167 - Blu Dot Founders | John Christakos & Maurice Blanks
Channel: Josh Miles
Date: 2021-11-08

Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with the founders of modern home furnishings and design brand, Blu Dot: John Christakos & Maurice Blanks. 

Based in Minneapolis, Blu Dot has 12 locations across the US (with new stores in Miami, San Francisco, and more on the way). 

You may know Blu Dot from their gorgeous mod pieces that are all over Instagram, or if you’re like me and don’t have a Blu Dot location in your backyard, Blu Dot may occasionally grace your mailbox with a catalog.

In 2020 and 2021 their focus became updating the home office for continued work from home and the need for flexible indoor/outdoor social spaces.

Today we’re going to be chatting with John & Maurice about how they’ve continued to innovate and push their design forward in the last two years, meeting these new demands without sacrificing the integrity of their products, so without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with John Christakos & Maurice Blanks.

:::::

Today’s episode is brought to you by The Perfect Match—a game where designers submit mood boards created with Adobe Stock assets and earn the chance to play on a live game show to win big. 

As designers, we pitch great ideas through visuals, all day, every day. But how well does our design communicate? Do clients and higher-ups really understand the work we put in front of them? 

Well, let's find out. 

Test your skills by assembling a brand-inspired mood board with Adobe Stock images to The Perfect Match, and if your skillful project is chosen, you could be featured on Adobe's monthly live streaming game show with other groovy designers, art directors, and creatives, where the winner goes home with $750. 

It's free to participate in The Perfect Match, and just submitting an entry gets you a coffee for your time. Visit https://theperfectmatch.co/obsessed to learn more, and get ready to bring your design skills to win. 

Thanks Again to The Perfect Match for sponsoring today’s episode. 

:::::

If you prefer audio, you can find all of the places to tune in at: https://kite.link/obsessed

✅SUB: https://www.youtube.com/joshmiles?sub_confirmation=1

✅IG: https://www.instagram.com/joshmilescom/

✅BOOK ME: https://www.joshmiles.com/about/

:::::

----- MORE ABOUT JOSH MILES -----
https://www.instagram.com/joshmilescom/
http://www.joshmiles.com
http://www.obsessedshow.com/episodes
Get Bold Brand 2.0 on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PvKf2z

———MY GEAR———
🎶
The best music for YouTube: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/69f5cf/

⚡️
Blazing-fast internet: https://signup.metronetinc.com/r/OTg1NDIxMjg0NzU5

📷
My New Camera, Canon EOS R5: https://amzn.to/3rt9lTc
My B camera, Canon EOS R: https://amzn.to/2UrsQus
My favorite lens, Canon 16-35 2.8: https://amzn.to/2uCFThD
My studio lighting, LED panels: https://amzn.to/2JGscTo

🚁
My NEW Drone: Mavic 2 Pro: https://click.dji.com/ABmjHSq5BTm3BZ0y7iT-hw?pm=link

 🎤
My studio/podcasting mic setup: https://amzn.to/2uBb0tO
Zoom H6 recorder: https://amzn.to/2NzweQm
Shure SM58 Microphone: https://amzn.to/2PSffdu
My shotgun mic, Zoom SSH-6: https://amzn.to/2zU9Lv1

📚
The BEST Marketing Books:
This is Marketing, by Seth Godin: https://amzn.to/2P31Yxd
The Brand Gap: https://amzn.to/2Nvpq5Q
Designing Brand Identity: https://amzn.to/2uAPncW
How To: https://amzn.to/2uBbSi4
Creative Strategy & the Business of Design: https://amzn.to/2LsvqyN
My book, Bold Brand 2.0: https://amzn.to/2A3yRaW

OTHER STUFF:
My gear bag, Peak Design 20L: https://amzn.to/2LBvTvv