The Malbon Moodboard: A Creative Conversation with Stephen Malbon

I’ve always believed that the best conversations about creativity happen when you’re not trying too hard. That was definitely the case when I sat down with Stephen Malbon.

For the second episode of Course Café, we dug into everything how design has evolved, how inspiration hits differently now than it used to, and how important it is to balance the digital tools at our fingertips with the raw, imperfect magic of working by hand. Stephen talked about trusting your gut, moving fast, and letting culture—streetwear, golf, art, music—seep into your work without overthinking it.

It’s easy to look at Malbon and see a brand. But when you really listen to Stephen, you realize it’s more than that. It’s a living moodboard. A running dialogue between community, competition, and craft.

This episode reminded me: the best designs, and the best brands, aren’t manufactured. They’re lived.