Designer Recommended: Dave Brown’s Favorite Creative Tools and Gear
Dave Brown has spent his whole career making great stuff. Image c/o Dave Brown. Design by Julianna Collares.
Dave Brown has built an enviable creative career with the right mix of indie spirit and business savvy. It began when he founded his creative agency Holiday Matinee, started a record label, wrote a book on creative inspiration, and toured the world with several bands. Then it continued with taking on product and marketing leadership positions at Microsoft, Amazon, and Etsy. Brown is currently the head of creative for the restaurant division at Square, where he oversees the strategy and ideation for the company’s restaurant business. Their latest work is a “Yes Chef” billboard above the Mr. Beef restaurant in Chicago where the next two seasons of The Bear are being filmed. “At our best, a creative team is like a kitchen team,” wrote Brown. “We work in harmony and build on each other’s strengths.”
Since Brown is always turning people onto cool, creative stuff, we asked him to share his favorite tools, products, and gear. Below find his choice notepad, stickers, and keychain along with his last splurge and go-to gift for his creative friends.
1. The Products I Use the Most in My Creative Life:
Being a boss is about more than bossing people around / Mr Corpo
The Mellow Recovery Slides look and feel like clouds / Crocs.
I’m a sucker for good books and comfy kicks. Here’s two that help me show up strong and healthy for my people. Btw, being a boss isn’t easy but damn if it ain’t rewarding.
Purchase it now for $20: “How to be a boss” by Justin Kerr.
Purchase it now for $49.99: Crocs Mellow Recovery Slides.
2. The Most Unexpected Tool I Use in My Line of Work:
Sticker Mule can customize anything to your heart’s desire.
As a creative leader, building and fostering team culture is everything. And a great way to build upon that is to invest in surprise and delight moments - it doesn’t have to be anything fancy as it’s the little things that add up to the big things. Sticker Mule makes designing a personalized gift so easy - be it coasters, shirts, stickers, magnets.
3. Products Outside My Work Life That I Obsess Over:
Look at these fun illustrated folx!
I’m a big-time fan of Carolyn Suzuki. Her notepads and greeting cards have made for a ton of great gifts, or found their way into welcome kits when I onboard new hires. Her “faces” notepad is my personal favorite. And on the flip-side, I’ve been playing ice-hockey for the past couple years and no one makes a better bag to fit all your gear than Conway + Banks. Being the old man that I am, I opt for the wheeled version and lemme tell you, your back will thank you.
Purchase it now for $11.99: Carolyn Suzuki Faces Note Pad
Purchase it now for $249: Conway+Banks Hockey Bag
4. Best Product Ever (for under $20):
Easily find your keys with this handy, stylish key clip.
Good design still tugs at my wallet heart. I’m a big fan of this Colorado-based adventure company, Topo. Over the years I’ve added their dopp kits, backpacks, hats…just A+ craftsmanship and clean design. This keychain is no different, I recommend the turquoise and use it on the daily.
Purchase it now for $12: Key Clip.
5. Favorite Gift to Give to My Creative Friends
Wareheim and food go together like Brown and chicken parm. Apparently.
So look, I’m a little biased here as I’m a pretty big foodie and my day job is leading creative for Square’s F&B products, but this book has it all. If I’m not sending this book, I’m probably sending a meal via GoldBelly but that sh*t adds up quick. Eric might be a damn funny comedian but trust me, he + food go together like me and chicken parm.
Purchase it for $35: Foodheim: A culinary adventure
6. My Favorite App on My Phone that Says A Lot About Me
Stay organized without the headache of syncing devices.
Turn your photos into virtual puzzles.
Work-wise THINGS keeps all my sh*t organized — from random ideas and 1:1 notes to gift suggestions and project to-do’s, I love how it syncs seamlessly on all my devices and there’s no monthly subscription fee.
Outside of work, it’s Jigsaw Puzzle Plus. There’s a feature where you can take a photo or choose from your photo-library and it instantly turns it into a puzzle. Forget Ai, this shit is magic and I love playing this with my kids.
Purchase it now for $9.99: Things 3 for iPhone.
Purchase it now for free (with in-app purchases): Jigsaw Puzzles Epic.
7. My Last (Product) Splurge:
Use Tidbyt to check the weather, track train times & follow sports.
The intersection of digital and physical is a space I’m fascinated with and Tidbyt absolutely nails it. It’s like having your own personal ticker — I’ve got mine in my home office and the content cycles between stocks, my work calendar, weather and a reminder to go for a walk.
Purchase it now for $199: Tidbyt
8. The Top Item on My Dream Shopping List:
Cargo pants are back. To some, they pull together any outfit. (To others, they don’t, and we’ll continue to fight about it!)
The field pant by Outerknown are on my dream list because who knew pants were so damn expensive. Cargo pants making a comeback y’all. F*ck it, I’m using my tax return on these.
Purchase it now for $148: The Field Pant.
9. The Product that I need for my creative work that doesn’t yet exist:
Entrance music. Our meetings would be so much better if Google/Zoom would add this as a feature. Imagine walking into that OKR meeting with Thunderstruck to kick you off.
Listen here: Entrance music.
10. Favorite Work of Art That I Own or Want to Own:
James Victore/Instagram.
This “weird kid” print by James Victore is my favorite work of art in our home. I grew up a total weirdo and continue to hold my ear toward unique, strange subcultures. Here’s to embracing your weirdness.
If you’d like to read more from Creative Factor, find our latest stories here.
