Insights | Designing with Intention: An Afternoon with The Tenth

What does it mean to design with intention?

That question was at the heart of The Tenth's April Salon, where David Tann sat down for an intimate conversation about his creative journey, one that’s taken him from Hallmark cards and global retail giants to the Atlanta Hawks and, ultimately, to building Tantrum Agency from the ground up.

Hosted by The Tenth, an Atlanta-based cultural collective dedicated to nourishing the city’s creative community, the salon brought together artists, thinkers and storytellers for a thoughtful exchange on the power of design to shape how we see and move through the world.

David reflected on early influences, pivotal career moments, and what it means to lead a creative agency with empathy, grounding, and purpose. One of the standout moments? A quote that struck a chord with the room:

“Advertising is like asking someone on a date, but branding is why they actually say YES.” (Shoutout to artist Charly Palmer for asking the question that unlocked that gem.)

The conversation wasn’t just about career milestones. It was about creative values. About listening more deeply. About building brands that feel lived in and lived through. About the belief that design isn’t just how something looks, but how it makes people feel.

Thank you to The Tenth for creating space for this kind of dialogue and for feeding Atlanta’s creative spirit, one salon at a time.

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