March 3, 2025
Ten. Freakin’. Years!!!
It’s official—Pen & Mug is celebrating our 10 year anniversary!
What started as a solo freelancer in 2015 has blossomed into a full-fledged creative studio with an incredible team, amazing clients, and plenty of milestones to boot.
Looking back on all the growth, I couldn’t be more proud or more grateful for how far we’ve come. All this transformation, and we’re still just getting started.
I’d like to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who’s been a part of the journey—clients, partners, community members and P&M team members who make it all possible and make the work a joy.
Curious to know more about our origin story? Take a scroll down memory lane to see just how far we’ve come. (Putting this timeline together got me a little misty-eyed, geez.)
2015
Pen & Mug begins as a freelance moniker of Austin Schulenburg, aspiring graphic designer and business builder. Austin used the name Pen & Mug from the beginning with the goal of growing this brand into a larger team.(And it’s easier to spell than Schulenburg.)
2018
Austin files the paperwork to make Pen & Mug an LLC. The business continues to grow as a side hustle outside Austin’s full-time job.
Austin teams up with Jeremy, a front-end development maestro, for the first time to take on a website project.
2019
Jeremy officially joins the Pen & Mug team.
Propelled by referrals, plenty of coffee and the theatrical release of John Wick 3 (funny story), we begin taking on bigger and better projects and learn a lot along the way.
RIGHT: The first P&M team photoshoot
2021-22
It’s full-time…time! Austin goes all-in and makes Pen & Mug his full-time job.
Soon after, Morgan & Kyle both join the team as part-time freelance designers & multi-hyphenate creative experts.
RIGHT: Morgan & Rachel unintentionally match at our in-person meeting (again!), and this time Austin matches too
2023
Morgan becomes Pen & Mug’s first full-time hire, and takes our team’s design skills to new heights. Rachel joins the team soon after as our client coordinator, keeping everyone in sync and projects running smoothly.
2024
We refine our strategy and upgrade our logo and website to match.
Pen & Mug grows to nine team members and completes our best and most exciting client work to date!
2025
We’re heading into our 10th year of business with a ton of positive momentum, a big vision and a bright future ahead!
THANK YOU
to everyone who’s been part of this journey—our amazing clients, key partners and the talented team that makes it all happen.
Cheers to 10 more years of growth and creativity! (and, of course, coffee)
What We’re Listening To
“RIP” by Haylee Page
Side projects are encouraged on the Pen & Mug team, and sometimes a few of us even work on side projects together. I like to say these projects are part of the “Pen & Mug Cinematic Universe”.
One such project recently has been working with RealNice Music and Haylee Page to create and release Haylee’s debut album, GLOW.
The sad news: the full album won’t be dropping until later this year. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you posted.
The good news: the first single is officially available wherever you stream music, and it is a banger!