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Archive12

Tom is honored to be on the judging panel of Archive 12, this year’s Chicago Design Archive event, sponsored by The Society of Typographic Arts. The jury consists of Andrew Blauvelt from Walker Art Center, Adam Michaels from Project Projects, Cheryl Towler Weese from StudioBlue, and Alisa Wolfson from Leo Burnett.

The Chicago Design Archive (CDA) is North America’s most extensive permanent collection of current and historical communication design. It concentrates on work from the Chicago area – one of the world’s most vibrant and innovative centers for design. Artists and designers whose work is represented include Charles & Ray Eames, Man Ray, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Raymond Loewy, Oswald Cooper, John Massey, Martin Goldsholl, Art Paul, Dana Arnett, Greg Samata, Rick Valicenti, Bob Vogele, Herman Zapf and dozens of others.

Visit the site here.

Create Great Podcast, Episode 16

Tom recently joined David Bennett on Create Great, a podcast featuring creative voices from across industries and disciplines. Their conversation traces Tom's path from the North of England to founding Manual in San Francisco, exploring what he's discovered about building genuine client relationships and navigating the complexities of creative collaboration. Tom discusses why clear communication often trumps clever design, how to handle the inevitable tensions between vision and feedback, and the particular responsibility that comes with shaping the brands people encounter daily. It's an honest look at taste, timing, and the understated influence of branding work—helping craft the everyday things people see, use, and connect with.

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