Jason Carne has been doing lettering professionally for two decades. His client list reads like a mashup of a record store, a sports bar, and a spirits cabinet — and that range isn't accidental. It's the result of staying a student of lettering long after most people would've gotten comfortable. In this conversation, Jason and Joe get into how that career actually gets built: the early days doing hardcore merch, the pivot toward packaging and branding, the Stanley Cup project that came in during COVID and somehow still landed, and the ongoing challenge of positioning yourself without losing what makes your work yours.

Key Takeaways

• Jason started in design through the NJ hardcore and metal scene ( making flyers, album art, and MySpace layouts for friends' bands
• The Stanley Cup project came through Fan Brandz (via a conference connection with Mike Sulik), got shelved when COVID hit, and was quietly approved once sports resumed
• When he works with big names (Harley-Davidson, NHL, Wu-Tang ) he's rarely talking directly to them. There's always a layer between. Know what you're claiming and how.
• Closer and Closer reps him; roughly 50% of his work comes through them, the rest direct
• He's currently repositioning his site to focus on two things: high-end spirits packaging and logo/branding work
• Carmel Type Co fonts (including Botanist, Railroad Company)
• The Lettering Library to preserve lettering and design from the past.
• His ideal art director gives some guardrails, then trusts the creative like the positive experience working with Joe Baron
• When work slows down: focus on personal work, fill gaps with less glamorous jobs, and reach back out to clients you already have relationships with

"Give me some guardrails, but trust me enough to do my thing." - Jason Carne

0:00 - Preview
0:04- Intro
1:19 - Influence of the Hardcore Scene on Design
2:34 - Tom was everyone's 1st friend
3:01 - Creative Challenges in High-Stake Projects
4:12 - The Stanley Cup Project
5:45 - Working with Smaller Agencies vs. Big Brands
7:50 - Navigating Client Relationships and Expectations
8:52 - Lettering is Easy
12:52 - Relationships in the Creative Industry
16:57 - Quality Work and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
19:45 - Client Needs vs. Personal Vision
22:19 - Marketing Yourself as a designer
25:10 - Art Representation
28:26 - Navigating NDAs
30:07 - Jason Carne's Type Foundry
33:08 - The Business of Fonts
35:57 - Preserving Design History with the Lettering Library
40:02 - Art Directors nailing it like Joe Baron
44:46 - Adapting to Slow Periods
45:18 - Rapid Fire Questions

Connect with US

https://markit2me.com/

Jason Carne

http://jasoncarne.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasoncarne

Behance: https://behance.net/jasoncarne

Joe Baron

https://www.brandedbaron.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandedbaron/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/brandedbaron

From launching KnightMare Apparel at the University of Central Florida in 1997 to founding Deli Fresh Threads in 2013, Biggie shares lessons learned from nearly three decades of entrepreneurship. He breaks down how turning a sandwich into a brand universe led to restaurant partnerships, monthly SandwichEatUp events, and a loyal following built through connection — not just content.

We dive into:
• Why packaging is marketing
• The power of community over paid ads
• Hard lessons in production and inventory
• Expanding beyond parody into sports-inspired designs
• Transparency in small brand building
• What it really means to measure success

This episode isn’t about sandwiches, it’s about turning a product into a place.

CONNECT WITH US

Guest Info

Anthony "Biggie" Bencomo

Website: http://delifreshthreads.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/delifreshthreads/

Host Info
Joe Baron
Website: https://www.brandedbaron.com/

Mark It 2 Me
Website: http://markit2me.com/
instagram -   / markit2me  

Connect with Ian Paget

Website: https://logogeek.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/logogeek

Connect with Joe Baron / Branded Baron

Website: https://www.brandedbaron.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandedbaron

Connect with Mark It 2 Me Podcast

Website: https://www.markit2me.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markit2me

Listen to Part 1

If you haven’t already, check out Part 1 of this conversation where we discuss:

• Mental health in the creative industry
• The reality behind “fixing” brand logos
• Why creative block might not actually exist
• The importance of community

In this episode of Mark It 2 Me, I sit down with logo designer, educator, and founder of Logo Geek, Ian Paget, to break down the early stages of his journey to building a respected platform within the design community.

We talk about how he got started in graphic design, the realities of freelancing, and what it takes to stay consistent long enough to see real progress.

A major part of this conversation also focuses on mental health. the pressure creatives face, the importance of work-life balance, and why taking care of yourself is just as important as developing your skills.

Ian shares insights on overcoming creative block, why it’s often more about mindset than ability, and how building a supportive community can change the trajectory of your career.

This isn’t a conversation about shortcuts or overnight success. It’s about the long game, building something sustainable, staying grounded, and creating work that actually lasts.

If you’re a designer, freelancer, or creative trying to find clarity in your path while protecting your mental well-being, this episode will resonate.

Connect with us:

Ian Paget

Website: https://logogeek.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/logogeek/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianpaget/

Joe Baron

Website: https://www.brandedbaron.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandedbaron/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/brandedbaron

Mark It 2 Me

Website: https://markit2me.com/

Instagram: instagram.com/markit2me

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Ian Paget’s journey into graphic design
• From warehouse job to building Logo Geek
• The realities of freelance design and early career growth
• Mental health in the creative industry
• Work-life balance and avoiding burnout
• Creative block and why it’s often a mindset issue
• The importance of community for designers
• Staying consistent and building something over time

About the Podcast

Mark It 2 Me explores how working creatives turn their work into brands, careers, and creative communities.

We talk about the difference between visibility and authority, why most companies chase acquisition instead of retention, and how serving your “super fans” can build stronger revenue than chasing mass audiences.

Brianna shares how she transitioned from wanting to be a pastry chef to becoming a growth engine for founders, how she approaches market intelligence before building strategy, and why she believes discernment is more profitable than hype.

We also dive into marketing alignment, authenticity in business, and the mindset shift that separates sustainable growth from hustle culture.

If you’re a founder, creative, or marketer trying to build authority instead of just traffic this conversation is for you.

Guest Info

Brianna Calero - https://pastelcreative.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pastel-creative/

Host Info

Joe Baron - https://www.brandedbaron.com/

Mark It 2 Me instagram - https://instagram.com/markit2me

Larry opens up about rediscovering his creative identity after building a legal career, releasing his album Life’s Legacy and A World Not For Everyone, and embracing the idea that none of us are one-dimensional.

The conversation explores:

• Releasing music after 10+ years and overcoming self-doubt
• Balancing a professional career with creative passion
• The rise of Newark as a cultural hub
• Building community through Grit Gallery
• Breaking through gatekeepers by creating your own platform
• Why thinking like a beginner can elevate advanced creative work
• The tension between art and algorithms in the social media era

This episode is about confidence, proof of concept, creative resilience, and embracing all dimensions of who you are.

Follow Larry Krayn

https://www.instagram.com/xquisite_grit/

http://youtube.com/il_lusciato

Don't forget to follow Joe Baron

https://www.instagram.com/brandedbaron/

https://www.brandedbaron.com/

Mark It 2 Me Podcast Instagram account - https://instagram.com/markit2me

They dive into what it really means to build community, not just online, but in real life. Michael shares how a lonely coffee shop routine turned into launching a coworking space that prioritizes intentional connection. From setting clear expectations with a community handbook to fostering genuine engagement through pre-scheduled events, he explains why structure is essential to making culture work.

The conversation also explores entrepreneurship, fatherhood, and the mental tug-of-war creatives face between making meaningful work and monetizing everything.

Michael opens up about:

• The importance of hiring an accountant early
• Why crowdfunding is really a marketing tool in disguise
• What surprised him most about launching on Kickstarter
• How personal creative projects can have value years later
• Why professional growth isn’t just about titles and promotions
• The tension between ambition and family presence

They close with rapid-fire questions (including the official dad sneaker debate) and reflections on what it means to build something sustainable both in business and at home.

This episode is about ownership, intention, and creating community that actually feels real.

You can follow Michael Smith on Instagram, Threads, and Youtube at @dadsigner

His website: https://www.dadsigner.com/

You can follow the Mark It 2 Me official instagram: @MarkIt2Me

You can follow Joe Baron specifically at @brandedbaron
The website: https://www.brandedbaron.com/

Iquan breaks down why your full-time job should be treated like your biggest client, how setting boundaries protects your creativity, and why most designers misunderstand agency vs. in-house dynamics. He shares hard-earned lessons from building an agency, working inside a fast-growing Fintech company, and why "take all the work, figure it out later" isn't always what it seems.

• They also dive into
• The truth about designers "fixing" brands
• Why A.I. isn't your enemy and what actually is
• The importance of ego management in creative leadership
• Community building through flag football and art events
• Why authenticity beats clout chasing

Plus the return of the "Rapid Fire Questions" segment.

You can follow Iquan Worthington at

https://www.everydayimdoodling.com/

On his personal instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iquanw

On the Artoholiks instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theartoholiks/

You can follow the Mark It 2 Me Podcast instagram at https://www.instagram.com/markit2me/

Follow Joe Baron on instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandedbaron/

And his creative agency website https://www.brandedbaron.com/

We break down the full process behind the Foot Locker x Diadora Ice Cream Collection, from pitching the idea and designing during the pandemic to creative direction, lifestyle photography, fast timelines, and the in-store release.