Orbit30: The Mug That’s Never Held Coffee
The story about the classic Apple Computer mug that has adorned my desk(s) for thirty years
Orbit30 is a monthly series that celebrates Orbit’s 30-year journey and the people who shaped it.
It’s been on my desk for nearly 30 years.
A white ceramic Apple mug with the old rainbow logo—gifted to me at Christmas in 1995 by my first manager, Phil Marinucci.
I’ve never once used it to drink from.
Instead, it’s held pens, X-Acto knives, Sharpies—tools of the trade—and quietly reminded me where it all began.
Phil hired me right out of school, on the same day I’d interviewed somewhere else where I was told I’d need to cut my hair to be offered the job (by a guy who wore shorts, bare feet and Teva sandals, but I digress). That moment stuck with me. I didn’t take that job. Later that day, I met Phil, and everything changed. He saw something in me—and hired me days later.
That first job, at a retail firm called Comark, was where I learned what it meant to be a professional designer. Phil taught me about file structure, desk organization, time tracking, internal billing—how to do the job, not just design. But he also taught me how to lead with care, with clarity, with curiosity. He was a mentor before I even realized what that word meant.
He was also a die-hard Mac fan, at a time when Apple, the company, was struggling. He passionately outfitted our studio with the best Macs of the era, and printed out Apple manifestos for us to read. He poked holes in the hype around Windows 95, and preached the gospel of design thinking before it had a name. He told us about this thing called the internet, predicted cloud-based creative apps and cross-functional tools long before that was the norm. We laughed at the time. He turned out to be right about everything.
But here’s the thing I never forgot — beyond all the tech, the design critiques, and the life lessons — Phil saw people. One of his most charming traditions was something called The Legends Award. Whenever someone left the studio, Phil would create a fully customized certificate, complete with their photo, goofy nicknames, inside jokes, favourite quotes, and more. It would be plaque-mounted and presented at the obligatory farewell ceremony—with cake (and laughs) of course. It turned goodbyes into celebrations. (Years after Phil moved on, I got my own Legends plaque — proof the tradition he started lived on.)
I’ve carried that inspiration into every step of my career—including the times I’ve hired and mentored others. When I’ve helped young designers find their footing, I’ve often thought of Phil.
Phil made a dent in the universe by making a dent in people’s lives. He helped set the tone for the kind of leader I wanted to be — and the kind of studio I wanted to build. Orbit exists today because of early moments like those.
This Apple mug is more than a container for pens.
It’s a symbol of beginnings. Of mentorship. Of what happens when someone believes in you, and shows you how to believe in yourself.
Thanks, Phil.
You made a bigger impact than you probably ever realized.
Trajectory is where I share stories like this — behind-the-scenes thoughts on creativity, design, and building a studio with heart. Subscribe to receive more posts like this straight to your inbox.