attempt to conquer Canada. www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

It’s sad we have to read these think pieces but it’s coming, I fear. www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

Safe harbour 🛟

So… it looks like the US is actually getting set to invade Greenland. I can’t believe this is the week NATO dies. Get me out of this timeline…

There’s def been a sharpening of the tone from European leaders to 🇺🇸 Democrats demanding these collaborators actually fight. I’d like to see the commencement of the gradual dumping of 🇺🇸 treasuries (why r we waiting?) & I like the idea of suspension of 🇺🇸 tourist visas that was suggested this AM.

Trump's two election wins and the total inability of US institutions to restrain his domestic/foreign policy depravity or remove him have permanently destroyed the myth of American Exceptionalism.

Never again wonder why Russia was willing to spend billions getting Trump into office. Sadly, the Brits STILL don't understand it's all happening again with Farage.

Mark Carney = trader Pierre Poilievre = traitor

25th amendment now. Or remove him by force.

Sunday, funday.

I say this as someone with friends and co-workers based in the US: The world doesn’t see this as Dems/Republicans. They see it as America. And honestly, Trump rose to prominence and was elected twice because… this is largely who America is now. You’re all complicit. Fucking do something.

Our neighbour and us were chatting yesterday about the real possibility of a US invasion of Canada and how we’d survive, blockade our neighbourhood and I’d be a sniper from the Juliet balcony off of our bedroom… Insane times.

When everything sucks, read comics I say! If you like mediocre comics, Canada and hockey, give @planetjoey.bsky.social a follow!

#HeatedRivalry

Masked, unidentifiable chuds ganging up to kidnap innocent people in broad daylight, out in the open. In a country where many civilians are armed. Of course someone is going to fire on them. It's like how October 7th was an IDF production.

Over on my Substack, I’m diving into a series on AI for creative leaders. The first instalment dropped today. Subscribe to follow along: open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

Stay focused, Joey.

The Dispatch: A Year of Motion open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...

Fresh off of making the team and being issued his fresh new yellow bucket, Joey suits up officially for the Cold Springs Golden Turkeys in front of family and friends in a jam-packed arena! What could possibly go wrong? 🏒🦃

When Herb’s in charge of Santa’s snacks, only the finest will do. 🎅🧀✨ #PlanetJoey #HolidayHumor #ChristmasComics #Webcomics #FestiveFun #Charcuterie

Wishing all of you a very, Merry Christmas! Even Gaston and Mimi. 💣🎅🎄

One of my favourite Planet Joey comics. I log off from the day job today until January 5th, so… family time + comic time, here we go!

Alright, Planet Joey readers... It's time for a few weeks of some holiday content! First up, it's time to decorate! It's time to trim up the tree, Joey! 🎄⭐ Be careful! #PlanetJoey #christmastradition #webcomics #comicart #comicart #holidaydecor

Oh, so is this why Tim Houston was so hell bent on changing the coastline laws or whatever that was, last year? Who, below the age of 60 is even golfing anymore?

Not parody.

"We tend to think of misinformation as a universal problem, with all sides of the political spectrum equally guilty of bending the truth or spreading falsehoods. A new study shows otherwise." Misinformation isn’t just a problem — it’s a political strategy.

For someone who was supposedly at death’s door three weeks ago, Trump seems to be perfectly feisty and still bonkers beyond belief.

Micro Brands: sharp, specific, sometimes a little unhinged… and impossible to ignore My new Substack series Tiny Giants kicks off today. First up: what these brands are, why they matter, and what they reveal about where design, trust, and culture are headed. open.substack.com/pub/orbitstu...