Mike Schnaidt
/
Mike Schnaidt
VICE PRESIDENT
Current job: Creative Director, Fast Company
What’s your superpower? Laser focus
3 things you can’t live without:
Coffee in the morning
Beer at night
Lotsa water in between
Name an inspiring Instagram feed: @swissgraphic
What’s on your bucket list for 2022? Oh, I would love to design a book. Maybe write some more too. But I’m not very good at the latter.
A mistake you made early in your career: My superpower is also my downfall. I got too focused too early in my career. I should’ve explored more areas of design before committing to publishing.
Favorite streaming TV show: Desus & Mero. It’s incredible (and hysterical) to watch their synapses fire at full blast.
What's your advice for young creatives? in college, they don’t really teach you how to collaborate with other creatives. It’s like a two-person saw. One side pushes; the other pulls. If the two forces don’t flow smoothly back and forth, the results are messy. Tension is required, but it’s good tension. Know when to push, and when to let go.
What (or who) inspires you? Those who came before me and those who will come after. I can’t read enough about the design masters. I’m a process junkie. And now I teach, which is exhilarating. The constant sparks of curiosity that I see within my students keep my own pilot light for design burning.
