We’re excited about this everyday carry edition - who wouldn’t want to take a peek into the world of our lead graphic designer, Max Brown? Check out his daily essentials below, and maybe catch a bit of insight into why he’s such a neat-o dude!
1. Insize Digital Calipers
Although I'm not involved in much physical design at Grove, I'm constantly surprised by how often I use these. Discovering the ability to measure something down to the 4th decimal place and then enter that data right into Adobe Illustrator completely changed my perspective on translating the physical world into digital.
2. Coffee
Two cups, black.
3. Wacom Intuos 4 Drawing Tablet
For drawing or just everyday web surfing, once you go Wacom, there's no going back to a mouse. When I was 20 years old I spent my life savings of $300 on a Wacom Intuos 3 tablet. That was nine years ago, and I still use it every single day at home. I can safely say it was the best $300 I've ever spent.
4. iPhone 4 with the Grove Bamboo Case
I'm currently sporting the new prototype made in preparation for the updated iPhone 5 case, and it feels solid. I don't use bold lightly.
5. Copic Multiliner SP ( 0.1 , 0.25 , 0.7 mm)
I used to love the more common Pigma Micron markers (the ones with the tan, plastic body) but they have the bad habit of drying up almost instantly. These markers from Copic seem to last three to four times longer and the metal body feels a lot better in your hand. They're a bit more expensive ($12),but they're also very easy to refill.
6. Mechanical Pencil
My lucky pencil given to me by a friend about seven years ago. I'm desperate to find out the brand name of it because I've done roughly 95% of my life's work with it, and I'm starting to get concerned that the magic is in the pencil. I should keep it in a safe.
7. Staedtler Mars Plastic White Eraser
I picked one of these up on the first day of art school and now it seems like I have one on my desk, in my pocket, in my glovebox, under my pillow, etc. Undo! Undo!
8. USB Thumb Drives
I always have at least one thumb drive in my pocket, and yes, this one is made out of bamboo.
9. Captain Ron (1992) on DVD
When illustrating from home, I always have something playing in the background to break the silence. Most of the time that something is 1992's Captain Ron starring Kurt Russell and Martin Short. It's like being on a tropical vacation, but the movie really isn't very good so it never distracts me from what I'm doing. Other background favorites are Roxanne (1987), Weekend At Bernie's (1989), and Summer School (1987).
10. Moleskine Sketchbook with the Grove Leather Notebook Cover in “Snakes” by Dan Funderburgh
Moleskines are great, but it took me a long time to realize that I could just use the sketchbook paper option for more than just drawing. It's my top choice for everything from finished drawings to short story writing.
Thanks for peekin’ and learning just a little bit about one of our amazing team members!
Written by Mary Yajko. She is a Grove customer support rep and crazed blogger originally from upstate New York. She enjoys opened minds, uncontrollable fits of laughter, and large amounts of french fries with ketchup.
