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LISTEN NOW: EP22 with Simon Brown
On Resilience, Vulnerability, and Building Cultural Engines That Shift Worlds

What if pressing pause on your studio was the most radical creative act you could make?

For more than two decades, @simon_____brown has worked at the intersection of design, publishing, and cultural production. Through his studio @andandandltd , he has shaped books, exhibitions, and collaborations that challenge how design is made and remembered—from the famous Content book with @oma.eu Rem Koolhaas as creative director, to Figures of Speech with @virgilabloh. He also initiated @morningsource connecting running, nature and mental health.

His journey has never followed a straight line. At one point, Simon shut down his studio entirely and disappeared into six months of fishing—only to return with a sharper focus on ideas, resilience, and what it really means to be a cultural engine. He speaks candidly about failure, vulnerability, and the need to reframe success beyond awards or client lists.

In this episode, Simon reflects on his creative evolution: how running and nature keep him grounded, why collaboration is a form of mentorship, and how saying “good morning” became an antidote to isolation. He shares his philosophy of selecting projects that shift culture—his own filter for what truly matters.

If you’ve ever questioned whether ambition, failure, and resilience can coexist, this episode is your reminder that ideas live longer when they’re shared.

CREDITS PHOTO: @andras_ridovics_photography

#DontWasteI #DWICapsules #SimonBrown #DontWasteYourTime #FixWhatsBroken #ProtectsWhatMatters #Mindset #CommunicationPerformance #CreativeThinking #TrustTheProcess #Podcast #OMA #VirgilAbloh #MentalHealth #Running #Nature

LEI — So when did you start exactly making clothes for Brand AndAndAnd (&&&)?
@simon_____brown — Strangely, we made some clothes for Rem Koolhaas project Content. But it really started as soon as I met Virgil.

Complex spoke to @simon_____brown about working with Virgil, his upcoming clothing label Brand AndAndAnd (&&&), and his collaborations with @virgilabloh

Extract from@complexstyle article:
How a Graphic Designer Landed an @off____white Collaboration With Virgil Abloh
By Lei Takanashi @crooknyc 💫 💫 💫

"Connecting the dots from the historical graphic design world that became the foundation of my career to an audience that is changing the world now was key. That’s what the collaboration with &&& is steeped in. From garments to publications the creativity has a trajectory." VIRGIl ABLOH 🔥 🔥 🔥

Creative Director Simon Brown
Portrait @jhenying_lin
Location NYC

#graphicwearables #andbassador
#cihaandimu
#bandana #banaclava #buckethat #buckethats
#durag #headwearfashion #headwear

Design montage Virgil ABLOH™ x @simon_____brown (&&&™) — Hoodies re-released at “Church & State” the retail experienceto Virgil’s exhibition “Figures of Speech”@icaboston

Instagram Live Audio interview @virgilabloh x @pinupmagazine discussing his book “Artwork” — From book to fashion to exhibition to font — Proud to say we are part of the design dream team. @samirbantal @playlabinc @delmonico_books

Design collision course - &&&’s cultural trajectory.

Design hang-time!! Saving 99% ⏳ File size ya say WHAT?!

Design hang-time!! Saving 99% ⏳ File size ya say WHAT?!

Design tunnel - rinse, repeat, overlay - TOONS & GRAPHICS series

Isolation Impersonation, recorded at the height of Covid 19 lockdown🔒. My attempt to connect and raise a smile with my friends.

How to play isolation impersonation:
Guess the film, for bonus points name the character. Answer in the comments 👇

23 March 2020 - Boris Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown! Damn, six years have passed!!!

On Wednesday evening, March 11th, we’re taking over @axelarigato Soho for a hands-on workshop celebrating their collaboration with Reggieknow.

Led by Kazeem Kuteyi and @simon_____brown of &&& the session delves into the art of graphic storytelling and visual culture. Participants will create their own Akaia-inspired zines using provided materials. Pull up and create with us.

Excerpt of Kazeem Kuteyi in conversation with Simon Brown.
Filmed on site at @yy__exchange , “AAAAYY: same same but different.” Currently occupying the @aaschool gallery until March 21.
Documentation @fr0m.jk
Production @9zion

LINK IN BIO TO SIGN UP.

I’ll be in Conversation with architect Paul Cournet as part of AAAAYY: same same but different exhibition @aaschool. Discussing: Permanence and agility, independence and subculture with an editorial eye on ideas. How they are built, framed, and edited.

Part of Twanada Chiweshe and Franciso Gaspars AA Gallery residency exploring the conceptual framework and internal logic that underpins their collaborative practice as Alaska Alaska and as YY

📍 AA Gallery, 36 Bedford Square @aaschool
🗓 Tuesday 3 February 2026
🕕 18:00–19:00

Programme 🔗 in bio

@tawandda @franciscogspr @yy__exchange
@paulcournet x @simon_____brown &&&

I’ll be in Conversation with architect Paul Cournet as part of AAAAYY: same same but different exhibition @aaschool. Discussing: Permanence and agility, independence and subculture with an editorial eye on ideas. How they are built, framed, and edited.

Part of Twanada Chiweshe and Franciso Gaspars AA Gallery residency exploring the conceptual framework and internal logic that underpins their collaborative practice as Alaska Alaska and as YY

📍 AA Gallery, 36 Bedford Square @aaschool
🗓 Tuesday 3 February 2026
🕕 18:00–19:00

Programme 🔗 in bio

@tawandda @franciscogspr @yy__exchange
@paulcournet x @simon_____brown &&&

Participation is the only form of excelllence - I.S.R.U @tomsachs
Out & Back run from @goodhood with @nikecraft

@jusgugs 📸 slide 3

Participation is the only form of excelllence - I.S.R.U @tomsachs
Out & Back run from @goodhood with @nikecraft

@jusgugs 📸 slide 3

Participation is the only form of excelllence - I.S.R.U @tomsachs
Out & Back run from @goodhood with @nikecraft

@jusgugs 📸 slide 3

Participation is the only form of excelllence - I.S.R.U @tomsachs
Out & Back run from @goodhood with @nikecraft

@jusgugs 📸 slide 3

Participation is the only form of excelllence - I.S.R.U @tomsachs
Out & Back run from @goodhood with @nikecraft

@jusgugs 📸 slide 3

Participation is the only form of excelllence - I.S.R.U @tomsachs
Out & Back run from @goodhood with @nikecraft

@jusgugs 📸 slide 3

Participation is the only form of excelllence - I.S.R.U @tomsachs
Out & Back run from @goodhood with @nikecraft

@jusgugs 📸 slide 3

Participation is the only form of excelllence - I.S.R.U @tomsachs
Out & Back run from @goodhood with @nikecraft

@jusgugs 📸 slide 3

We all need masks 🎭

We all need masks 🎭

Stupid! Ugly! Out of date! This is ridiculous.
If I can’t find something NICE to wear…
…I’m. Not. Going. 💚💚💚💚

Just Giving link in bio 🔗

#christmasrun #grinchrun #runnerscommunity

Stupid! Ugly! Out of date! This is ridiculous.
If I can’t find something NICE to wear…
…I’m. Not. Going. 💚💚💚💚

Just Giving link in bio 🔗

#christmasrun #grinchrun #runnerscommunity

Stupid! Ugly! Out of date! This is ridiculous.
If I can’t find something NICE to wear…
…I’m. Not. Going. 💚💚💚💚

Just Giving link in bio 🔗

#christmasrun #grinchrun #runnerscommunity