We tip for almost everything—meals, cab rides, haircuts. It's a small but meaningful gesture that says, “I see your effort. I value your time.” But in the world of design, tips or extra appreciation? That’s a rare thing.

A transparent process for commissioning design services that respects both the profession and the public interest. This way of working aligns with best practices in design and public procurement.

We’ve been broke. Burned out. Ghosted. Underpaid. But we still say no to shitty jobs. We’d rather spend endless hours on a good one — a real one — that actually means something to us. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard. Because we love this shit — and we’re damn good at it.

Talent is a gift—we spend years trying to discover what we're naturally good at. And when we find it, it feels like magic. But talent has a flaw: it leans on motivation. And motivation is unreliable.

Each element plays an essential role when it comes to creating an experience—whether in business, relationships, or design. But there’s one truth that stands above all others: nothing matters if you kill the mood.

Every design studio has its own creative process. Our design process follows a cognitive, human-centered approach to problem-solving, aligning with our natural processes of understanding, creating, and refining.

Good art thrives on provocation, challenging societal norms, questioning authority, and sparking conversation. It pushes boundaries, inviting viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and rethink their perspectives.

In the creative world, self-doubt is not a sign of failure—it’s proof that you’re making progress. Every designer, whether novice or expert, experiences moments of uncertainty. It happens when you question your choices, wonder if your ideas are good enough, or feel stuck between iterations. But this isn’t a setback—it’s a crucial part of the design process.

There is no stopping the Ai; questions about the ownership and copyright of AI-generated content are something we all talk about. I support the argument that such content should belong to the public domain and it cannot be copyright restrictions.

When you love Lorem Ipsum, it feels strange to realize that we have reached a point where much of the content we consume is generated. Does this mean we are no longer creating anything new? Is content the first domain where originality is fading?

Both love and design require deep engagement, intuition, and personal experience to be fully understood.In other words you need to experience it in order to understand it

The WRWD Concept: Write, Read, Walk, and Draw Daily—is a simple as possible way to get you throughout the week.

All too soon, most technical skills will be automated or heavily replaced by AI. We already use it daily, and it is rapidly integrating into nearly every aspect of our lives.

For some, it's funny; for others, we have to live with it. My last name is special and has a nice translation to sack.

The highest award for a designer: finished work, payment, and client bragging

Every designer has a special superpower: a feeling. Our feeling about branding and visual direction and the only way to get it is through experience. 

Yes, of course, you should seek it, but we should also focus on everything that helps us become better..

Fun fact that goes with singing in the shower and playing some air guitar. But lets transform that phrase into branding. When was the last time you looked with your brand in the mirror?

Redesigning is one of the hardest design jobs you can think of. Incorporating the legacy of the existing brand is a demanding job where only years of experience can help you solve it.

To start something is always hard. Whether you have experience or if this is something new, it takes a lot of effort, strength, courage, and money.

Our work is not easy. You need to stay excited all the time, and that is impossible. You need to find something that drives you—things that blow out some steam.

The combination is so basic that I don't consider it a color. It is more of a structural element or a form.

We desperately need them, but sometimes we must break them. 

I am sure we have all read a few definitions of good design; they all sound perfect and motivational, don't they? Some of them are really good.

The design is more than beauty; this is what I use when I describe good branding that is easier to understand and has everything I want to say in it.

People don't buy what you are doing; they buy why you are doing it

Love your process above all. Embrace the path you have to walk; listen to the craftspeople you meet along the way; and make the changes to improve the solution.

Passion is great, but please don't link it with your work. Please don't say you are passionate about design; you should be passionate about life, not your work.

It is not okay to fail; it never was and never will be. As simple as that. I am not saying you should not try, but rethink twice before you do. 

Funny how old wisdom always rings true. Proverbs are sacred; just think how long it took them to be still valid. Even if we choose to violate them, we painfully feel their meaning on our skin.

Did you ever consider that design ethics and brand sustainability are the same things?

By now, sustainability has become an annoying buzzword, and even big brands have started to abuse it in their advertising. Nothing new—advertising and corporate communication will always pick up buzzwords for their claims - just remember eco back in 2005.

If you are the only one who is excited, you are probably working for the damn wrong people!

Sometimes I get involved in a branding project where I accidentally bump into people who think halfway there is a good start.

We must act responsibly towards the solutions we create. It does not matter what field you are working on. Every time we create a message, it creates an impact.

Business design is shifting from human 2 human to team 2 team; this is becoming more and more important; team spirit produces more results than any individual effort. B2B

We have had this signature for a long time. And it is still valid. Perhaps the only thing that changed is that we can change the client's term to friends. 

Should designers work for free? No., but why do you even ask?

Want to invite me for a pitch? Why don't you rather invite me for a coffee? See, it is supposed to be a love-love relationship, not love-hate to begin with.

One of the longest debates out there. Are designers artists? Well, no, we are not.  Let me explain from a different perspective why not.

Isn't it funny when you scroll to the end of the internet, go through all your old books, open a few old files, do walks around the city, around your favorite wood trail, and even go to the bookstore a few times to get that little inspiration that would help you do a project?

We can't avoid digital; it is everywhere, and not all is bad, of course, but we are focused on it way too much, staring at our phones, for instance.  Just think that everything beautiful that has ever happened to you was analog.

I was selected by the Art Directors Club of Europe, among 10 celebrated creatives of Europe, to give a lecture at Europe's 1st European Creativity Festival in Barcelona.

Gost nedeljskega Nočnega obiska bo Gregor Žakelj, eden najbolj uspešnih in največkrat, tudi mednarodno nagrajenih oblikovalcev v Sloveniji.

Sem oblikovalec. Sliši se preprosto in razumljivo, vendar je bila pot do tega naziva precej dolga. Kljub vsem nazivom, ki mi jih pripisujejo: kreativni direktor, art direktor, grafični oblikovalec, ilustrator, mentor … mi je ta beseda trenutno najbližja.

Povabljen sem bil v zanimv podcast  Zakulisje. Pogovarjali smo se o pomenu blagovne znamke, kako in kdaj začeti razmišljati o njej.

A few years ago, I went on a wonderful trip up to Tromsø (Norway), where I was invited to speak at the Design vs Music event organized by the Tank Design and Insomnia festivals.

Žakelj, ki med drugim dela za naročnike iz tujine, govori tudi o odgovornosti. O odgovornosti do naročnika in o širši družbeni odgovornosti.

Gregor Žakelj je umetniški direktor v oblikovalskem studiu VBG, ki je bil tretja najuspešnejša agencija na letošnjem SOF-u.

I talked about how I started, about my fear, and how things will never be easy for me. One thing is certain: Life will still kick me, and I will still be afraid, but I will still do what I do in this beautiful place called Slovenia.