Low-Key Legends (Rogue Studio)

Welcome to Low-Key Legends. A show where we share epically casual conversations from legends in the creative industry on the business of creativity, culture, art, and ways to level up your creative practice.

I'm your host Britton Stipetic an over-caffeinated founder of Rogue Studio. Join me as I chat with the legends in the creative industry from design, music, and entrepreneurship - learning from their process and perspectives. Finding the nuggets of wisdom to encourage you on your creative journey as we all strive together to become legends.

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, we chat with Filippo Cipriani head of studio at Adoratorio, Adoratorio is a digital agency based in Brescia Italy working with clients like Netflix, Guicci, Maserati, and more crafting exquisite brand and digital experiences.

We dive into the fundamentals of what makes for a successful design studio and great creative work. How the words you use to tell a story are equally if not more important than the visuals you use. In this epic far-ranging conversation we chat we explore food, wine, and hospitality, the lessons Fil learned in Hotel and hospitality school, and how Anthony Bourdain changed his life.

Strap in and take a mental flight ✈️ to Brescia with me.

Filippo on Social: → LinkedIn

→ Twitter / X

→ Website

An audio buffet-style sampling of the three Low-Key Legends guests from March. This episode features our top lessons and takeaways from each interview. Focusing on the fundamentals of running a design studio, pricing your work, and pushing past creative block. This episode offers a little taste of a much longer episode that you can dive into whenever you have time. Get a feel and vibe for each of the guests. Chapters: 0:00:42 Pricing Web Design Work with Filippo Cipriani 00:39:20 Creating a Successful Business with Rachael Yaeger 00:55:41 Pushing Past Creative Block with Mario Šimić

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I sit down with my friend and mentor Mike Kern the founder of WeLikeSmall which was acquired by ThinkingBox in 2019. We dive into a wide range of topics from how to build and grow an agency, the challenges involved with growing from 2 million to 5 million in revenue, the reasons for selling his agency, and much more.

Let's Get Social: → Twitter/ X → LinkedIn → ThinkingBox

In this conversation, DJ Javier, the founder of Banyan Surf Club, discusses his career and collaborations with big brands like Billabong, Shake Shack, and the LA Rams. He emphasizes the importance of persistence, checking his ego, and staying humble. DJ shares how working with a manager has allowed him to focus on the creative work while his manager handles the business side.

He also talks about the role of social media in attracting clients and the importance of presenting well and concepting effectively sharing a story along with your design. DJ also talks about the value of passion projects and how they can lead to opportunities with bigger brands. DJ's playful and inclusive mindset is influenced by his experiences and the desire to create a space where everyone feels heard and uplifted.

Sari-Sari Show: Indoek Gallery 432 N Ventura Ave Studio 30, Ventura, CA 93001 Find DJ online:

→ Website

→ ⁠Ted Talk⁠

→ Instagram

→ Lumpia Surf Team

→ Canto.Vision

We sit down with the studio that brings all the people to the yard - Milkshake; partners Alex and Simon talk all things digital branding, sprint-based pricing, food, dad jokes, and zombie apocalypse strategy. We go deep into the modern world of branding and how you're biggest brand asset is your website. Today all brands are digital and need to be online with a website that showcases their values. Code is a modern design medium, let's use it to make dope things! Milkshake is an upbeat creative studio based in Greenpoint Brooklyn that creates clarity for companies through design and technology. We will go much deeper on this as we dive in. Alex, Simon, what a pleasure to have you here! Welcome to the show! Grab some fries because we've got the milkshakes covered.

Chapters:

0:11:50 Running Projects

0:23:40 Specializing

0:41:23 Alex & Simon Backstory - Milkshake Origins

1:04:10] Skills Learned Building The Agency / Relationships

1:33:04 Sprint Based Pricing

Milkshake On Social: Website Dribbble Twitter / X Instagram

On this episode of Low-Key Legends Bryan James and I explore the challenges creatives face in staying relevant and true to their personal taste. We discuss the impact of social media on creative work, the importance of maintaining one's unique taste, and how personal experiences can influence design. We explore how to overcome creative blocks, the balance between client needs and personal vision, and the significance of authenticity in the creative process.We also dive deep into the impact of technology on design, the legacy of creativity, and personal definitions of success. Our chat emphasizes the need for all designers to find their unique voice and the significance of creating work that resonates emotionally with audiences.Bryan on Social:Website → brybry.coWebsite → visuals.brybry.coInstagram → www.instagram.com/brybrystudioTwitter → x.com/WengersToyBus

On this episode of Low-Key Legends, we chat with Michelle Mattar the founder of Practice Inc. a brand-building studio in Brooklyn about how creating fake brands helped her to launch her highly successful business.

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Buy Dirt Baby Shirts

HABIBI - GRAPHIC NOVEL

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Find Michelle Online:

Twitter

Practice

Waste Not: Sustainable Packaging Resources

Creative Boom Article Feature

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I have the pleasure of talking with Haruko Hayakawa, the illustrative CG artist crafting whimsical work for your favorite brands like Google, Fly by Jing, Bon Appetit Magazine, Cometeer Coffee, and so many more. She has a deep passion for the world of consumer products and how brands shape our culture, leaving a lasting imprint in our memory. She aims to create work that evokes a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, especially for those who relate to her Asian-American upbringing. We dive into a wide range of topics but here are a few of the highlights, what is 3D art, what is the impact of 3D on photography, drinking culture at advertising agencies, flow state, leveraging your personality to attract dream clients, and more.

Social: Website Twitter / X Instagram LinkTree

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I sit down with Alex, Matt, and Jeremy the founders of Study Hall, a collective of curious creatives ready to tinker with norms to build impactful high-craft work for all walks of life, from Fortune 500 companies like Airbnb to small start-ups. We explore how branding has evolved, looking at what elements are timeless and what we can push and explore more of in 2025 and beyond. Our conversation hovers around the business of branding and how it intersects with today's tools and tomorrow's technologies. We cover how AI is impacting our industry and our team's productivity and what might be next in the world of branding ditching screens and moving into the future of interfaces. Study Hall on Social: Website Instagram LinkedIn Threads

Sitting down to chat with Jowey Roden was a pure treat, in this episode, Jowey shares his journey of building Koto Studio with his two co-founders through the lens of Optimism, Co-Creation, and Craft. This episode is for everyone interested in learning what it takes to create a world-class #branding and design studio or those who want to hone their craft in branding. Jowey reveals the secrets of how Koto makes the best work possible for brands like Coca-Cola, Activision Uber Eats, and other brands you know and love.

On this episode of Low-Key Legends Dan Mall shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges he faced in building and closing his agency, SuperFriendly. He emphasizes the importance of culture, margin, and taking care of people in building a successful business. Dan discusses the factors that led him to shut down his agency after 10 years, including the desire to spend more time with his family, the lack of a clear goal for the agency, and the changing industry landscape. We dive deep into the importance of mindset and the skills needed for success in the design industry. Dan shares a contrarian view that not everyone should be paid for their work, especially if the work is not valuable. He believes that compensation should be tied to the value of the work being done. He also emphasizes the importance of learning and teaching as forms of compensation. Britt and Dan discuss the challenges of running a freelancer-based business and the need for transparency and empathy in the industry.

Find Dan on Social:

→ Dan's Site → Design Systems University → Newsletter → Twitter → Linkedin

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I interview Nathan Riley, the design director at Unseen Studio to learn how he got started in design and built Unseen Studio with his co-founders. We discuss the early years of the studio, the significance of self-expression and passion projects, and the influence of sharing on Dribbble. We explore Nathan's journey into 3D design and the agency's shift in 2018 towards creating immersive web experiences.

Nathan on Social: Unseen Website Nathan's Instagram Nathan's Twitter / X LinkedIn

Today we're going to be taking a look back at some of my favorite lessons so far from Season 02 of Low-Key Legends; looking at tactics on turning our weaknesses into strengths with Kirk Wallace, lessons on leadership from Emmet Shine, ways power of transparency in our businesses with Self Aware Studio. practical tips on cultivating an audience from Dan Mall This is your audio buffet to sample and try out episodes and hear from guests you may not have known about before. Chapters: 0:50:15 Your weakness is your super-power 0:31:18 Creative Leadership 0:38:19 Transparency in Business 0:54:01 Building an Audience

In this special episode of Low-Key Legends, we distill the most powerful insights from our Season 2 conversations with design industry titans. Discover Christian Helms' (Helms Workshop) strategies for creating unfair business advantages through branding, Studio 28K's storytelling methodology, Simon Dixon's perspective on creativity as humanity's essential fuel, and Bryan James' approach to using personal taste and positivity to create a more distinctive digital landscape. These career-changing lessons are packed with actionable advice for designers, brand strategists, and creative professionals at all levels.CHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction00:35 - Christian Helms: Creating Unfair Business Advantages13:45 - Studio 28K: Storytelling as Project Fuel24:57 - Simon Dixon: Creativity as Humanity's Fuel33:44 - Bryan James: Personal Taste & Digital Differentiation49:48 - Conclusion

GUESTS ON SOCIAL:Christian Helms → helmsworkshop.comStudio 28K → 28k.studioSimon Dixon → dixonbaxi.comBryan James → brybry.co

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, we chat with Jason Debiak co-founder of PaperTiger a digital agency focused on creating Distinctly human work for distinctly human brands.

Our far-winding conversation takes us down the path of talking about how Paper Tiger formed out of working with New Jersey bands and discovering the world of web design. We talk in-depth about mental health Jason's renewed passion post covid and his journey to find happiness in each day.

Sit back and let's get grateful and vulnerable together.

Jasons Book Recommendations:

1. Daily Rituals

2. The 4 Agreements

3. The Happiness Advantage

4. *The Untethered Soul*

4. *The Expanse*

Britton's Book Recommendations:

1. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Find Jason on Social:

Twitter

Linkedin

Website

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, we chat with Liz and Gavin founders of Datalands about how they found their unique niche of designing around data for Fortune 500 companies. We learn their unique story and how building their studio wasn't linear and came with its unique challenges and positioning hiccups. If you don't know Datalands is a visual communication and information design studio producing groundbreaking, thrilling projects—shaping the aesthetics and essence of forward-thinking brands. Social: → Website → Instagram → Twitter → Behance → Ladies Who Create Podcast

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I chat with Louis Paquet about his process for creating amazing interactive experiences, leveraging motion design to create emotion, and working to combat imposter syndrome and burnout. Louis Paquet is the creative director of Tux Creative House a full-service creative agency in Montreal and Los Angeles.

Sign up for Louis's Master class - Link Here

Learn Motion Design from Louis - Course Link

Find Louis on Social:

Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Tux Creative House

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, we chat with Patrick Torres the Partner and creative director at Studio Freight. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about the importance of self-education, the power of open source, growing a remote team, their internal studio process, music, art and so much more.

More about Patrick:

At an early age, Patrick developed a passion for skateboarding, punk rock, and DIY culture, which eventually led him to the world of graphic art and design. In 2016, Patrick co-founded Studio Freight in Columbus, Ohio, alongside his partner and Design Director, Aaron Marks. Since then the studio has grown to 13+ full-time people, working all over the world.

Products: Lenis Smooth Scroll Social: Website Twitter

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I chat with Emmett Shine, a designer, and entrepreneur. We discuss the importance of passion and creativity in business. Emmett emphasizes the value of infusing personal delight and creativity at scale and its impact on brands and experiences. We talk in-depth about the insights on the success of Gin Lane and Pattern Brands, highlighting the importance of creating a culture that encourages leadership and entrepreneurship and how founding both led him to his new venture, Little Plains. Little Plains is Emmett's new design agency where he combines his passion for art and design with business effectiveness. He discusses positioning Little Plains in the market and the importance of staying true to his unique voice.

Social: → Little Plains → Pattern Brands → Emmett's Site → Instagram → Twitter

In this episode, I share my top 5 lessons that I learned throughout 2023 that you can take away and apply to your creative practice in 2024. We drive into past interviews to bring you some highlights and wise words so you can crush the rest of 2024. Lessons: [00:25] Lesson 01: Always Be Growing [10:09] Lesson 02: Find Inspiration Outside of the Screen [13:52] Lesson 03: Be Yourself, It's The Key to Success [19:37] Lesson 04: Diversify Your Income [22:49] Lesson 05: Create YOUR unique Business Model

David Lubofsky was born and raised in Louisiana, he got into computers early but had to leave the South to pursue his dreams of helping nice people build nice products. He made his way to a few big cities, ending up in New England, where he is now. He has spent the better part of his adult life working to build killer web products for advertising agencies. In 2019, a coworker and David started a digital agency that quickly grew to over 20 people. He left that agency in September 2022 to do some solo consulting, speaking, and writing. He just published his first book "The Search for Workplace Happiness" centered around creating a healthy environment inside the workplace, being aware that your people have lives outside of the workplace, and then to doing everything you can to prop them up and support them for success in both. His personal portfolio https://www.davidlubofsky.com and book website https://www.findworkhappiness.com have gone on to win numerous design awards from AWWWARDS, the FWA, and more. Find David on Social: LinkedIn Portfolio Buy The Book

Today on Low-Key Legends, I am joined by Jenny Heintz and Mike Wagz, the founders of Self Aware, a design and technology studio based in Philly and established in 2018. Partners in life and business Jenny and Mike focus their synergistic skills on bringing brands to life online, creating fun and dynamic solutions that are both beautiful and performant. They have worked with a variety of organizations and institutions, big and small—from local businesses like Middle Child to major institutions such as the Institute of Design and MIT, as well as Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's production company, Artists Equity. Jenny and Mike share how and why they decided to publish the Notion Doc "Every Project We Have Ever Charged For" shedding a light on how they price creative work. We explore the idea of transparency and business and how it breeds the conditions for open conversation, trust, and a healthier industry. Jenny discusses the importance of being systematic and organized in their design studio, Self Aware. They share how they use processes and systems to guide their clients and ensure they stay on track. They also talk about the benefits of transparency in the industry, including sharing their project budgets and prices. We discuss the challenges of pricing services and the importance of valuing your work.

Notion Doc:

Every Project We've Ever Charged For Social:

Website Twitter Instagram

Britton sits down with Ben Huffman, the founder of Contra. Ben shares his journey behind building Contra, a commission-free platform empowering independent creatives. He discusses its origins, driven by frustrations with traditional freelance marketplaces, and highlights the importance of trust, branding, and community.

The conversation explores AI's role in creativity, evolving work trends, and Contra's mission to support freelancers and agencies in a changing digital landscape.

Social: Explore Contra Twitter / X Ben's LinkedIn

Chapters: 00:00 The Birth of Contra 10:51 Building a Community: The Future of Independent Work 20:14 Branding & Identity: The Heart of Contra 29:44 Authority and Trust: Foundations of a New Marketplace 35:28 Monetization and Trust Building 38:51 The Role of Human Interaction in Business 39:51 AI as a Tool for Creativity 42:35 The Importance of Brand Values 44:57 The Evolving Nature of Creativity and Work 49:38 Contra's Ecosystem and Audience Engagement 54:46 Scaling Agencies with Contra 01:06:04 The Future of Independent Work

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I sit down with Erwin Hines an artist, designer, and creative director. He is the founder of Open Gym a hospitality group that focuses on building sustainable ecosystems of change within communities through the power of Space, Food, and Wellbeing. As well as the founder of FUTURE IS COLOR® Erwin’s solo research studio focused on using design to create space for meaningful conversation of change.

Social: Website Twitter/ X Erwin's Instagram Future Is Color: Future Is Color FIC Instagram

Books:

All About Love by Bell Hooks

The Art of Loving by Eric Fromm

Anything You Want by Derek Sivers

In this episode, I sit down with Amy and Jen Hood the founders of Hoodzpah, a brand identity and type design studio based in sunny California. We dive into what makes the Hoodzpah studio special, where their style comes from, the method they used to grow the studio, and more. BREAKING NEWS: Check out Jen Hood's Album Now On Spotify Bad Trifle

Chapters:

0:01:51 Breaking News

0:04:30 Dream Jobs as Kids

0:08:05 First Ever Paid Client

0:32:37 The Hoodzpah Style

0:45:00 Finding the Right Clients

1:04:00 Working with Big Brands

1:11:25 Sibling Showdown

1:23:40 Revenue Streams - Diversify

1:27:03 Closing Thoughts

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Hoodzpah on Social:

Freelance & Business and Stuff Book Febas Course Website Twitter / X Instagram

Design and code are only tools. Collaboration is essential. In this episode, we dive deep into what makes for successful design projects and it seems to boil down to four things for Dust Leblanc, creative director at Locomotive - Vision, Culture, Collaboration, and Killing Your Ego.

Find Locomotive Online: → Locomotive Site → Locomotive Store → Twitter → Instagram

This week on Low-Key Legends, I sit down with Mick Champayne. Mick is a visual designer by day, working on Google's Search, Doodle, & Delight team and moonlighting as an illustrator. We explore how "delight" permeates all of Mick's work & life and helps to make effective brands, illustrations, and products. Interjecting personality and her unique brand of humor into everything she crafts - from passion projects to freelance work. Mick is no ordinary Mid-West momma. She was named one of The Noun Project and Dribbble’s top illustrators of 2024. She has forged a prolific career by embracing the idea of “I’m here for a good time, not a long time" and focusing on the joy of everyday things.From fart jokes to imposter syndrome gear up for a hilarious and far-ranging conversation with Mick Champayne.

In this episode, I sit down with Claudio Guglieri, the designer and creative director. With 20+ years in the creative and design industry. We dive into the power of play, the impact of ideas, craft, creativity, leadership, team building, hiring, and more. Our focus for this podcast is on how to lead a creative life and have creative longevity in the design industry, to stay relevant and in an ever-evolving world. Claudio is the head of design at Opal Cameras, Opal is a product design and engineering company, based in California, known for making high-end cameras. The Opal C1 is the ultimate webcam for home setups, I would recommend it to anyone. It is great for video calls and even recording. We recorded the video for this episode with the C1, from Opal. You can catch the video version on Youtube with this link here.

Social:

→ Personal Website

→ Twitter / X

→ Instagram

→ Opal Camera

Ever wonder how a logo becomes a legend? This week, we're diving deep withChristian Helms — the brand king of Austin, Texas, and founder ofHelms Workshop. The man who's turned branding into an art form that's part strategy, part storytelling, and 100% pure Texas magic helping to create an unfair advantage for the brands they work with.

From crafting killer brands for Howler Brothers to leaving his mark on global icons like Jack Daniel's, Christian reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets of how everyday objects become cultural touchstones. We're talking about the alchemy that transforms a simple product into something people don't just buy and believe in.

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, we dive into how Michael Janiak is building an agency culture that rewards creative thinking and pushing through boundaries in eCommerce design. How to take smart risks, Michael's team's design process, noticing a lack of design heroes in present-day culture, surfing, getting hot-boxed by Seth Rogan, and much more. Michael Janiak is the co-founder of Pattern an eCommerce design agency in San Fransisco. You can find their work at → https://www.thisispattern.com Let's Get Social:

Pattern Agency

Twitter / X

LinkedIn

Instagram

In this episode of Low-Key Legends Brijan shares his thoughts on design, inspiration, and living a good fulfilling life. In this unfiltered conversation, we focus on the process and craft of making great design and why. Buckle up and enjoy this first-ever podcast appearance with Brijan Powell. Enjoy!

Social:

Website

Instagram

Twitter

On this episode of Low-Key Legends, Britt sits down with Tim Evans the Co-founder of Malvah Studio to discuss Tim's wild adventure of getting into design and stumbling into starting Malvah with his business partner Ty. Tim discusses the entrepreneurial journey of starting Malvah Studio and the challenges of running a business in South Africa.

He shares how the economic and political climate in the country has shaped his role as an entrepreneur. Tim also talks about the importance of building strong relationships with clients and the importance of sharing your work to attract the right clients and establish trust.

Malvah Website

Twitter / X

LinkedIn

Instagram

Welcome, today is an exciting day we are kicking off a new series here called 2x4 where I ask 2 different designers the same 4 questions so we can dive into one specific topic, today we dive into the world of branding and illustration and how they can be used together. So let's meet our guests: Adam Danielson is the founder of Ducktail, a branding & design studio based in Portland Maine. Ducktail specializes in creating playful branding, elevated strategy, and packaging design with character. They're shamelessly kind and craft-obsessed, making things feel more human in a world being overtaken by robots. Peter Laxalt, is a designer, educator, artist, and creative technologist who specializes in the intersection of branding and technology. Peter is a seasoned design leader with over 15 years of experience working with companies in all stages from inception, growth, acquisition, and maturity. Buckle up, as we explore the world of branding & illustration in this very first episode of 2x4, let's get into it.

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I chat with Libby Connolly. Libby is a Chicago-based Creative Director building visually captivating, emotionally resonant brands under her namesake practice Studio Libby Connolly. In this episode, we dive into how a place affects our creative work and life, taking risks, getting vulnerable, and her new mentorship program. If you are interested in working 1:1 with Libby reach out to her via Calendly to book a time.

Social:

1 : 1 Mentorship

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

What a treat, in this episode, we sit down with Karyll Catubig to have an epic conversation about doing van life, traveling, and how to design your ideal life.

We talk about how Karyll stumbled into photography, his gear, and his passion for creating. Follow Karyll's adventures on Instagram

Karyll's Design Work

In this episode, we dive into vulnerability, imposter syndrome, food, and the power of finding your cultural identity with Jackie Kao.

Jackie Kao is a freelance brand/digital designer with an emphasis on visual identity, art direction, and illustration. As a self-taught designer with a fine art and urban planning undergrad degree, she tends to source inspiration from atypical places away from the screen and beyond the design industry if possible. In her free time, she likes to physically and mentally explore new territories to broaden her perspective.

Jackie's Portfolio

Have You Eaten Yet - Cookbook

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I have the opportunity to sit down with Kaitlyn Barclay to learn about her unconventional path in starting ScoutLab a purpose-driven marketing agency focused on human and planetary health. We talk about building brands that advance humanity forward, books, linguistics, the importance of values in business, and so much more. Let's Get Social:

ScoutLab Site

Twitter / X

Instagram

LinkedIn

In this conversation, Britton Stipetic sits down with Jonas and Steffen, the founders of Studio 28K, to explore the intersection of storytelling and design. They discuss how their philosophy of meaningful living shapes their creative process, the significance of storytelling in web design, and the challenges of capturing attention in a saturated market.

The duo also shares insights on their unique approach to client engagement, likening their design process to that of a Michelin-star restaurant, emphasizing organization and transparency. In this conversation, Britton discusses the importance of effective presentation and prototyping in design, emphasizing the need for a structured process that allows for creativity while managing client expectations. He highlights the significance of principles and values in guiding creative work and explores the impact of technology, including AI and real-time graphics, on the future of design. The conversation concludes with a reminder to prioritize enjoyment in the creative process.

Chapters: 00:00 The Essence of Storytelling in Design 02:49 Living Meaningfully: The Philosophy Behind Studio 28K 06:06 The Birth of 28K: A Reflection on Life's Days 08:58 Crafting Narratives: The Role of Storytelling in Design 11:50 Engaging in a Saturated Market: The Challenge of Attention 15:14 Designing Like a Michelin Star Restaurant: A Holistic Approach 17:56 Transparency in Process: The Open Kitchen Concept 29:25 The Art of Presentation and Prototyping 32:49 Crafting the Perfect Process 38:59 Principles and Values in Design 45:05 The Future of Design: Technology and Creativity

In this conversation Britton sits down with Simon Dixon, co-founder of DixonBaxi, to discuss the fundamental aspects of creativity and its impact on humanity, and its intersection with branding and culture. Si emphasizes the importance of creativity in problem-solving, the role of flow state in the creative process, and the necessity of fostering an environment that encourages diverse thoughts and ideas. All this and much more! If you don't know, DixonBaxi is a leading brand agency in London, crafting brands that ignite fandom through design, motion, voice, and sonic systems. Plug-and-play, scalable and distinct, creating real-world impact. Social: DixonBaxi Website LinkedIn Twitter/x Chapters: 02:59 Creativity & Humanity 05:51 Creativity and Branding 09:01 The Role of Creativity and Expression 11:49 Flow State and Creative Process 15:10 Leadership and Fostering Creativity 18:01 People and Creativity 20:54 Diversity in Creative Thought 24:12 Macronutrients for Creativity 27:01 Calculated Risks 31:48 The Balance of Sacrifice and Achievement 34:12 Leadership and Team Dynamics 35:37 Pushing Boundaries 38:02 Responsibility in Design and Cultural Impact 40:52 Competitive Landscape 43:42 Personal Definitions of Success 50:55 The Evolution of Creativity in a Digital Age 58:10 Creating for Connection 01:01:02 Final Thoughts

What does it take to make exceptional digital products? How can one product leave us feeling content and keep us on it for hours while others drive us away in just a few clicks? This week on Low-Key Legends we will learn from product veterans Zeke Shore and Ian Lord co-founders of TypeCode. TypeCode designs and builds digital products and experiences, collaborating with ambitious clients like A24, Google, MoMA, Scholastic, Disney, and MIT to bring powerful ideas to life. Finding clever solutions to hard problems while making things beautiful, intuitive, functional, and effective

Just the tip[s] no fluff, but we love the fluff here. This is a buffet-style tasting of all the episodes aired in February. A beautiful set of interviews that range from entrepreneurship, branding, creating digital experiences, and pricing creative work. Chapters: 00:00:48 The Entrepreneurial Spirit with Erin Hines 00:16:38 Branding 101 with Jowey Roden 0:40:19 Web Experiences & Creating Emotion with Claudio Guglieri 01:04:35 Pricing Work Effectively with Milkshake Studio

The long-awaited interview with the founding team of Smith & Diction is here at last! In this conversation, Mike and Chara Smith discuss their design, copywriting, and branding approach, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and authenticity. They share insights on the role of words in creating effective brands, the benefits of working as a couple, and the value of incorporating outside experiences into the creative process.

Smith & Diction Process Doc

Social:

Medium

Instagram

Twitter / X

Threads

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Bill Kenney, the Co-Founder of Focus Lab - a branding agency that focuses on shaping some of the world's leading B2B brands. During our conversation, we talked about what sets a brand apart, Bill's journey in design and leadership, his new book, hot sauce, and much more. Buy Bill's Book: Conquer Your Rebrand

Let's Get Social:

→ Dribbble → Twitter → LinkedIn → Focus Lab Site

A far-ranging conversation with Ben Johnson the owner and Creative Director of Elegant Seagulls a digital creative agency focused on merging creative and conversions. In this episode, we talk about Ben's journey from snowboarding to growing a design agency. We talk about hobbies like knife making, staying inspired, and how fatherhood changes you as a person.

Ben started Seagulls 17 years ago working out of his bedroom. He started working with local clients with the simple quest that "it" could be done better. During his time at Seagulls, the agency has worked with amazing clients including ESPN, Forbes, CNN, Panasonic, and Audible. Social: Dribbble Linkedin Twitter

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I interview my friend Kirk Wallace to discuss the changing landscape in the creative community. They explore how sharing work in 2024 has evolved and how it has impacted how audiences and clients discover their work. Kirk shares his journey from being an engineer to becoming an illustrator and designer, and how he has grown his audience and built a successful career. We get into the importance of authenticity, the need to adapt to new formats and platforms, and the balance between B2B and B2C audiences. We discuss the importance of sharing the process and telling a compelling story to emotionally connect with an audience; finding the balance between being a business person and an artist. Kirk on Social:

Skill Share Courses

Website

Instagram

YouTube

In this episode, I talk with Sofia Papadopoulou about the world of immersive tech, all things AR and VR. We dive into the possibilities with this technology and what the future might look like.

Sofia is an art & creative director working with global teams & clients, crafting impactful brand & immersive activation concepts as a partner to movers & shakers in the digital space.

Chapters: [0:03:10] Early Career Path [0:11:25] Leadership Opportunity - Dubai Project [0:28:40] The Importance of Personal Branding [0:39:40] Falling In Love With Technology [1:07:10] Sofia's Relationship with Music [1:19:10] Fast Fun Questions

Social:

Portfolio Website

Sofia's AWWWARDS TALK

Twitter/X

Instagram

Sitting down with Rachael Yaeger to chat shop on all things Human and business. We explored what success means to Rachael and how it looks closer to walks in the woods than it does to fat stacks of cash. We discuss the roots of Human and Rachael's profound entrepreneurial spirit. We explore what makes Human's branding, design, and websites so unique, and how Human creates using an Ocean's 11 business model, expanding their capabilities when needed. But who is Rachael? Rachael Yaeger is the co-founder of Human, a brand-led, digital studio specializing in design and development all under one roof. The tl;dr of it all is they're good humans making good work for good humans.

Social:

Human Site Twitter Instagram

In this episode of Low-Key Legends, I sit down to chat with the 3 partners of Alright Studio diving into their team structure, their philosophy around culture building, and how they run their studio.

Alright prides itself on its ability to make best-in-class work for any client: Big or small, established or upstart, commercial or otherwise. No house style, nor an allegiance to medium or method.

Alright on Social:

Website

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Mario Šimić is a senior designer at BORNFIGHT STUDIO® a digital design studio in Croatia, crafting masterful websites and user interfaces. Mario went from an engineer to designing masterful websites, paying extreme detail to craft and interactivity. Mario shares his perspective on the power of side projects and how they help you evolve your taste and hard skills. Mario dives deep into how to break through creative block and making meaningful impactful designs, while pushing yourself and your team. Join us for this incredible Web Design Creative Crash Course with Mario Social:

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BORNFIGHT STUDIO®