Welcome to the Redesigned Art of Manliness

# What changed and why September 2026 with a redesign meant to match the site's current identity. Brett and Kate McKay describe the new look as a synthesis of AoM's past, present, and future — a design that can carry the brand through the next phase rather than feeling like a temporary refresh.

# A brief design history

• 2008: Brett launched AoM with a self-built site using basic HTML, PHP, and Photoshop. The earliest visual style leaned vintage, with a parchment-colored background and John L. Sullivan in the masthead.
• 2013: As the site grew, the McKays hired a designer. The look became more professional yet still vintage, adding wood paneling and a gentleman in the masthead.
• Circa 2019: The team moved toward minimalism and a 'Get Action' tagline, emphasizing practical implementation over nostalgia. The aesthetic simplified and adopted a '70s-influenced vibe.
• 2026: The most recent redesign was driven by AoM's 18th year and a desire for a design that could last. The team wanted a classic look that also connects AoM to other projects the McKays have developed.

# How the new design works The redesign aimed to do three things: reflect AoM's maturation, unite related projects visually, and preserve the site's practical, action-first sensibility.

• Reintroduced wood paneling and parchment backgrounds on desktop to bring back familiar visual signals.
• Restored John L. Sullivan's Currier and Ives image and added animation so he appears in motion across categories.
• Updated the AoM logo with a boxing-gear motif that links to the site's heritage and approachable toughness.

# The broader ecosystem: McKay Inc AoM is now one part of a small ecosystem. The McKays describe three prongs:

• Dying Breed: a Substack for personal and philosophical pieces (thought).
• Art of Manliness: the main site focused on practical guidance and community (word).
• Life: an online/offline program that helps people put AoM's ideas into practice (deed).

The redesign creates clearer entry points to these projects and positions them under the informal name McKay Inc.

# Who built it A design studio called Mythic Proportions worked with the McKays to clarify the brand and visual direction. Costel Tudose handled the coding and implemented adjustments during the build.

# What to expect on the site Visitors will find familiar AoM themes presented within a refreshed, more cohesive visual framework. The site keeps the 'Get Action' energy through interactive touches like the animated Sullivan and updated category presentation. The aesthetic nods to the past while organizing access to AoM's related projects.

# Practical takeaway If you're a regular reader, expect a more integrated experience tying the main site to Dying Breed and The Strenuous Life. If you're new, the redesign aims to make AoM's mission and pathways into its projects easier to spot and use.