For those who are new here, I run a small studio called Super Keen with my co-founder Lauren. Because we’re so small, we try to keep our overhead costs to a minimum and for the majority of the time we work from home. Our clients and collaborators are worldwide and even the few in NYC rarely prefer in-person meetings. Lately, though, I’ve been dreaming of an office space (this will pass) and imagining what a physical SKHQ would be like.
This is part of a larger conversation Lauren and I always have: to scale or not to scale. There are pros and cons to both but so far the benefits of remaining small have always won. I have a great WFH setup but I can go a little stir-crazy cooped up in my apartment. Sometimes I also feel like I’m not taking full advantage of living in a city like New York, missing out on the in-person connection and “water cooler moments” of in-office culture. We occasionally work from Index, a wonderful shared space in Chinatown which has partly satiated this need but tragically I have Goldilocks tendencies and am always looking for a solution that fits me perfectly which of course rarely exists.
Getting our own space would open up more growth opportunities but I fear it would cause more anxiety and financial pressure than it’s worth. I’m so curious about studios that are a similar size and age as us and what made them finally commit to brick and mortar. If that’s you, hit me up :)
For now, I’ll share some lovely studio spaces below for us all to enjoy.
Send me a pic of your studio space if you have one!
— Gabby
Resource of the Week
Sometimes I bookmark a resource and completely forget if I ended up sharing it or not? Anyway, this website has a bunch of downloadable AI assets but what I thought was different about it is that it gives you access to the prompts used to make them too.
Lucky Dip Links
Beauty Matters
FastCo wrote a few words about the panel I was on last week for their Innovation Festival. We mostly spoke about how beauty can help your products succeed, but a 20 minute panel is tough to properly discuss all the nuances.
Playlist Studio
Our friends and collaborators of Super Keen have a shiny new site! Show Playlist Studio some love.
How To Start a Startup
Paul Graham notes on the matter. The full essay is here and I laughed at how true this statement is: “You could probably write a book about how to succeed in business by doing everything in exactly the opposite way from the DMV.”
Dupes Evolved
This article about dupe culture was pretty interesting. As someone who always hated the expression “imitation is the highest form of flattery”, there are, admittedly, some good points in here, but I do think that’s partially because the term ”dupe” is evolving.
Pave Motors
After seeing one of these in person I can confirm it’s a very attractive ebike. Skrrt skrrt!* … *for seven grand.
The 10-Year Regret Test
If you’re struggling to make a big decision then this video could be helpful. You ask yourself “Will this matter in 10 years?”. Another question I frequently ask myself in these situations is “What would the 8-year-old and 80-year-old versions of myself think about this?”
A New Start After 60
Obsessed with any and all stories that remind me my life isn’t over because I’m past 30. Especially 82-year-old ladies making art.
All resources and links are shared purely because I think they are cool, interesting, or helpful. No content is sponsored unless explicitly stated. I am open to submissions but can’t promise they’ll be featured.
Still want more? Check out the directory where all the (curated) links live.
OMGLORD
Things that make G–Lord say OMG
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yes! alot of my design buds have been chatting about finding studio space lately too...but it seems so daunting or scary to make the first leap, esp in nyc. I appreciated Decade sharing this: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAUBA8VyX5Z/?img_index=1 with how much they paid in rent cause this looks 🤗