Don't chicken out about talking to people
Substantive advice and a bit of nonsense inside
A better world is possible
We're back with books and snacks
Everyone is into birds again
Your friends at Mule saying hello and telling you about various events and items
We are a design studio.
Seventeen and over it. We’re going to keep this short, like Rupert. Yesterday, I got a message from a nice person asking for some professional advice because...
2025 Holiday Gift Guide
RIP 2025 Sock of Shit Welcome to the 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, which honestly should’ve gone out last week but who cares because time isn’t real, so fuck it....
Don't be chicken about presenting your work!
Here’s Erika wearing a chicken mask. Happy Pride. Don’t kink shame. The following is an excerpt from Design Is a Job: It’s worth discussing why people get...
It’s June, I guess
Hi. It’s June. I’m glad you’re still here. Here’s some stuff you might find interesting. Workshop Row Are people in your organization arguing over which...
Just a little off the top
TL;DR: Gilly enamel pins are back. Yes, you want one. Here’s this week’s excerpt from Design Is a Job 2: Feedback Is Not About You Too often we use feedback...
Let’s ask some questions
“Who asked for this?” “WTF is a frunk, and how dare you?” “How does this help anyone but shareholders?” “Why don't we replace your executive job with AI?”...
Happy May Day Week
Yes, we celebrate May Day for a whole week. And since some of you celebrate your birthday for a whole week, I know you’re on board. This May Day week is...
Worshopalooza & some chicken shit
🚨LAST CALL🚨Let’s Do Design Research Right is happening this Thursday, April 17. Come hang out with Erika Hall and learn the joy of asking the right...
Drop a body on the floor
TL;DR: Sign up for next week’s Presenting w/Confidence workshop. The following is an excerpt from Design Is a Job, the Necessary Second Edition: I am a fan...
Give trans people money
Three glow-in-the-dark buttons. Happy Tuesday. New merch alert! I made some buttons. You can get them if you order a Design Is a Job zine. Which is $7. Also,...
Let’s Do Design Research Right!
TL;DR: Come hang out with Erika this Thursday. Learn about doing good research, taking down your enemies, and why AI is bullshit. Yes, yes, you want these...
We love you. You pay our rent.
Happy 2025, everyone. Hold on. Many years ago, at a previous job, one of my co-workers walked into the office and wished everyone a good morning. The office...
2024 Holiday Gift Guide
Hurray. It’s time for the Mule Design 2024 Holiday Gift Guide! Once upon a time, gift shopping was relatively easy. You’d hit the little shops on your main...
Introducing Mule Books
An angry chicken on an orange background. Painted by Erika. Hello. There will be nothing depressing in this newsletter. If that’s what you’re looking for...
It’s festive gourd season, almost.
I just need to keep running until you idiots get focused on turkeys. It’s September. Everything is terrible. Eat trash. Stop working. Paint chickens. Also,...
Books are cooking
Hi, it’s Erika. Don’t ask me how the new book is going. OK, you can ask, but don’t ask “How far along are you?” Progress isn’t linear. Progress is a...
Crabs in a bucket
Hello, for those of us in the northern hemisphere1, summer is coming. For some of you that means vacation2! As a public service, here’s an excerpt from the...