Eugene Kan
eugenekan.bsky.social
Eugene Kan
@eugenekan.bsky.social
Co-Founder / Builder
MAEKAN & Adam Studios
The audience will always bring their own context and meaning. That tension isn't a bug, it's what keeps brands culturally alive.

Check out the whole piece here:

selfprojectingprojections.substack.com/p/the-intere...
The Interests of the Founder vs. the Audience in Building a Brand
Who's voice is more important?
selfprojectingprojections.substack.com
May 17, 2025 at 8:43 AM
"Make something people want" vs "Make something YOU want."

The best brands do both, but they start with a vision, not market research. And it feels like we’ve tried too hard to overly engineer brands without some of that world-building that ironically is behind some of our brands we elevate.
May 17, 2025 at 8:43 AM
I’ll use a simple, close-to-the-heart reference with Japanese brands like UNDERCOVER, NBHD and BAPE. They built global cult followings by staying true to their vision, even when most customers couldn't read or comprehend any of their limited interviews. That's the power of unwavering direction.
May 17, 2025 at 8:43 AM
When you build something meaningful, does your original vision trump how culture receives it? The best brands exist in this tension, between founder intent and audience interpretation.
May 17, 2025 at 8:43 AM
It started with an interview with Brendon Babenzien (ex-Supreme CD) of Noah, where he pushes back against the "streetwear" label others gave his brand. But here's the real question...
May 17, 2025 at 8:43 AM
I jotted down some thoughts on why protecting passion matters more than we think:

open.substack.com/pub/selfproj...
April 23, 2025 at 9:44 AM
When you find people who truly care about their craft, protect them at all costs!!!

They don't just add value to your projects, they provide that rare, sustainable energy that keeps everything moving forward when momentum ebbs and flows.
April 23, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Their excitement radiates and elevates everyone around them. Even when the details were fuzzy, their conviction spoke volumes, and they always gave this sense of belief that they were going to stumble their way forward while having fun.
April 23, 2025 at 9:44 AM
The takeaway? Creative shops, creators, and artists need to actively pursue ownership stakes while translating their expertise into valuable offerings. The most sustainable path forward isn't just helping others build their brands—it's building something you own alongside them.
April 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
It goes without saying that having an operational background helps, but the holistic requirements of running a brand require careful consideration.
April 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
We started to recognize the desire to transition from service provider to brand creator (and owner) several years ago. Truth is, not every brand-building opportunity will make sense or simply land in your lap.
April 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
But recognizing these gaps isn't about accepting limitations—it's about building something to overcome any deficiencies or mitigate the current setup.
April 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
What you don’t have in ownership as a "service provider” is hopefully balanced out by the freedom to decide.
April 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
This decision-making power becomes your anchor, especially when financial clarity or stability feels out of reach. You can choose to take a job that pays less cause it’s exciting just as much as you can say no because the budget doesn’t align with your bandwidth.
April 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Peel away the layers of running a studio (in our case, Adam Studios), and hopefully, you'll find one fundamental principle matters above all else: your agency to make real decisions.
April 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
There's something oddly reassuring about brands. Good brands exercise a coherent identity and commitment, while much of the rest of the world shifts position and messaging based on the latest shiny thing.

selfprojectingprojections.substack.com/p/the-beauti...
The Beautiful Chaos of Brands
An appreciation for all a brand represents.
selfprojectingprojections.substack.com
April 14, 2025 at 3:11 PM