Graphic Design Innovator & Founder of Draplin Design Co.; Co-Founder of Field Notes; Author of "Draplin Design Co.: Pretty Much Everything"
Aaron Draplin Biography
Aaron Draplin is an American graphic designer, entrepreneur, and author known for his contributions to contemporary graphic design, brand identity, and logo design. Draplin has developed a recognizable aesthetic characterized by simple, bold logos featuring thick black lines and vibrant color palettes. His work has shaped campaigns and branding for clients including Ford Motors, Nike, Patagonia, NASA, the United States Postal Service, and the Barack Obama administration. Draplin Design Co. (DDC), his Portland, Oregon–based studio, operates as a solo proprietorship, with Draplin personally overseeing all design work to maintain creative control and a consistent visual identity. The business focuses on commercial projects in typography, logo design, and brand development, as well as direct-to-consumer products.
After earning a design degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Draplin began his career designing snowboard graphics for Solid Snowboards and later served as art director at Snowboarder Magazine, where he received the Art Director of the Year Award from Primedia. He worked as a senior designer at Cinco Design Office before establishing DDC. Draplin’s client list includes Nike, Hot Wheels, Skillshare, Chris Stapleton, Tenacious D, and various government organizations.
Draplin co-founded Field Notes with Jim Coudal and Coudal Partners, creating a stationery brand recognized for its design and widespread availability in bookstores, cafes, and retail locations. He also designed the Star Ribbon U.S. postage stamp for the United States Postal Service, further establishing his influence in American graphic design.
His book, "Draplin Design Co.: Pretty Much Everything," published by Abrams, features case studies, design techniques, and over 500 images of logos, posters, and packaging. The volume explores his inspirations from vintage signage and Americana, as well as his approach to commercial and cultural design projects.
Draplin has delivered more than 580 public speaking engagements worldwide, including appearances on TED Talks and at Google, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, illustration, and workflow optimization in graphic design. He is also an instructor on Skillshare, teaching courses on customizing type, logo design, and merchandise design. Draplin received the Silver Service Award from Goodwin Graphics for his contributions to screen printing and graphic design during a keynote at the Imprinted Sportswear Show in Long Beach, California. Draplin’s career reflects a commitment to creative independence and the principles of effective design.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Aaron Draplin and other top speakers and celebrities.
Aaron Draplin Videos
-
How do I book Aaron Draplin to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Aaron Draplin for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Aaron Draplin, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Aaron Draplin or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Aaron Draplin
Speaking fees for Aaron Draplin, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Aaron Draplin are under $10,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Aaron Draplin, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Aaron Draplin speak about?
Aaron Draplin is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Creativity, Innovation, Marketing, Retail -
Where does Aaron Draplin travel from?
Aaron Draplin generally travels from Portland, OR, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Aaron Draplin’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Aaron Draplin for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Aaron Draplin for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Aaron Draplin or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Aaron Draplin is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Aaron Draplin for your event is available upon request. Aaron Draplin generally travels from Portland, OR, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jeff Staple, Stanley Hainsworth, Ailbhe Keane, Christine Lieu-Guzauskas and Chris Do. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Aaron Draplin for an upcoming live or virtual event.
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.








