[🦩] First Look at JUST Serif + The Business of Expertise
Published 1 day ago • 4 min read
G'day!
This weekend was filled with sport.
My son's soccer match. My own soccer match.
Then watching the Knicks (who I follow from my five year stint in NYC) somehow come out on top. What a nail-biter!!
We were FaceTiming our friends in New York and the energy was wiiiilld. I miss that place!
It’s where my wife and I got together, and where I spent my early 20s burning the candle at both ends living the agency life working for brands like Nike, Disney, Jerry Seinfeld and Nintendo.
And then, of course, the Aussie Socceroos beat Turkey 2-0 in the World Cup with only about 30% possession and only a few shots on goal.
There's probably a lesson in there for business, branding, and life but sometimes you just gotta take the win & not turn it into some half-baked wisdom.
Tune into the JUST Branding Podcast with my marvellous co-host Matt Davies and I as we unpack why execution is getting cheaper, why judgment is becoming more valuable, and how creative professionals can move from selling labour to selling expertise. Listen or watch here.
Brand Builders Summit Update
I've also been deep in Brand Builders Summit planning mode, and it’s shaping up to be a truly elevated event.
This year, 40+ global brand leaders are coming together to help designers, strategists, marketers, and creative entrepreneurs become the brand builder AI can't replace.
We've already had several of last year's sponsors sign back on again, which is a strong sign that the event is creating real value for both attendees and partners. If you'd like to become a partner or sponsor please reply to this email for packages.
Brand Strategy Pricing Survey
If you’ve ever wondered what other people charge for brand strategy, what they deliver for that money, whether they discount, or whether they price hourly, fixed fee, or value based, please contribute to this completely anonymous brand strategy pricing survey being put together by the brilliant Sarah Robb.
Sarah also has a brilliant course on brand strategy. If you’re looking for an exclusive subscriber discount, reply back and I’ll send you the code. Sarah is also a resident mentor inside Brand Builders Alliance and a partner of the summit, so you’re in good hands.
Upcoming events in Brand Builders Alliance:
Brand Builders Alliance members get year round access to masterclasses, group coaching, resources, co-working, and a thriving community designed to help you grow your skills and creative business.
If you want access to these events, mentorship, resources, and community, join the waitlist.
Upcoming sessions include:
The $50K Proposal Method with Kenzi & Marisafrom Brief Collective (June 16)
Group Coaching with Me (June 23)
5 Essential Systems Every Business Needs with Satya Raju (July 2)
Mastering Your Mindset with resident mentor, Jenny Jarvis (July 8)
Web Strategy Masterclass — Conversations, Clarity & Conversions (+ AI Systems) with with resident mentor, Gigi (July 14)
Plus 3x Co-Working Sessions every week
JUST Serif Sneak Peek
Take your first look at JUST Serif.
JUST Serif is the perfect companion to our best selling sans, JUST Sans.
It has been designed as a modern serif that combines editorial sophistication with human warmth and a distinctive flair.
I created the brief for JUST Serif after noticing a gap in the market.
There are plenty of editorial typefaces that feel sophisticated, and plenty of Didone style serifs that feel luxurious and elegant, but I struggled to find something that balanced refinement, warmth, authority, and character in quite the right way.
The result is a contemporary high contrast serif with sculpted flared serifs, editorial authority, and distinctive details that give it a personality of its own. You can especially see this in letters like the a, c, f, and r. And just look at that number 7, my personal fav.
It has also been designed to pair beautifully with JUST Sans & JUST Sans Outline, with similar x-heights and character proportions so the two families can work together across brand systems, editorial layouts, websites, and content.
The type designer I am collaborating with, Russell Bean, and I are about halfway through the process now, with three master weights created and around 120 characters drawn.
Next, we're refining the variable font, expanding the character set with punctuation and extended characters, then moving into kerning, hinting, and final production.
My intention is to release two weights for free and the other 5 weights available to license via Envato, MyFonts and other platforms.
BBA is the ultimate membership for brand builders. Get the support, guidance, and resources to master branding and grow a thriving creative business —together.
