Meet Greg Lynn | Graphic Designer/Video Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Greg Lynn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Greg, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Between 2012 and 2014, a majority of comedian friends on Facebook were posting THE absolute WORST flyers I’ve ever seen to promote a show. They were low-res, you couldn’t read the address, and I used to publicly complain about it. Finally, it dawned on me that NO ONE is fixing the problem. And here I was with a brand new late 2013 iMac, and an art degree, so I decided I would make flyers. 2015 I started Graphics By Greg as a facebook page just to put all my work in one place. But business built up pretty quick and my work has been used nationwide and around the world since 2017, including Tokyo venues, Lincoln Center, Chicago Theater, The Ryman Auditorium, and Amazon Prime Video.

The name Graphics By Greg came from use of alliteration, and a parody of the 80s exercise VHS tapes “Body By Jake.” It was completely a joke, and I honestly didn’t think it would take off like it did. There’s a lesson to anyone starting a business: think of a name you’d be proud of 8 years later.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a graphic designer and video producer. I can do and have done everything but websites. I discovered IMMEDIATELY out of college that making ANY money doing art in this country is one of the hardest things to do, so I never really limited my job offerings. If someone needed a photographer, a videographer….a logo… a flyer, banner, poster, caricature… I’d never say no. I’ve even done face painting for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Graphics By Greg mainly produces graphic design and either video promo or event videography. But a lot of the DNA of my taking on any gig is in there.

The one VERY unique aspect to my business is the majority of my TARGET market is BAD DESIGN. I am not an artist. I’m a janitor. I get clients by seeing very poor, poor design (sometime paid promotional ads!!) and I’ll make my own version and send it to them. I live by what Steve Jobs said: “People don’t know what they want until they see it.” Private messaging or emailing someone with a CLEARLY improved design does also have an element of SURPRISE that I think helps.

I keep my eye out easy design cues that instantly tells me “That business does NOT have a designer.” I am a cheetah on the lookout for limping gazelles. The BEST aspect of this, and the majority of my crusade, is to end bad design. I like to also educate my clients, and point out design flaws. A lot of them now message me examples that THEY spot out in the wild.

I also kind of look at design skills as a super power. And a business that HAS a decent designer, why would I waste my time soliciting them? I look for people I can HELP.

One of my most proudest moments was seeing my work displayed outside the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. When I started out doing local Philly comedy flyers, I would have NEVER EVER dreamed of having my work at the Ryman.

What I want the WORLD to know about me and my brand is, I am here to help. Accuracy is joy. Readability is SALES. With Graphics By Greg clients, I believe this: THEY SEE YOU? THEY SEE ME! So I am PART of your business and I am in the battle with you. Clients showing off my work to the world are also showing ME off. So there IS NO CHOICE but to always do the best I can.

The most surprising thing to me is I have yet to meet another me. So I know I am doing something right.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Philly?

Reading Terminal #1. You could spend 2 days there and not see everything. Certainly not eat everything sold there. Any Garces restaurant is a must. Amada, etc. Then there’s El Ves and the Steven Starr restaurants. If you can get a table at Zahav ,do it. John’s Roast Pork, go early in the morning, if they run out of bread they close.

I saw a youtuber call Philly “The Sandwich Capital of the World.” I’ll take it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d say anyone who has hired me. From actor/director Dean Cameron, surf-rock band The Ventures, to comedian Kathleen Madigan.

I’ve always maintained a full time job with my business, so I haven’t had any real business “mentors” that would mean the survival of my business. I would seek them out if I was full time, though.

Website: GraphicsByGreg.com

Instagram: instagram.com/GraphicsByGreg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraphicsByGreg

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRxv3qQ_0iiS1s0oGSVmC1g

Other: VIMEO: www.Vimeo.com/GraphicsByGreg