20 Questions With Sam Kramer from Near Modern Disaster

We asked Sam Kramer, the genius behind Near Modern Disaster some life-changing questions. greengreenSam Kramer is the one-lady operation behind Near Modern Disaster. She’s been designing note cards since 2009 – helping you express all of the feelings you’re feeling – as awkward or inappropriate as they may be.

itscoldoutside1. What’s your favorite book?
“Dance Dance Dance” by Haruki Murakami – it was the first of his books that I read and I was instantly hooked.

2. Favorite movie?
The Neverending Story! (Still hoping to one day pull off a Swamps of Sadness Atreyu/Artax couples Halloween costume.)

3. Favorite TV show?
Fixer Upper. No shame. Chip & Joanna = relationship #goals.

4. Favorite song?
Full disclosure, this feels like having to pick a favorite child. Today I’ve had “Black Ice” by the Rock*A*Teens playing on repeat for a couple of hours. So we’ll go with that.

5. Favorite food?
Yes.

6. Drink of choice?
All whiskey all the time. Except when it’s time for coffee.

7. Go-to karaoke song?
I’m in the anti-karaoke crowd – but with enough alcohol, my go-to is always “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart.

 
8. When did you realize you wanted to be a designer?
I always said I wanted to be an artist. By 6 years old, I was already charging my parents and their friends for my drawings. Wish I still had the same marketing skills.

9. Did you go to design school or teach yourself?
I actually have a bachelors degree in photography – but can’t take a picture to save my life. I was sort of an expert at wooing boys via the postal service though – so I guess you could say I got a lot of practice for my future stationery biz life while in college.

10. If you had to describe your style with only three words what would they be?
I know the answer is supposed to be adjectives – but “I like you” pretty much sums up my entire stationery line. Or maybe “Real life feelings”. I’m doing this wrong, I know.

11. When did you start ​your company?
Technically 2009 – but let’s be honest, it wasn’t until 2013 that I was properly pulling things together.

12. Where is your studio located?
Jacksonville, FL

13. What’s your favorite card ​of yours ​on Postable?
“I want to climb you like a tree” will always be a personal favorite. This pick up line works. Tried and true.climbyoulikeatree

14. What artists, past or present, inspire your work?
I feel like I’m constantly struggling to make something as clever, relatable, and authentic as AdamJK. Also, I must fully acknowledge that Near Modern Disaster wouldn’t exist without Nic Nicosia. I came across his “Near (modern) Disasters” photo series in my first year of college and immediately fell in love with the title (and the works themselves!) and knew we’d be together forever.

15. If you had to choose a spirit animal what would it be and why?
Whiskey. Because whiskey. If I have to choose a living thing, then I choose Andrew WK. Because I recently fell down the rabbit hole of positivity that is his social media presence and now I feel like I can conquer the world.

 
16. When was the last time you laughed really hard and why?
Watching the BBC series Miranda. If you don’t guffaw at least once per episode, there’s something wrong with you. We just finished it off and I’m suffering from withdrawal already.

17. How would you spend your dream Saturday?
Wake up / go out to breakfast / take a nap. THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD. Then maybe float around in the pool and finish off the day with a Superchunk concert or some other Merge records band that I’ve listened to religiously since the mid-90s.

18. If you weren’t allowed to work for 12 months, what would you do?
Go visit EVERYONE. File under – things that seemingly never happen when you run your own business.

19. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
No specific location is calling my name – but I’d love to live in an old post office or bank or church – always love seeing those spaces turned into homes.

20. Was this questionnaire too long?
Never!

Checkout Near Modern Disaster’s Postable collection and send a card right now. 

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