Eric Brown

Celebrating 30 years of design leadership. This documentary honors Paul Rustand’s enduring impact, from shaping thoughtful work at Widgets & Stone to guiding design with clarity and conviction as Chief Design Officer at @whiteboardis.

Echoing this. In 2017, a mentor asked @taylorleejones and me, "How's the maker/manager transition going?" We were six years into @whiteboardis. Our response: "terrible." Their advice to us was that if we loved making more than managing, we should hire a President. It's the most transformative decision we've made in 15 years.

Each year we come together to reflect, celebrate, and strategize for the season ahead. Under the banner of Designed To Grow, we’re renewing our shared commitment to evolve, elevate, and expand what’s possible.

In 1995, Widgets & Stone opened its doors in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This is a story that has been three decades in the making—a story about remaining faithful to the craft of design and to a city we love. We can’t wait to share it with you.

Fifteen years is long enough to see entire technologies come and go and short enough to know we’re just getting started. If history is any guide, the next 15 years will bring tools we can’t yet imagine. Some will dazzle. Others will disappear. All of them will test our ability to adapt. But one truth remains: tools are only as powerful as the visionaries who wield them. At Whiteboard, we exist to serve those leaders—to make their vision visible, to give shape to the future they imagine. So here’s to what’s next. To the leaders we’ll serve. To the ideas we’ll help take flight. To another 15 years of change, and another 15 years of constancy. We know change is inevitable. But vision—when made visible—endures. whiteboard.is/articles/15-ye…

@ystrickler Cheering y’all on, @ystrickler!!

ABM transformed their century-old brand into a digital growth engine, generating $200M in new pipeline while saving $25K a month by partnering with Webflow and Webflow Partner, Whiteboard. Read the full story here: wfl.io/4mG3QeQ

@mikesmith187 @Smith_Diction Huge milestone! We’re celebrating y’all in the @whiteboardis office today!

S&D is 10!!!! When I sat down at my desk in our one bedroom apt a decade ago, I had no idea how far this dream could go. I’m in awe of the people I get to work with & the companies I get to work for every day. Its not lost on me that Im living in college Mikes dream world.

Chills.

@ystrickler 🫶

The work that changes everything rarely goes viral. It builds slowly, finds the right people, and creates lasting impact over years.

@DannPetty 🫶

I had one of the scariest days of my life yesterday afternoon. You’d never know it. It’s hard to explain for those don’t have anxiety/panic. I only say this because you never know what people are doing through everyday even though they still show up here with a mask on. We wear our mask to protect ourselves from many things. Protect from being bullied or losing work or seeming weaker but all those things are a them problem, not a you problem. Over the years I’ve tried to talk more about my anxiety and slowly remove my mask but it’s never easy. I beat anxiety yesterday. You can beat it today. The fight is real but it can be won.

@krispuckett Did you train to run a 5K? 😂

Atlanta airport is so large and so busy. Didn’t expect that.

Genius is everywhere. Courage? That’s rare. In this episode of Visionaries, I talk with @BrettHagler , founder of @NewStoryHomes , about why bold ideas aren’t what the world lacks—it’s bold action. If you’re building something that scares you (in the right way), this one’s for you. Full episode: youtube.com/watch?v=P-UW7i…

Chasing core memories on a ballfield.

While the rest of the world went all-in on Zoom calls and Slack threads, @BrickyardVC doubled down on something different: physical presence. Why? Because founders don’t just need capital, they need collisions and conversations. And it's something you can’t replicate in a Google Meet. In this episode of Visionaries, I talk with @camdoody and @__MattPatt__ about why they built Brickyard around space—a place where founders can show up, plug in, and grow together. Full episode: youtube.com/watch?v=5zSly2…

While the rest of the world went all-in on Zoom calls and Slack threads, @BrickyardVC doubled down on something different: physical presence. Why? Because founders don’t just need capital, they need collisions and conversations. And it's something you can’t replicate in a Google Meet. In this episode of Visionaries, I talk with @camdoody and @__MattPatt__ about why they built Brickyard around space—a place where founders can show up, plug in, and grow together. Full episode: youtube.com/watch?v=5zSly2…

Behind every founder who makes it… is a partner who said, “let’s do it.” Startups test everything...your finances, your sanity, your sleep. Having a partner who’s all in with you? That’s the real unfair advantage. Grateful to @camdoody and @__MattPatt__ , co-founders of Brickyard, for sharing their story. Full episode here: youtube.com/watch?v=5zSly2…

Full episode here: youtube.com/watch?v=5zSly2…

When you start a company, most days aren’t fun. It’s doubt. Burnout. No traction. You’re broke, uncertain, and constantly questioning your sanity. But ask any seasoned founder, and they’ll tell you: There’s something about those early, brutal days you end up missing. In this episode of Visionaries, I talk with @camdoody Doody and @__MattPatt__, co-founders of @BrickyardVC, about the paradox of startup life.

There’s a stretch in every startup journey that breaks people. Paul Graham called it the Trough of Sorrow—the lonely valley between early excitement and real traction. It's where dreams fade, doubt creeps in, and founders wonder if they’ve made a terrible mistake. It’s real. It’s ruthless. And most people don’t make it through. But some do. In this episode of Visionaries, I talk with @camdoody and @__MattPatt__ about what it takes to survive that stretch—and why they built @BrickyardVC not as a traditional VC firm, but as a founder sanctuary. Getting through the Trough isn’t solely about grit. It’s about not doing it alone. Brickyard is a community where founders can be honest, stay sharp, and borrow belief when theirs runs out. Full episode link: youtube.com/watch?v=5zSly2…