Cracking the Door: Logos That Last in NYC
Two weeks ago, I traveled to NYC to attend a design workshop hosted by Allan Peters, based on his book Logos That Last, at the Museum of Arts and Design. This was the first time I’d attended something like this, and all I can say is that I can’t wait to do more.
I chose to attend because one of my goals for 2026 is to be more involved in the design community. This felt like a first step in exploring what that could look like. While I didn’t have many conversations with other attendees, it was still valuable to observe who was in the room and how people carried themselves.
New York City has a much more robust design scene than Philadelphia. It’s also a city that doesn’t need justification when it comes to opportunity. I wanted to crack the door to what might be possible there.
2025 was a year of internal work and reflection.
2026 feels like the year to take that work outward.
Process Over Performance
One of the most refreshing parts of the workshop was hearing someone talk through their process in depth. Not in a thirty-second clip. Not condensed for the algorithm. Just honest explanation.
I realized how much I’d forgotten during my creative hiatus. Allan reinforced practices I was once trained in but slowly stopped prioritizing. Sketching on paper. Working ideas out by hand. Letting concepts exist before forcing refinement.
Lately, most of my sketching happens on my iPad, and if I’m being honest, it can feel forced. Being reminded of the value of pencil and paper felt grounding. There’s a different part of the brain activated when you work that way, and it doesn’t deserve to be dismissed just because everything around us is digital.
Allan also emphasized sketching in volume. Fifty to a hundred concepts before refining anything. That number felt almost laughable at first, until I realized how little time I’ve been given to explore ideas freely in most professional environments. I left without guilt about taking up space in the process again.
Permission and Confidence
Several moments stood out as quiet confidence builders.
Hearing about Allan starting his business while riding the bus to work was humbling. It reframed hustle as something earned, not performative. Something to be proud of.
It was also reassuring to hear validation around in-house design teams. Some of the most iconic campaigns were created internally, not by agencies. That hit home. It reinforced that impact isn’t limited by where you sit, but by how you approach the work.
Another important reminder was that the internet’s process does not dictate your process. Allan shared how he presents multiple concepts to clients and doesn’t subscribe to the one-concept method. What works for one designer doesn’t need to work for everyone. If you market yourself clearly, the right clients will meet you there.
Human Grounding
Throughout the workshop, Allan spoke openly about a near-death experience that forced him to reevaluate his priorities. Your story, he emphasized, should propel you forward, not hold you back.
He also talked about the importance of support systems. His family was present that night, and it was clear how central they are to his life and work. That warmth carried through the room.
Finally, there was encouragement to put yourself out there. Design contests are valid. Sharing process is valid. Calling attention to problems that need solving is valid. You never know who’s watching or what doors it might open.
Looking Ahead
I left the workshop feeling affirmed and motivated. Not because I learned something entirely new, but because I was reminded of things I already knew and had drifted away from.
This experience felt like a bridge between the internal work of 2025 and the outward growth I’m aiming for in 2026. I’m ready to reintroduce forgotten processes, trust my own methods, and continue placing myself in rooms where growth feels possible.
This was just the beginning.