Brand experience strategist ∙ Ex-AKQA, Vice, et al Exploring the next economy ∙ Design × tech × biz Currently LA-based ∙ 🇺🇸 born, 🇹🇼 raised https://www.calebkramer.com/https://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mksdt3wgls2iPopUp Bagels just opened near me in West LA. And Levain's not far in Venice. This was an interesting read on the business behind these chains seemingly emerging all at once. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/dining/private-equity-bagel-business.html01 May 2026 14:32 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mksdt3wgls2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3miyrkrwdos2sPsychoanalyzing software is wild.08 Apr 2026 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3miyrkrwdos2shttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3micjwktzyk27Love that Nike Air Max's "Above the Influence" campaign is riffing on the local Coco delivery robots.30 Mar 2026 20:48 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3micjwktzyk27https://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mi32o2opos2oChinese brands are winning. And they're doing it by leading with product, not provenance.27 Mar 2026 21:26 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi32o2opos2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhy5mxzyss22Anthropic's "AI Interviewer" did qual research at massive global scale (n=80,508). The largest known studies to-date hit ~60,000 and took far longer. There are no doubt pros/cons to the method, but wow.26 Mar 2026 17:41 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhy5mxzyss22https://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhxy7qkgk22z7-Eleven's marketing team is on one. First reversed-pudding, now this. Things are really getting out of hand!26 Mar 2026 16:04 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhxy7qkgk22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhw66ceeic2yIt's official: @karaswisher.bsky.social says "mahjong is the pickleball of 2026." I've noticed local leagues popping up all across LA. But NYT was writing about this as far back as 2003. It's a comeback story.25 Mar 2026 22:46 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhw66ceeic2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhvwlq2otc2rProject Hail Mary wasn’t even on my radar before last week. This post converted me.25 Mar 2026 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvwlq2otc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhvdjd4y3c23Within the last week, two gigs that previously didn't come through turned out to be dodged bullets. One company is divesting a brand, the other just had sudden layoffs. Sometimes what feels like a missed opportunity is just a blessing in disguise.25 Mar 2026 14:49 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvdjd4y3c23https://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhtnmvma722tThe fact that Nike brand ID was part of the mood boards for this game explains everything. https://www.creativereview.co.uk/kurppa-hosk-marketing-design-bungie-marathon/24 Mar 2026 22:44 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhtnmvma722thttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhqntysuhc2wThis is what Rivian's CEO is after with his new company Mind Robotics. "...the hands are very, very important. Everything else, from a robotic system point of view, is to get the hands to the right place." via @TechCrunch Pivot to plumbing might be the next learn to code.23 Mar 2026 18:10 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhqntysuhc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mho3fnbvgs2wMade it to Fruit Stand Sea View in Borrego Springs, where Leo nailed his Mexican whistle in One Battle After Another 🍊22 Mar 2026 17:35 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mho3fnbvgs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhjgggtm7k2u"Success in our toy business will drive success in entertainment, and success in entertainment will drive greater success in toys." - Ynon Kreiz, Mattel Hollywood is building worlds that sell toy IP. https://sherwood.news/culture/the-labubu-movie-is-just-the-latest-toy-story-hitting-the-big-screen/20 Mar 2026 21:09 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhjgggtm7k2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhje3ujs3k2aPatrón is leaning into "proof of reality" and doing it exuberantly by hiring Guillermo del Toro to direct the perfect pour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLvR8ru2D8U20 Mar 2026 20:27 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhje3ujs3k2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhgjtogpjk2iStarbucks is enhancing its human edge, using AI to let baristas do what they do best. But there's going to be a fine line between this and RentAHuman.19 Mar 2026 17:32 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhgjtogpjk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mhga5iyrzc2lCan't catch a break.19 Mar 2026 14:38 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhga5iyrzc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mded7bibak2qLove this meaningful, local effort by Fender. Limited edition Altadena Telecasters, made from wildfire-damaged cedar, are up for auction. 100% of proceeds go toward rebuilding homes and families impacted by the 2025 Eaton fire.26 Jan 2026 22:47 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mded7bibak2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3md4caqudo227It's what we all kind of intuitively knew: AI enhances workflows, but struggles to own the workflow itself. When given real-world roles like banking analyst and corporate lawyer, even the most advanced models fail over 70% of the time.23 Jan 2026 18:09 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3md4caqudo227https://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mczndrkalk2vThe view from Taipei 101, where Alex Honnold will be free soloing live on Netflix soon.22 Jan 2026 16:49 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mczndrkalk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mcx7qkcwv22jI have to say, between Merge Labs, Worldcoin, and OpenAI's new Orwellian ad model, Altman is giving me the ick.21 Jan 2026 17:40 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcx7qkcwv22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mcuzswti3k2vMy LinkedIn profile just got a major upgrade.20 Jan 2026 20:49 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcuzswti3k2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mcsgj5bwas2gLove the idea of connecting the Zwift community IRL. I'm sure there's plenty of local grassroots activity, but curious what's next from the brand after this pilot.19 Jan 2026 19:58 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcsgj5bwas2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mcsfubjo322nIf you're still billing hours, it's time to start updating scopes to reflect AI-accelerated output or transition to value-based pricing. The current arbitrage won't last forever. https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/how-ai-is-helping-law-firms-overcharge-clients19 Jan 2026 19:47 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcsfubjo322nhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mcky7nyh622rThis may look bad for OpenAI, but this is natural in new categories. Different players find more specialized product-market fit. What matters is whether the pie keeps growing.16 Jan 2026 20:54 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcky7nyh622rhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3mckxmzrygc2dPhotographer Weimin Chu captured China's epic investment in wind and solar energy. Looking at these images, you can't help but feel the future continuing to be pulled Eastward.16 Jan 2026 20:43 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3mckxmzrygc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3madu4hiljk2yWhatever19 Dec 2025 14:01 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3madu4hiljk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3m7qco3adss2yI just returned from a trip to Taiwan, where I grew up and visit as often as I can. Every time I’m back, there’s something new. Just for fun, I decided to share a few favorite finds. Maybe they’ll offer some inspiration or spark some last-minute gift ideas.11 Dec 2025 19:28 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7qco3adss2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3m5owzfmdvc2kWhat better way to spend a rainy Friday night in Los Angeles than hanging with the homies @profgalloway.com @karaswisher.bsky.social15 Nov 2025 19:37 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5owzfmdvc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3m4q6fvkcp226Recently came across Collingwood-Norris and her 'visible creative mending'. Creating beauty out of imperfection is so wabi sabi. Love it.03 Nov 2025 13:57 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4q6fvkcp226https://bsky.app/profile/calebkramer.bsky.social/post/3m4omlprias2dWith everything going on, catastrophe preparedness that's fun feels like a growing market opportunity. Judy was the first brand to catch my eye. Now SafeTaiwan is selling emergency kits for pets, in case you know who tries something.02 Nov 2025 23:05 +0000at://did:plc:bmu7hl6vaevziaghrxydpw44/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4omlprias2d