Before & After: Timeless Design Lessons

About this episode

This episode explores timeless design lessons from John McWade and the impact of Before & After Magazine on visual communication.

Great design lessons outlive the tools, trends, and even the formats they were created in. In this episode, David Blatner and Mike Rankin revisit the work of John McWade and Before & After Magazine . It's a look at why foundational design thinking still matters and how McWade's work continues to shape how creatives see and communicate. You'll hear how Before & After began in 1990 and why it resonated with both designers and non-designers. McWade focused on clear, practical lessons that helped people communicate visually, not just learn the tools. There's also a personal layer to this story. David and Mike share how the archive found its way to CreativePro, and what it means to bring this work forward for a new generation. Have a memory of John McWade or Before & After ? Share it with us in the comments. We'd love to hear how his work impacted you. Episode Highlights Hear how John McWade saw the future of desktop publishing early and made a bold career shift before the industry fully existed Learn why Before & After Magazine focused on teaching people how to see, not just how to use design tools Listen as David and Mike explain why design techniques outlast software, and why that…

People in this episode

Hosts: David Blatner, Mike Rankin

Topics covered

• design lessons
• visual communication
• foundational design thinking
• Before & After Magazine
• desktop publishing
• self-taught creatives

Keywords

• design
• visual communication
• Before & After
• John McWade
• foundational design
• desktop publishing
• creative skills

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Before & After Magazine, CreativePro

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