He’s a bit of an oxymoron, though. He’s made it big while choosing to stay small. He dispenses wisdom while simultaneously being self-deprecating. He doesn’t care about budgets or money, yet has launched multiple brands. He’s doing everything possible to make it in the little leagues.

Designers gravitate towards Aaron’s authenticity, transparency, passion, humility, and relatability not just as a fellow designer, but as a regular human. Chris talks with the people's champion, Aaron Draplin, about having a following among your peers, honoring your parents, and managing success. Aaron talks about his philosophy of working small, and the joy he is able to pull out of the world he has created around himself.

Warning: a good amount of swearing is involved in this episode.

Though Aaron has amassed a pretty big following in the design community, he’s really focused on keeping it small. He won’t live in a major market like LA or New York, and notes that working with budgets in the thousands is plenty for him. Why?

For Aaron, it’s all about living a comfortable life. Although he’s hustled to get to where he is without the financial aid of his parents, he’s kept a humble attitude towards his profession. Aaron’s outlook on life stems from how he was raised, and is one of the many reasons why so many designers gravitate towards him.