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In July, we had the pleasure of welcoming a longtime friend, creative force, and kindred spirit—Aaron Draplin—to the Watson studio as part of our ongoing Speaker Series.
If you’re in design and you haven’t heard of Draplin, we’d be surprised. But in case you’ve been living off the grid (which, to be fair, Aaron might actually admire), here’s the short version: he’s the founder of Draplin Design Co., co-creator of Field Notes, author of Pretty Much Everything, and a national treasure in Carhartt.
His client list includes Nike, Esquire, Apple, Red Wing, the Obama Administration, and Ford, among others. But what sets Draplin apart isn’t just the work—it’s the thinking behind the work. The intention. The rigor. The relentless defense of clarity over trend-chasing. That’s what brought him to Watson. And that’s what resonated most with our team.
https://www.draplin.com/
This wasn’t a celebrity drop-in. It was a creative exchange.
Matt Watson and Aaron Draplin have long operated in overlapping circles—each forged in the Pacific Northwest, each shaped by an appreciation for craft, grit, and design that actually means something. There’s real respect between them, not just for each other’s portfolio, but for the philosophy behind it.
The afternoon unfolded more like a studio jam session than a keynote. Aaron rolled in with his iconic orange DDC road case (yes, it’s real), a box of books, and a head full of unfiltered design stories—equal parts insight and irreverence. He walked us through his process, his toolbox, his career trajectory—and maybe most importantly, his values.
