Debbie Millman has an ongoing project at PRINT titled “What Matters.” This is an effort to understand the interior life of artists, designers, and creative thinkers. This facet of the project is a request of each invited respondent to answer ten identical questions and submit a nonprofessional photograph.
Spencer Strickland is the VP of Creative at Langrand, where he oversees brand storytelling, design, and creative strategies. His design work has earned international recognition, and under his direction, the team’s campaigns have won national awards. Spencer is known for putting his heart into every project, holding fast to what’s good, and embracing the question mark. He lives on a small ranch in the Texas Hill Country with his wife and four boys.
What is the thing you like doing most in the world?
Being the house DJ of the family. I like playing songs from times past that feel and meet the moment—chase the blues away, get the boys to dance, or just slow things down for us when the day needs it.
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
Sitting with my mom at the kitchen table, piecing together leaves, twigs, and bits of earth we gathered on a walk—pressing them into a collage, placing each one just so.
What is your biggest regret?
My younger self might not agree, but I regret not leaving Houston for the countryside sooner. Being here now, it’s hard not to think about all the time lost to the rush of big city life. Felt like I was always on the go but never really getting anywhere.
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
Hard to say I’ve gotten over it. It’s more than just love lost—like the grandfather I never knew, the friend who left too soon, or seeing hardship in others’ eyes. Those pieces turn up when I least expect them.
What makes you cry?
I’m more moved by the things that leave me silent. The quiet after a tough goodbye, the shell of a place that once was, or the way the sky looks before a storm rolls in.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
Joy’s gone as soon as the ink dries. But pride—that’s different. It hangs around, like a stubborn reminder, making me think I’ve got it all figured out when I don’t.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
I believe there’s a gift and a promise beyond the grave. But when I close my eyes and try to picture it, I only see bits of what I know here.
What do you hate most about yourself?
When I rush past a simple thank-you or compliment like I didn’t hear it right.
What do you love most about yourself?
I’m unafraid to strike up a conversation, finding common ground even with those I’ve just met.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
The kind where everyone’s had a hand in the cooking, no matter what’s on the menu. And I get to fill up a plate, sit down, and we dig in together.
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