Hello and welcome to Luke Learns Vol. 8. For the new folks, this newsletter is a grab bag of ideas with one common through-line: learning. Enjoy!
š©āš¤āCover bands donāt change the worldā*
This is what a friend of mine said to me a few years ago after a show we had just played. The setlist was mainly covers. At first blush, the comment felt a little harsh but as time has passed I have come to understand and appreciate what they were saying. Art should be personal. Making something that expresses your own ideas will always be more meaningful than copying someone elseās expressions. This year I have a goal to write more original music and put myself out there. Today Iām proud to announce the first of those songs was released. You can listen to the full version of Mr. Golden Son here or below.
*This isnāt meant to diss cover bands - they are important. Also highly personalized covers are awesome.
šŗšø For the love of flags
I've always loved flags since I was a kid. There is something captivating about the simplicity and symbolism. They are easy to remember and their design says a lot about the places they represent. I remember watching World Cup ā98 with my dad and having him break down each countryās flag. Later on, as a designer, I became aware of the hallmarks of a good flag. Roman Mars of 99% Invisible has a TEDtalk where he critiques city flags if you are curious. Worth the watch.
Design-wise, good flags should be simple enough to draw on a napkin, have meaningful symbolism, and basically not try to do too much. As a Chicagoan, maybe Iām biased but here are two examples of flag design extremes.
I recently read about a guy who decided to make his own flag during quarantine and got inspired. Who knows. Someday we may even design a Moderwell family flag. Whatās your favorite flag?
Thanks for taking time out of your busy week to read/listen. It means a lot.