Meet Ben Harman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Harman

Hi Ben, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a Computer Engineering student at BYU, I was taking some graphic design electives just for fun. I had a dreadful summer job steam-cleaning construction equipment with a high-pressure sprayer. I ended that summer with burn marks up and down my forearms, along with a firm resolve to enjoy my career. I changed majors immediately and plunged down the rabbit-hole that is graphic design. After graduating, I was hired by a small design firm in Santa Fe (Cisneros Design). Two years later, my wife and I moved to Austin, where I joined the very talented design team at McGarrah Jessee. About five years ago, I became Associate Design Director at GSD&M, where I currently work. I’ve been surrounded by the talent for so many years — fortunately, some of it rubbed off on me.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve never had cancer. I’ve never gotten laid off. And I have an amazing wife who loves me. It would be ridiculous for me to complain about anything.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a graphic designer, my most popular work was Comic Papyrus. It’s a font that I made as a joke, combining two hideous fonts in existence (Comic Sans & Papyrus). It lit up the internet for a while and was written about in various design publications. I wish my contribution to the design community were more aesthetic. Oh well. I still get royalties from the occasional sale of that font. But I had to rename it or face legal consequences. I also once found a picture online of Will Ferrell wearing a shirt that I designed. That made me smile. Again, the design was a joke — a parody of the children’s book “The Giving Tree.” So if I can make Will Ferrell laugh, I count that as a win. I’m most proud of the birth announcements I’ve made for my three boys. Each is as unique as the boys themselves. Lately, I’ve been spending my time making ridiculousness on Instagram. Check out @mistermashup for at least half a chuckle.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Design is a noble profession in my humble opinion. It creates useful beauty. Advertising is less noble. It sells stuff. I walk the line between both worlds. The pandemic has hit both industries hard, but I’ve been fortunate to survive so far. In the zombie apocalypse, however, my career will become completely obsolete. I hate designing ads for social media. It’s so impermanent. I prefer to make things you can hold in your hand.

Contact Info:

• Website: benharman.com
• Instagram: @benlharman @mistermashup
• Twitter: @benharman
• Other: dribbble.com/ben_harman