Ep 092 – Armin Vit, Brand New – Doing What You Love

Featuring: Armin Vit, Brand New In Episode 092 of Agency Bytes, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Armin Vit, co-founder of Under Consideration and editor of the wildly popular blog Brand New. As someone who’s followed Armin’s work for nearly two decades, this was a bucket-list conversation for me. We dove into the early days of design blogging and how Brand New evolved from a passion project into a thriving subscription-based business. Armin shared why he and his partner Bryony chose to lean into events and community-building over running a traditional design agency — and how that shift has shaped their success. We also got into some fun topics like logo trends, what makes a redesign impactful, and how design can spark conversation. But what really stood out were Armin’s insights for agency owners — from taking calculated risks to staying organized with something as simple (and powerful) as spreadsheets. If you’re an agency owner or a design enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this episode. Armin’s perspective on balancing creativity, business, and community is inspiring and packed with practical takeaways. Key Bytes • The transition to a subscription model was driven by the pandemic. • In-house design is gaining recognition and importance in the industry. • The Brand New blog has evolved in writing style and audience engagement. • Airbnb's logo change is a prime example of design conviction. • Design trends often emerge simultaneously across the industry. • Community engagement through events is a key passion for Armin. • Calculated risks are essential for agency growth and survival. • Spreadsheets help organize thoughts and data effectively. • The design industry is shifting towards valuing in-house talent. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Armin Vit and Under Consideration 08:10 Passion for Events and Community Engagement 15:01 The Brand New Blog and Its Evolution 20:59 Identifying Design Trends in Real Time 30:01 Valuable Business Advice for Agency Owners Born and raised in Mexico City, Armin Vit is a graphic designer and writer now living in Bloomington, IN. He is co-founder of UnderConsideration, a graphic design firm generating its own projects, initiatives, and content. He is the editor and primary writer of the popular blog Brand New. Along with his wife and business partner, Bryony Gomez-Palacio, he is the co-organizer and co-host of the Brand New Conference (established in 2010) as well as of First Round (established in 2018) and In-house In-focus In-person (launching in 2025). Cumulatively they have curated a selection of more than 450 individual speakers and hosted more than 12,000 attendees since 2010. Contact Armin on any of his Instagram accounts: Personal, Brand New, In-House In-Focus, Brand New Conference, or on the Under Consideration website.