ML thoughts

Part of what makes us unique are the various experiences and voices of our team. In our world, the more we share the more we can all grow and learn from each other.

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A Swift Redesign

Inspired by fonts from Taylor Swift's albums, discover how we experimented with redesigning her tour logo from the initial uninspired design into a meaningful and visually appealing logo that better represents the essence of the "Eras Tour."

Inspired by fonts from Taylor Swift's albums, discover how we experimented with redesigning her tour logo from the initial uninspired design into a meaningful and visually appealing logo that better represents the essence of the "Eras Tour."

For The Brain

ReDesigns

A Swift Redesign

It's ML, Hi!

Celebrating 10 Years of Sadie

Our beloved head of security Sadie is turning 10 today and to celebrate 10 years of Sadie, we are bringing her story to life through the art of animation and interaction.

Our beloved head of security Sadie is turning 10 today and to celebrate 10 years of Sadie, we are bringing her story to life through the art of animation and interaction.

For The Heart

Spotlight

Celebrating 10 Years of Sadie

Happy Birthday Sadie

6 Ways Manual Labor Is Experimenting With ChatGPT

Explore how Manual Labor uses ChatGPT4 to enhance efficiency with 6 practical examples and insights from our latest quarter.

Explore how Manual Labor uses ChatGPT4 to enhance efficiency with 6 practical examples and insights from our latest quarter.

For The Brain

AI Strategy

6 Ways Manual Labor Is Experimenting With ChatGPT

What's the prompt

AI Face-Off: Which Language Model Excels in Marketing and Design?

Manual Labor explores which large language model excels in marketing, design, and development as we test top LLMs like Claude, ChatGPT, Firefly, Meta AI, and Runway.

Manual Labor explores which large language model excels in marketing, design, and development as we test top LLMs like Claude, ChatGPT, Firefly, Meta AI, and Runway.

For The Brain

AI Strategy

AI Face-Off: Which Language Model Excels in Marketing and Design?

Time to Face Off

An Ode to the Project Retrospective

Retros are a practice that helps build team trust, accountability, and collaboration and can lead to true problem solving and improved planning capabilities. Here's all the reasons why the Manual Labor team loves this critical step of the process.

Retros are a practice that helps build team trust, accountability, and collaboration and can lead to true problem solving and improved planning capabilities. Here's all the reasons why the Manual Labor team loves this critical step of the process.

For The Brain

Workshops

An Ode to the Project Retrospective

Let's Retro

12 Years, 12 Lessons I Learned as a Female Founder

Celebrating Manual Labor's 12th birthday, founder and Chief Creative Officer Sam Choi Cadley writes about the 12 lessons she's learned as a female founder.

Celebrating Manual Labor's 12th birthday, founder and Chief Creative Officer Sam Choi Cadley writes about the 12 lessons she's learned as a female founder.

For The Heart

Inspiration

12 Years, 12 Lessons I Learned as a Female Founder

Let's get learning

5 Key Tips for Activating Your Brand at Events

Beyond the basics of event management, how can a brand make the most of event opportunities — whether that’s an intimate dinner or roundtable or a large-scale conference? Event marketing is a highly valuable way to activate your brand for a live audience and create an experience that can engage and inform the constituents that matter most to your brand. 

Beyond the basics of event management, how can a brand make the most of event opportunities — whether that’s an intimate dinner or roundtable or a large-scale conference? Event marketing is a highly valuable way to activate your brand for a live audience and create an experience that can engage and inform the constituents that matter most to your brand. 

For The Brain

Marketing Strategy

5 Key Tips for Activating Your Brand at Events

Let's get activated

Connect the Dots with ML: Kayla Park

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

For The Heart

Spotlight

Connect the Dots with ML: Kayla Park

Let's make connections!

Connect the Dots with ML: Sam Choi Cadley

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

For The Heart

Spotlight

Connect the Dots with ML: Sam Choi Cadley

Let's make connections!

What It Takes to Launch Your First Brand Campaign

Five best practices to help you make the most of your first brand campaign launch.

Five best practices to help you make the most of your first brand campaign launch.

For The Brain

Marketing Strategy

What It Takes to Launch Your First Brand Campaign

Get Creativ

hype_cast: volume four

Manual Labor's multi-topic quarterly series covering what is trending, hype and of the zeitgeist.

Manual Labor's multi-topic quarterly series covering what is trending, hype and of the zeitgeist.

For The Brain

Trend Forecasting

hype_cast: volume four

What's the vibe

Connect the Dots with ML: Anddy Ferreira

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

For The Heart

Spotlight

Connect the Dots with ML: Anddy Ferreira

Let's make connections!

Hello Betty

We all mark milestones in our life and while a white hair is not one of them, welcoming it was for me.

We all mark milestones in our life and while a white hair is not one of them, welcoming it was for me.

For The Heart

Inspiration

Hello Betty

Marking a milestone

The Case for B2B Customer Advocacy

Let’s consider some common customer advocacy approaches and explore how you can make customer advocacy a strategic lever of your sales and marketing activation. 

Let’s consider some common customer advocacy approaches and explore how you can make customer advocacy a strategic lever of your sales and marketing activation. 

For The Brain

Marketing Strategy

The Case for B2B Customer Advocacy

Go beyond the case study

Connect the Dots with ML: Todd Cadley

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

For The Heart

Spotlight

Connect the Dots with ML: Todd Cadley

Let's make connections!

Connect the Dots with ML: Sameehan Patel

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

For The Heart

Spotlight

Connect the Dots with ML: Sameehan Patel

Let's make connections!

Connect the Dots with ML: Kelly Wrather

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

Learn about ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

For The Heart

Spotlight

Connect the Dots with ML: Kelly Wrather

Let's make connections!

6 Infrastructure Best Practices for WordPress

Infrastructure is the foundation of a WordPress website; even before you start building, it’s critical to anticipate infrastructural architecture. These 6 best practices show you how.

Infrastructure is the foundation of a WordPress website; even before you start building, it’s critical to anticipate infrastructural architecture. These 6 best practices show you how.

For The Brain

Website design and development

6 Infrastructure Best Practices for WordPress

Build on a solid foundation

Manual Labor's Year in Review

Join ML as we reflect on 2022!

Join ML as we reflect on 2022!

For The Heart

Spotlight

Manual Labor's Year in Review

Let's take a look back!

hype_cast: volume three

Manual Labor’s multi-topic quarterly series covering what is trending, hype and of the zeitgeist.

Manual Labor’s multi-topic quarterly series covering what is trending, hype and of the zeitgeist.

For The Brain

Inspiration

hype_cast: volume three

What's the vibe

10 Best JavaScript Practices for Improving Page Speed

Best JavaScript tips and tricks to improve your site’s performance.

Best JavaScript tips and tricks to improve your site’s performance.

For The Brain

Website design and development

10 Best JavaScript Practices for Improving Page Speed

Time to speed things up!

Manual Labor Presents: The Ultimate Holiday Playlist

In honor of the holiday season, get festive and listen to our holiday playlist!

In honor of the holiday season, get festive and listen to our holiday playlist!

For The Heart

Playlist

Manual Labor Presents: The Ultimate Holiday Playlist

Deck the Halls!

Connect the Dots with ML: Kjersti Jorgenson

Learn the colors of ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

Learn the colors of ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

For The Heart

Spotlight

Connect the Dots with ML: Kjersti Jorgenson

Let's make connections!

Tips for Running Effective Meetings

Ready to run a successful meeting? Here's some tips to being effective! 

Ready to run a successful meeting? Here's some tips to being effective! 

For The Brain

Unmarketing

Tips for Running Effective Meetings

You’re on mute

Stop Talking, Start Listening: Why the Art of Listening Will Build a Better You

Listening seems simple but can be hard for most folks. Learn the importance of listening with intention, for yourself and your business.

Listening seems simple but can be hard for most folks. Learn the importance of listening with intention, for yourself and your business.

For The Brain

Consulting

Stop Talking, Start Listening: Why the Art of Listening Will Build a Better You

Hear us out

Connect the Dots with ML: Nadia Basil

Learn the colors of ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

Learn the colors of ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

For The Heart

Spotlight

Connect the Dots with ML: Nadia Basil

Let's make connections!

5 Lessons in Client Management I Learned from Magic

Get your wands ready to learn how to work with the biggest clients.

Get your wands ready to learn how to work with the biggest clients.

For The Brain

Consulting

5 Lessons in Client Management I Learned from Magic

Abracadabra!

A Four-Question Guide To Your Brand’s Tone of Voice

Learn how Manual Labor helps brands define their tone of voice with four simple questions.

Learn how Manual Labor helps brands define their tone of voice with four simple questions.

For The Brain

Marketing Strategy

A Four-Question Guide To Your Brand’s Tone of Voice

Find your voice!

Connect the Dots with ML: Giovany Vasquez

Learn the colors of ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

Learn the colors of ML by getting to know its #GoodPeople.

For The Heart

Inspiration

Connect the Dots with ML: Giovany Vasquez

Let's make connections!

hype_cast: volume two

Manual Labor’s multi-topic quarterly series covering what is trending, hype and of the zeitgeist.

Manual Labor’s multi-topic quarterly series covering what is trending, hype and of the zeitgeist.

For The Brain

Inspiration

hype_cast: volume two

What's the vibe

I Turned 50. Let's Talk About It: Asking a Woman Her Age

Manual Labor's CEO & Founder, Samantha Choi-Cadley reflects on what it's meant for her to turn 50.

Manual Labor's CEO & Founder, Samantha Choi-Cadley reflects on what it's meant for her to turn 50.

For The Heart

Inspiration

I Turned 50. Let's Talk About It: Asking a Woman Her Age

Time to Reflect

Manual Labor Taps Creative Community to Launch Sticker Project and Raise Money for ACLU and World Central Kitchen

Manual Labor celebrates its 10th anniversary with charitable marketing campaign.

Manual Labor celebrates its 10th anniversary with charitable marketing campaign.

For The Heart

Press Release

Manual Labor Taps Creative Community to Launch Sticker Project and Raise Money for ACLU and World Central Kitchen

Learn more.

LOUD & PROUD: Pride Playlist Vol. 2

What have you done today to make you feel PROUD?

What have you done today to make you feel PROUD?

For The Heart

Playlist

LOUD & PROUD: Pride Playlist Vol. 2

Hey Mr. DJ, put a record on

11 Considerations when Launching Your First Landing Page

Checklist on the top considerations for your landing page.

Checklist on the top considerations for your landing page.

For The Brain

Website Strategy

11 Considerations when Launching Your First Landing Page

Get your free guide

10 Years of Great Work and Good People

A Decade of Manual Labor!

A Decade of Manual Labor!

For The Heart

Inspiration

10 Years of Great Work and Good People

Celebrate With Us

hype_cast: volume one

Manual Labor’s multi-topic quarterly series covering what is trending, hype and of the zeitgeist.

Manual Labor’s multi-topic quarterly series covering what is trending, hype and of the zeitgeist.

For The Brain

Inspiration

hype_cast: volume one

What's the vibe

8 Practical Tips for Non-Writers

Best practices for helping non-writers improve their writing to contribute meaningful content

Best practices for helping non-writers improve their writing to contribute meaningful content

For The Brain

Marketing Strategy

8 Practical Tips for Non-Writers

Hone your skills

Website Development Quiz

With just a few questions, we can help you find the best fit for your web dev needs.

With just a few questions, we can help you find the best fit for your web dev needs.

For The Brain

Website design and development

Website Development Quiz

Pull the lever!

Introducing ML Spotlight: Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, we share our favorite Black leaders and storytellers.

In honor of Black History Month, we share our favorite Black leaders and storytellers.

For The Heart

Inspiration

Introducing ML Spotlight: Black History Month

For the Culture

Manual Labor Presents: The Ultimate Valentine's Playlist

In honor of Valentine’s Day, get into your feels and listen to our lovely playlist!

In honor of Valentine’s Day, get into your feels and listen to our lovely playlist!

For The Heart

Playlist

Manual Labor Presents: The Ultimate Valentine's Playlist

Love is in the air

Unpacking Branding

The critical components to brand identity.

The critical components to brand identity.

For The Brain

Creative & Design

Unpacking Branding

Who are you?

The Three Pillars of Website Nurture and Growth

Learn how to set yourself up for success by treating your website as a product. 

Learn how to set yourself up for success by treating your website as a product. 

For The Brain

Creative & Design

The Three Pillars of Website Nurture and Growth

Evolve your website

21 Ways to Make Sure You’re Not Crashing Your Product Launch

Dive into product marketing pitfalls (and answers).

Dive into product marketing pitfalls (and answers).

For The Brain

Marketing Strategy

21 Ways to Make Sure You’re Not Crashing Your Product Launch

Create the model

Reading is Fundamental

Get to know the #GoodPeople of ML with our favorite books!

Get to know the #GoodPeople of ML with our favorite books!

For The Heart

Inspiration

Reading is Fundamental

Flip the page

History, Huh? Bet We Can Make Some

Learn about some key moments of LGBTQ+ History.

Learn about some key moments of LGBTQ+ History.

For The Heart

Inspiration

History, Huh? Bet We Can Make Some

Follow the rainbow

You Had Me At Pizza

Celebrate National Pizza Month with Manual Labor as we share our favorite Brooklyn spots!

Celebrate National Pizza Month with Manual Labor as we share our favorite Brooklyn spots!

For The Heart

Food & Bev

You Had Me At Pizza

Grab a slice

Workshop Resolutions for 2021

10 workshop resolutions to make your next session a success.

10 workshop resolutions to make your next session a success.

For The Brain

Workshops

Workshop Resolutions for 2021

Try something different

Manual Labor Studio Certified By the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council

Certification Advances Company’s Mission to “Do Great Work With Good People”

Certification Advances Company’s Mission to “Do Great Work With Good People”

For The Brain

Press Release

Manual Labor Studio Certified By the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council

Read more

What's in your apps, Todd?

Todd Cadley explains why Noom, The Mirror, and Whoop have been instrumental in his physical health during this crazy year.

Todd Cadley explains why Noom, The Mirror, and Whoop have been instrumental in his physical health during this crazy year.

For The Heart

Interviews

What's in your apps, Todd?

Get motivated

The Politics of UX

We use UX principles to understand how Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s communication style is mirrored in the design of their respective website’s user experience.

We use UX principles to understand how Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s communication style is mirrored in the design of their respective website’s user experience.

For The Brain

User Experience

The Politics of UX

Let's get political

Dyslexia: My Superpower

By definition, chaos is the state of complete disorder and confusion. My form of chaos has a name, a diagnosis, disbelief, doubt and even genius. My chaos is dyslexia. Luckily for me, it’s also my superpower.

By definition, chaos is the state of complete disorder and confusion. My form of chaos has a name, a diagnosis, disbelief, doubt and even genius. My chaos is dyslexia. Luckily for me, it’s also my superpower.

For The Heart

Inspiration

Dyslexia: My Superpower

Discover the power

How to work with a remote designer

Working with an in-house designer, a freelancer or an agency? Here are 3 steps to work better together.

Working with an in-house designer, a freelancer or an agency? Here are 3 steps to work better together.

For The Brain

Creative & Design

How to work with a remote designer

You're on mute!

June Spotify Playlist

In honor of National Pride Month, June's playlist highlights queer and ally voices.

In honor of National Pride Month, June's playlist highlights queer and ally voices.

For The Heart

Playlist

June Spotify Playlist

Kickstart Pride

What's in your apps, Dani?

Our VP of Creative shares what apps keep her going throughout the day.

Our VP of Creative shares what apps keep her going throughout the day.

For The Heart

Interviews

What's in your apps, Dani?

Get the download

What's in your apps, Nadia?

Our Senior Director of Marketing shares her favorite personal and professional apps.

Our Senior Director of Marketing shares her favorite personal and professional apps.

For The Heart

Interviews

What's in your apps, Nadia?

Swipe up

May Spotify playlist

Volume II of our monthly music rotation is filled with songs to get your feet moving.

Volume II of our monthly music rotation is filled with songs to get your feet moving.

For The Heart

Playlist

May Spotify playlist

Let's rock

Should you eat a cookie?

This handy flow chart helps the ever-difficult cookie question that we all know the answer to.

This handy flow chart helps the ever-difficult cookie question that we all know the answer to.

For The Heart

Food & Bev

Should you eat a cookie?

Start your journey

April Spotify playlist

Volume I of our monthly music rotation is great to pair with work or a happy hour cocktail.

Volume I of our monthly music rotation is great to pair with work or a happy hour cocktail.

For The Heart

Playlist

April Spotify playlist

Press play

What's in your apps, Fern?

What helps a global head of marketing crush her day? The right apps on her phone.

What helps a global head of marketing crush her day? The right apps on her phone.

For The Heart

Interviews

What's in your apps, Fern?

See what’s trending

What’s in your bag, Sameehan?

This week, our Lead UX Engineer shows us what he can’t live without.

This week, our Lead UX Engineer shows us what he can’t live without.

For The Heart

Interviews

What’s in your bag, Sameehan?

Take a look

What’s in your bag, Dani?

We take a peek inside our VP of Creative’s bag to see her essentials.

We take a peek inside our VP of Creative’s bag to see her essentials.

For The Heart

Interviews

What’s in your bag, Dani?

Inspiration awaits

What’s in your bag, Sam?

See what our CEO keeps in her work bag - from multi-purpose pencils to graph paper notebooks.

See what our CEO keeps in her work bag - from multi-purpose pencils to graph paper notebooks.

For The Heart

Interviews

What’s in your bag, Sam?

Meet the essentials

What’s in your bag, Kenny?

We take a peek inside Kenny’s bag to see what tools he uses at ML to get the art directed.

We take a peek inside Kenny’s bag to see what tools he uses at ML to get the art directed.

For The Heart

Interviews

What’s in your bag, Kenny?

Zip zip

You don't have a UX team - now what?

Even without a formal team, you can still build a user experience foundation at your company.

Even without a formal team, you can still build a user experience foundation at your company.

For The Brain

User Experience

You don't have a UX team - now what?

Start measuring

What’s in a name?

The name “Manual Labor” begins with an immigrant family who believed in the American Dream.

The name “Manual Labor” begins with an immigrant family who believed in the American Dream.

For The Heart

Inspiration

What’s in a name?

Where it started

What's in your apps, Sam?

The digital device for a CEO comes chock full of apps that help them conquer the day.

The digital device for a CEO comes chock full of apps that help them conquer the day.

For The Heart

Interviews

What's in your apps, Sam?

Swipe up

Building effective presentations

Ask any marketer: presentations are important. Here are 9 ways to make them great.

Ask any marketer: presentations are important. Here are 9 ways to make them great.

For The Brain

Consulting

Building effective presentations

Next slide, please

What’s in your bag, Todd?

Contingency planning is front and center of a marketing executive on the go with his bag.

Contingency planning is front and center of a marketing executive on the go with his bag.

For The Heart

Interviews

What’s in your bag, Todd?

Read on

Welcome to the new ML site and WOW!

Welcome to the new Manual Labor website - and blog! Here’s what you can expect to learn.

Welcome to the new Manual Labor website - and blog! Here’s what you can expect to learn.

For The Brain

Marketing Strategy

Welcome to the new ML site and WOW!

See our evolution

Communication learnings from COVID-19

Three great examples on how leaderships used - and use - the power of effective communications.

Three great examples on how leaderships used - and use - the power of effective communications.

For The Brain

Consulting

Communication learnings from COVID-19

Learn how

What’s in your bag, Nadia?

Ensuring you can operate - no matter where you are- lives in body of this marketer’s bag.

Ensuring you can operate - no matter where you are- lives in body of this marketer’s bag.

For The Heart

Interviews

What’s in your bag, Nadia?

Explore now

From casino to conference room: the power of "tells"

Tells aren’t exclusive to poker - they manifest in consulting and team projects, too.

Tells aren’t exclusive to poker - they manifest in consulting and team projects, too.

For The Brain

Creative & Design

From casino to conference room: the power of "tells"

Show your hand

5 essential steps for creating a logo

When done well, a logo becomes a symbol of the promise the brand builds with its customers.

When done well, a logo becomes a symbol of the promise the brand builds with its customers.

For The Brain

Creative & Design

5 essential steps for creating a logo

Embrace the challenge

Serving as the voice of the customer

How do we get to the voice of the customer? It starts with experience across all teams.

How do we get to the voice of the customer? It starts with experience across all teams.

For The Brain

Customer & Market Research

Serving as the voice of the customer

Let’s sync up

Let’s
Connect!

We love meeting more Good People that are as passionate as we are. Give us a shout if you want to connect and learn more about ML.