Rule29

Who’s in your orbit? And how are they helping you see what’s possible?

That question connected a lot of our time in Phoenix last week.

Our Rule29 team gathered in person to plan for 2027. We asked what our clients will need next, where we can make a bigger difference, and how strategy, design, print, and AI can work better together.

Then we widened our orbit.

AIGA Phoenix Design Week brought us together with fellow creatives, internal design teams, and clients around this year’s theme: Orbit. As the print sponsor, O’Neil Printing helped bring AIGA’s vision to life with print that made the experience feel a little out of this world. Our Rule29 team was proud to support them and connect with the community at the booth.

Our Chief Creative Officer, Justin Ahrens, brought the theme back to something deeply human in his Being HumanKind presentation and book signing: the people in our orbit. The ones who shape us, challenge us, and help us become who we are. And our opportunity to do the same for someone else.

That matters in our work, too. A strong creative partnership should expand what you see, help you ask better questions, and turn those conversations into something useful.

We came home with fresh perspectives, stronger connections, and more ideas to put to work for our clients.

Who’s helping shape your next chapter? We’d love to be in that conversation.

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Right now, someone near you is looking for their next meal. Maybe it's a neighbor, a coworker, or a family down the street.

Ending hunger takes all of us, whether we're asking for help or offering it. That's the spirit behind American Potluck, and it's why we created CommUNITY Food.

It's a free tool that makes food support easier to find. Enter a ZIP code and see food banks, pantries, and meal programs near you, offering meals and groceries right now.

If you're in a position to give, use it to find the organizations working in your area. Share what you find with someone who needs it, or reach out to a local group to learn how you can support their work.

Access to food shouldn't depend on knowing where to look. Everyone has a place at this table.

Try it, then share it with someone who could use it: americanpotluck.art/ -food

Steven Heller has spent a lifetime watching design change.

From the underground press to 33 years at The New York Times, from paste-up and print to AI, Steven has had a front-row seat to the evolution of design, technology, culture, and visual communication.

Our conversation on Design Of went far beyond graphic design. We talked about curiosity, history, propaganda, responsibility, confidence, AI, what we choose to preserve, and what happens when the tools we know disappear and something new takes their place.

One of my favorite conversations of the season.

Listen to the new episode of Design Of with Steven Heller: https://www.rule29.com/podcast/the-design-of-seeing-the-world-through-design-meet-steven-heller

Three brands. One creative community. One incredible event.

We're getting ready for PHXDW 2026: Orbit, and we're excited to be part of the creative energy coming to Phoenix!

This year's theme celebrates the connections, collaborations, and people that give creative work meaning. We couldn't think of a better place to bring together O'Neil Printing, Rule29, and BHumanKind.

O'Neil Printing is proud to be the Official Print Partner, helping bring the conference experience to life through the power of print.

Rule29 is bringing our passion for Making Creative Matter®, connecting with fellow creatives and celebrating the impact thoughtful design can have on businesses and communities.

And Justin Ahrens, President and Chief Creative Officer of Rule29, will take the stage for a special Being HumanKind Spotlight session, exploring how kindness, creativity, and human connection shape who we become. Justin will also be signing copies of his new book at the Friday evening Orbit Reception.

Three different expressions of one shared belief: What we create matters. How we treat people matters just as much.

We're grateful to AIGA Arizona for bringing this creative community together and can't wait to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and celebrate the people who make design matter.

Will you be in our orbit? Come say hello!
October 23–24 | Phoenix Convention Center South

Learn more: https://phxdw.com/

We started At The Table because we missed being together.

Sharing a meal, hearing someone’s story, and giving a conversation enough time to go somewhere meaningful.

At Reservation 16, we talked about changing priorities, finding joy in the life we’re living, and the people who believed in us before we believed in ourselves. We heard how a few words of encouragement or a second chance can make a difference someone remembers decades later.

At Rule29, we talk about Making Creative Matter®. That begins with paying attention to people. Asking better questions. Understanding their experiences and recognizing what we can help make possible.

At The Table gives that same curiosity and care room to grow. Each gathering is an opportunity to understand someone better and consider how we show up for the people around us.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Tim Bayer for co-hosting.

Who could use your time, attention, or encouragement this week?

https://www.atthetable.is/

Hey Chicago friends! Two creative ideas, one shared belief that kindness can make a difference.

We're excited to see Being HumanKind and You Are Beautiful come together for a special evening celebrating creativity, connection, and the good we can put into the world.

On October 27, Rule29's own Justin Ahrens will be joining his good friend Matthew Hoffman, the artist and creator behind [You Are Beautiful](https://You-Are-Beautiful.com), at his Chicago studio for the first *Being HumanKind* book signing!

They'll be sharing stories, talking about the book, and celebrating the power of small acts of kindness. Justin will be signing copies, and there will be some one-of-a-kind You Are Beautiful × Being HumanKind artwork and limited-edition pieces available exclusively at the event.

At Rule29, we believe in Making Creative Matter®, and we love seeing creativity bring people together around ideas that matter.

Chicago friends, come celebrate with us! Bring a friend, grab a book, enjoy some great conversations, and help us spread a little more kindness.

October 27 | 6–7:30 PM | You Are Beautiful, Chicago

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/being-humankind-book-launch-and-signing-tickets-2003173013407

Being HumanKind Book Launch and Signing Meet Justin Ahrens & Matthew Hoffman, get Being HumanKind signed, and shop one-of-a-kind You Are Beautiful collaboration pieces!

Before you put your logo on another holiday gift, ask:
Would someone want this without it? A thoughtful gift says something about your brand.

So does the message, the packaging, and the care behind its delivery. And you don’t have to build it around Christmas. Thanksgiving, the new year, or a shared milestone might be the right moment to show your appreciation.

Our latest post explores seven ways to create a brand experience people will want to open, keep, and share. If you’re planning client gifts or employee appreciation, share this with your team.

Read “Your Holiday Gift Is a Brand Experience”: https://www.rule29.com/stories/your-holiday-gift-is-a-brand-experience

What dish tastes like home to you?

Maybe it’s something your family made every holiday. Maybe it’s a food everyone in your state knows. Maybe it’s something you have to explain to anyone who didn’t grow up there.

Food carries stories. That idea became American Potluck. We created an illustrated collection of 50 dishes from all 50 states, celebrating the foods, traditions, and little cultural quirks that make each place feel like home.

But we wanted the project to do more than celebrate food. Nearly 48 million people in the United States experience food insecurity, including more than 14 million children.

So Rule29 and O'Neil Printing are giving a 100% of the proceeds from every American Potluck poster support No Kid Hungry, helping schools and communities connect kids with the meals they need.

That is the kind of creative work we believe in at Rule29. Work that can make you smile, start a conversation, remind you of home, and hopefully make a little difference while it’s at it.

50 states. 50 dishes. One shared table.

Pull up a chair, find your state, and tell me: What dish would you have chosen?

https://www.americanpotluck.art/