_{Day 87/100}

Hey—It's Tim. 

🎂 Turned a year older this morning.
Still younger than the jQuery plugin running half the internet, so I’m calm.

Because it’s my birthday, I get to pick the topic.
(As if I don’t most days.)

Micro graphics matter more than your logo.

Yes, the logo earns a spot on the hoodie.
But the tiny graphics sprinkled everywhere else?
That’s what wires “brand” into the reader’s brain.

Let me show you.

Exhibit A — Specification Chic

AMG and MSCHF slapped VIN-number typography on a brick wall, parked a caution-tape chair in front, and suddenly the whole space feels like forbidden engineering.

One stencil. One chair. Zero conventional “logos.”
Brand vibe = locked.

Exhibit B — Reels Yellow

Rachel Karten spotted the mustard hue taking over short-form video captions.
It screams “premium mini-movie” before the first frame plays.
Pantone hasn’t named it yet, but Instagram and TikTok have: Reels Yellow.

As much as she’s calling it out. There’s a vibe there.

There’s a feel.

Exhibit C — Tech-Spec Glyphs

Nike’s “Project Moonshot” and Perplexity Labs both lean on dot-matrix moons, lab-label fonts, and cryptic glyphs.

Looks like NASA console readouts circa 1971 – instantly telegraphs experimental, precision, future-nerd.

No swoosh or starburst required (well, okay, Nike kept the swoosh — but it’s cameo-level).

Micro UX Tweaks That Actually Matter

(Logo stays in the dugout; these play on the field.)

Stealth branding. Zero redesign sprints.

This Thread caught my attention hard earlier in the year and has been living rent free ever since.

I’ve been playing around with a couple for Penfriend. Expect to see them soon.

Little graphics. Big memory imprint.

✌️ Tim "Pixel Perfect Party Hat" Hanson
CMO @Penfriend.ai

Same brain, different platforms: X, Threads, LinkedIn.

P.S.  I’m legally allowed to eat cake for breakfast all weekend. If you catch me in the comments with frosting on my keyboard… mind your business.

Penfriend.ai
Made by content marketers. Used by better ones.