The Creative Boom Podcast (Creative Boom)

In this week's episode, we explore what it takes to shake up the traditional agency model with Barrington Reeves, founder and creative director of Too Gallus, a Glasgow-based studio that's rewriting the rules of the creative industry.

Barrington has carved out a niche by building a lean, culture-driven studio that thrives in an increasingly fast-paced sector. Through our conversation, he shares how Too Gallus has embraced the disruption of traditional agency structures, demonstrating that small, specialised teams can create impactful work that punches well above their weight.

Why is this happening? Barrington believes the democratisation of technology has empowered smaller studios like his, levelling the playing field and giving them access to tools and opportunities once reserved for large agencies. He delves into how smaller, more agile teams are often able to deliver work faster and more collaboratively, adapting to a client's specific needs in ways that big agencies cannot. This shift, he explains, is fuelled by a changing client landscape where businesses are increasingly informed and empowered, enabling them to work directly with leaner teams on projects that demand creativity and precision.

We also explore the balance between staying small and scaling with purpose. Barrington shares his vision for Too Gallus as a creative incubator, fostering a team culture that prioritises connection, ambition, and authenticity. He discusses the importance of being clear on what kind of work his studio wants—and what it doesn't. Instead of chasing massive retainers that would change the essence of the studio, Too Gallus leans into its strengths, focusing on bold, culturally connected projects that excite both the team and the clients they work with.

One of the standout themes of the episode is Barrington's entrepreneurial drive and his commitment to staying true to his roots. He emphasises the value of authenticity, not just in creative work but also in how you present yourself and your business. His approach to self-promotion—loud, proud, and unapologetically confident—offers a refreshing take in an industry where self-doubt and humility can sometimes hold people back. He encourages creatives to champion their own work and embrace their unique voice, even in the face of scepticism.

Barrington's story is one of bold ambition, cultural connection, and purposeful growth, inspiring anyone looking to make their mark in the creative industry. From his insights on pitching and building client relationships to his reflections on the evolving creative landscape, this conversation is packed with valuable lessons and food for thought.

Jordan Yates is a Manchester-based designer, illustrator and animator who's recently gone freelance. As well as navigating the world of self-employment, he's also one of the co-founders of Design Recovery, a free event that gives people a "safe place" to talk openly about mental health. In this episode, we find out the story behind such a positive venture, his own experiences as a male designer, and how he's found freelancing so far.

Award-winning designer and artist Morag Myerscough's work is instantly recognisable, positive and colourful – rooted in the idea of joy and belonging. In this episode, we chat more about this notion of belonging, especially now Morag is selling her Hoxton home. We also delve into how she's coped with recent events, and we get the inside scoop on her own lockdown projects – from sorting through decades of "stuff" to painting her entire home in her signature bold colours and patterns.

Michael C Place is a Yorkshire-born graphic designer, creative director and founder of the successful design studio, Build. Prior to setting up his own business, he famously worked for Trevor Jackson at Bite It! and with Ian Anderson at The Designers Republic in the 1990s. We chat about those early days, the design industry in general and some of his most memorable projects. He also shares lots of wisdom on running a small studio outside of London. This is an honest and humble chat with one of the biggest names in design.

With everything that's been happening lately, you'd think things are getting worse, not better. But here's the thing. Despite these challenging times, life has improved for the vast majority of people – from lower levels of crime to higher life expectancy around the world. It's encouraging stats like these that form the basis of Stefan Sagmeister's new book, Now is Better, and the focus of this week's episode.

One of the world's most celebrated living designers, Sagmeister's exploration of human progress through the ages was inspired by a pessimistic conversation with a friend. Like many of us, his pal believed life was better in the "good old days" and that everything's got gloomier since then. But actually, that's simply not true. If you look at the facts, the world is more prosperous, people are living longer, and generally, things are better than they used to be.

Sagmeister took it upon himself to prove his friend wrong in his latest creative project and used historical art and data visualisation to paint a rosier picture of how far we've come. "I found the phenomenon of a highly educated person, so influenced by the daily news cycle that he carries a completely wrong view of the world, fascinating," says Stefan. "From a communication-design point of view, it seemed an interesting direction to tackle."

In showing us a more optimistic angle, he urges us to choose gratitude and positivity over pessimism and despair. And that's important, not just for our happiness and mental well-being but our drive and energy to create, too.

Sagmeister formed the New York-based Sagmeister Inc. in 1993 and has since designed for clients as diverse as the Guggenheim Museum, the Rolling Stones, and HBO. His work is in museum collections worldwide, and he teaches in the graduate department of the School of Visual Arts in New York. We hope today's conversation with Sagmeister inspires you to think about the future with much-needed hope.

Zipeng Zhu is a designer, illustrator and animator living in Brooklyn. Chinese-born, he's been in the States since moving to New York in 2009 to study at the School of Visual Arts. After graduation, he worked at Pentagram and Sagmeister & Walsh before starting his own studio, Dazzle. We talk about his career so far, and why a quiet childhood in China inspired him to "dazzle". And if you can hear anyone in the background, that's his boyfriend, Angel Crawford.

In this episode, host Katy Cowan welcomes Khyati Trehan, a designer and 3D visual artist at Google Creative Lab in New York, to share a glimpse into one of the most innovative spaces in the design world.

Known for her unique balance of intense creative work and personal projects, Khyati shares the intricacies of her role at Google, a place synonymous with cutting-edge technology and endless experimentation. While she can't disclose everything, Khyati's stories provide an inspiring look at what it's like to be part of a team where creativity knows no bounds.

Khyati is constantly creating, whether through her illustration work, collaborations with her sister—who's a musician—or brainstorming sessions in the kitchen with her partner, who also works at Google. She finds a source of energy in her craft that keeps her invigorated rather than drained, turning what could feel like intense pressure into a motivating force. Her ability to stay inspired and eager to learn is a powerful takeaway for anyone navigating the demands of a creative career.

During the conversation, Khyati opens up about how she keeps her creativity flowing without falling into burnout, the role of cultural influences in her design work, and the importance of relationships in both her personal and professional life. As someone deeply attuned to the mental and emotional aspects of creative work, she discusses how she uses personal connections and a strong network to sustain her passion. From her reflections on reality TV as a mental escape to her insights on the future of generative AI, Khyati's perspective reveals the many layers of a dynamic and fulfilling creative life.

You will gain valuable insights on balancing work and side projects, maintaining a sense of purpose, and finding inspiration in unexpected places. Whether embracing the complexities of relationships, exploring the limitless possibilities of generative AI, or simply learning to find joy in the process, Khyati offers a refreshing reminder of why creativity is such a rewarding journey. It's a must-listen for anyone looking to find harmony in their own creative path while making space for continual growth and innovation.

What gives a brand its spark? That little bit of magic that no one else has? Is it even possible for a brand to be unique anymore? As the world becomes ever more connected, the art of branding has never been more critical or more challenging.

This week, we are talking about brand strategy with G Torto, senior director at Koto in Sydney, Australia. G, originally from London and now a key player in the Asia-Pacific region, helps ambitious companies stand up, stand out, and scale smartly. He's a founding member of Koto's fifth studio, bringing a wealth of experience in branding for tech and Software as a Service businesses.

In this episode, we explore how strategic thinking and creative innovation blend to create some of the most iconic brands today. From the difficulty of maintaining originality in a saturated market to integrating new technologies like AI in work processes, G gives us a Koto insider's view on what it takes to create lasting value in the fast-paced world of brand strategy these days.

This season is sponsored by MPB, the largest global platform for buying, selling, and trading used photo and video equipment. Visit MPB.com to find out more.

Annie Atkins is the much-loved graphic props designer who has the dream job we all want and is most famous for her work on Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel and Isle of Dogs. Here, we talk about Annie's journey so far, about death warrants, her love of typography and the curiosity of Jeff Goldblum. We discover what it was like to work with Wes Anderson and Steven Spielberg – and why it's perfectly ok to sometimes make mistakes.

If you've been running a design studio for quite some time and with some success, does it feel like you've been doing so for many years? Or do you feel like you're only just getting started? This was the curious question we posed to Max Ottignon, a co-founder of Ragged Edge in London.

Launched nearly 15 years ago with friend Matt Bland, the pair wanted to create a branding agency for people who "care less about how things are, and more about how things could be". That is anyone with the conviction to challenge the status quo. It's a mission that's done them proud. Today, the studio is behind fresh identities for the likes of Papier, Mindful Chef, Laka and East London Liquor Company. It's won many awards. And there's a team of nearly 40 talented designers, strategy directors, 3D artists, digital specialists and writers – all of whom the studio calls 'change-makers'.

So what does this change mean in design? And what has Max learnt over 15 years of running a studio that wants to do things differently? What's it been like growing a team – from global economic crisis to global pandemic? And how does Ragged Edge stand out in an increasingly competitive industry? Does Max even feel like the studio is fully established now? Or is there still work to do? We sat down with Max to find out more.

A tall yet quiet character, there's a humbleness to Max and an eagerness to push forward, keep improving and build on their success. To do the right thing. And to create something that puts people before profit. Perhaps leave a legacy that's about meaningful change and making a difference, more than anything else.

Season Four of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Astropad Studio.

Graphic designer and illustrator George Simkin creates work that is bold, playful and loads of fun – pretty much a reflection of his lively personality. Originally from Ireland, he's a much-loved character on social media and became famous for his hilarious Christmas cards. In this episode, we talk about George leaving Ireland for London during that whirlwind excitement of youth when taking risks was something we didn't really second-guess. We chat about why it's nice getting older as we gain more confidence, we stop caring about what others think and we perhaps figure out who we are, tapping more into the things we love. We also realise we have to live in the moment – stop worrying about what happened in the past, or heaven forbid, what might go wrong in future.

This week, we sit down with David Sedgwick, the founder of Studio DBD and one of Manchester's most respected design leaders, to explore his journey of building a business focused on quality, authenticity, and human connection.

With over 20 years in the design industry, Dave has carved out a distinctive path, staying true to his ethos of prioritising meaningful work over rapid growth. Our conversation explores the philosophy behind Studio DBD, from keeping the team intentionally small to working across sectors like arts, culture, and nonprofits. We discuss why, for Dave, success isn't about flashy marketing or expansion but about the joy of creating impactful, honest work with people he admires and respects.

Recently, Dave experienced a personal loss that profoundly shaped his outlook. We reflect on how these challenges have reinforced the importance of balance, resilience, and focusing on what truly matters. In a world that often prioritises the next big thing, Dave's perspective on slowing down, building genuine connections, and staying grounded in one's values is both refreshing and inspiring.

In this episode, Dave also opens up about the evolving creative industry, sharing his thoughts on everything from the pressures of social media to the enduring value of face-to-face collaboration. It's a candid and heartfelt conversation that offers a unique glimpse into the life of a creative who's not just surviving but thriving by his own rules.

Ultimately, this episode is a reminder of why staying authentic and focused on quality can be a powerful approach in both work and life.

Award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Shanti Sparrow is also Global Head of Teaching at Shillington, which teaches the next generation of graphic designers. Here, we talk about her background, we find out why she gives her illustrated animals names (and why they're so traditionally British), and we talk of how the world is changing fast and for the better.

Filmmaker, blogger and podcaster, Monique Henry-Hudson, is currently working at Netflix Animation, runs her own podcast, and is behind Diverse Toons, a travelling animation panel series that highlights the importance of diversity in the animation industry. Here, we chat about growing up in Queens, finding opportunities to get into animation and discovering unexpected paths. We talk about the power of networking and making valuable connections. And we delve into recent movie releases (Disney/Pixar's Soul and Onward) and how the industry is evolving after the events of last summer – not to mention how we, as an audience, are demanding more from creators and why there are lots of things to be excited about, particularly from Netflix.

Did you know that 900,000 women left jobs because of menopausal symptoms in 2019? That's according to research by Bloomberg that is probably only scratching the surface. And it's something this week's guest wants to make more people aware of.

Melissa Robertson is the CEO of Dark Horses in London. And she has launched an open-source menopause policy inspired by her own experience with the condition. She hopes it will open up the conversation within the workplace, not just in the creative industry, and stop so many talented women from leaving behind their careers when they're at the top of their game. The policy looks at the science behind menopause, explains the symptoms and considers how women struggle in everyday life when going through it.

Melissa has also recently become a director of Menopause Mandate, working on an all-important campaign with influential people such as Davina McCall and Mariella Frostrup to make sure women's voices are heard across the country. So, what does it feel like to go through menopause, and what can be done to normalise it so everyone understands? Melissa offers some insight.

Ben Tallon is an illustrator who has two decades of experience in the field with a hand-drawn style that's lively, loud and expressive. One that has done him proud across many disciplines from print, digital and animation to set design and large-scale media. So far, his clients include The Guardian, EasyJet, World Wrestling Entertainment, Penguin and UNICEF.

His debut book, Champagne and Wax Crayons, was published in 2015 to much acclaim – it offers an honest account of what it means to be creative. Since then, he's won an award, written a few more books, and started his own show, The Creative Condition Podcast, which features insightful interviews with people across the creative community.

Ben grew up in Keighley, West Yorkshire, where he loved Leeds United, wrestling and video games – things that clearly inspire his art today. He has a BTEC in Graphic Design from Keighley College and a BA in Illustration from the University of Central Lancashire. Here, Ben shares his experience of being a freelance illustrator and what he's learned over the past 20 years.

It's an inspiring conversation with someone who is full of passion and determination, and who has this innate ability to capture the many ups and downs of modern life – from imposter syndrome and losing ourselves in creative trends to suffering isolation working from home and overcoming those difficult days when we get stuck and can't seem to get going. This is especially insightful for any aspiring illustrator who is hoping to carve a career out of freelancing in what can often feel like a challenging industry.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

London-based graphic designer and illustrator, Harkiran Kalsi has worked for the likes of Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need. She also creates gorgeous murals, in her signature hand-lettering style and uses her art to spread positive and important messages. Here, we find out from Harky how she got to where she is now – despite a few setbacks. We discuss that famous artwork she created last summer for Black Lives Matter and how the movement affected her. And we share some laughs (and much respect) for Lewis Hamilton, Will Smith and Richard, the street cat.

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Each Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode packed with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to fuel your creative journey as the week winds down.

This week, we reflect on our conversation with Lisa Smith, global executive creative director at JKR in New York. Lisa was open and honest, sharing her experiences in the creative industry, the challenges faced by women, and the value of hard work. We discussed the importance of community, cultural differences in design, and what it takes to reach the top. If you haven't listened yet, download the episode—it's a brutally honest chat with which many of you will resonate.

For this week's creative news highlights, marketing budgets are on hold. The latest IPA Bellwether Report reveals a pause in UK marketing budget growth due to uncertainty surrounding the upcoming Budget, marking the first stall in 14 quarters.

We also shared cosy games for mental health. Games like Animal Crossing and Pokémon are helping players cope with anxiety and depression, offering a soothing escape and a sense of community.

And Bluesky surges in popularity. Jack Dorsey's decentralised social network, Bluesky, is now a top-five social app following changes at X (formerly Twitter), driving users to seek alternatives.

This week's Spotlight article on Creative Boom tackles a question that many creatives face: where's the best place to work as a creative—agency, in-house, or freelance? It explores the pros and cons of working in these different scenarios. It's a must-read for anyone considering a change or starting out in the industry.

Our Book of the Week is Legal Roadmap for your Creative Business by Kiffanie Stahle. This guide simplifies the legal side of running a creative business, offering clear steps to protect your assets without getting lost in jargon.

Choosing the right fonts can make or break a design. Here's a quick rundown: match the font to the brand's personality, prioritise readability, consider technical aspects, and always test across different media. For more tips, check out the full article on Creative Boom.

On Monday, Kwame Taylor-Hayford, the new D&AD president and co-founder of Kin, will join us. We'll discuss his mission to empower the next generation of creatives, his global upbringing, and the evolving role of creativity in an AI-driven world. We even catch him in a reflective mood and discover some of the things on his mind lately. Don't miss this inspiring conversation.

'Twas the night before deadline, and all through the house, not a keyboard was silent, not even the mouse... Welcome to a very festive edition of The Creative Boom Podcast.

As another year draws to a close, it's time to wrap up projects, reflect on your achievements, and embrace the magic of the holiday season. In this special episode, founding editor and podcast host Katy Cowan invites some favourite past guests to share their holiday plans, personal traditions, and playful answers to questions like, "What would you ban at Christmas if you could?" and "Who would make the ultimate festive lunch guest, dead or alive?"

Whether you're winding down with cocoa or a holiday drink of choice, take a moment to savour the year, laugh with us, and find a little creative cheer. It's the perfect way to end the year on a high note.

This episode features an incredible lineup of past guests, including Barrington Reeves, Lisa Smith, Graeme McGowan, Katie Cadwell, Miles Watts, Cat How, Trent Payne, Seema Sharma, Angela Roche, and Luigi Carnovale. They share their holiday traditions, creative reflections, and light-hearted takes on the season's quirks.

It also marks the end of Season Eight of The Creative Boom Podcast. As we take a short break, we encourage you to explore our archives for inspiring conversations with former guests, including all the brilliant voices featured in this festive special.

From all of us at Creative Boom, Merry Christmas! We hope you enjoy a well-deserved rest, and we look forward to seeing you in 2025 for more inspiring conversations.

Sheffield-based freelance designer, illustrator and lettering artist Lisa Maltby is a force for good in supporting the creative community. In 2019, she created a pricing survey for illustrators and shared the helpful results online. If you're struggling to set your day rate, decide how you charge, or have any questions about freelancing, then this episode is essential listening.

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Each Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode packed with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to fuel your creative journey as the week winds down. Whether you need a quick shot of motivation or insights to carry you through, we've got you covered.

In this episode, Katy reflects on her inspiring conversation with Kwame Taylor-Hayford, the new D&AD president and co-founder of Kin. Together, they explore the impact of empathy, connection, and curiosity in creative careers and discuss D&AD's mission to support both emerging and mid-career creatives. Kwame also shares his insights on the shifting power dynamics in the industry, the role of AI, and the future of creativity. His thoughtful perspective left Katy inspired and motivated, sparking her own reflections on personal growth and career planning.

In the Creative News segment, we share the record-breaking Tim Burton exhibition at the Design Museum, a £1.7 billion investment roadmap for the Thames Estuary, and the return of Maurizio Cattelan's infamous banana art at auction.

Then, in The Spotlight, we celebrate Raw Materials' unique approach to design that led them to win D&AD's Studio of the Year. Plus, our Book of the Week showcases 1,000 Marks by Pentagram, and the Tip of the Week highlights the value of quiet confidence for creatives. Finally, in Letters to the Editor, listeners share reactions to the episode and industry insights.

Tune in next week for an inspiring chat with Holly Howard on rethinking marketing for creatives. It will be packed with actionable tips for freelancers and entrepreneurs alike, especially those looking to step away from the pressures of social media and the increasing "sea of sameness" to build a sustainable, fulfilling creative practice.

Tim Easley is an award-winning illustrator, designer and photographer from London who's probably best known for his bright palette and bold lines, as well as playful characters and hand-drawn lettering.

Influenced by urban kitsch, nature and neon signage, he works across many mediums, including hand-drawn skateboards, canvases, plasticine sculptures, painted basketballs and digital pieces.

Tim came up to Manchester earlier this year and popped round my house. As expected, he turned up very well dressed and donning an excellent pair of sneakers. Trainers are, in fact, something of a passion project for Tim, who has Nike, Adidas, and Foot Locker amongst his many happy clients. Interestingly, he's entirely self-taught as he didn't have a formal education. We talk about this and much more, including his days living in Japan and returning to the UK to open an independent record shop in London. It's where he discovered a passion for graphic design and illustration and began moving in that direction. 

Tim also shares his love of technology. We get nostalgic and talk of Walkmans, CDs and computer games. Tim reveals why he wants to live forever, so he can see how the world changes – particularly how technology advances. We also talk about why he immediately had to go freelance and why social media was a saving grace and is something he still enjoys today. And we hear why next year, Tim hopes to spend more time playing and doing things he loves. A fun, joyful and light-hearted conversation with an optimistic, humble human being.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

Katie Chappell is a freelance illustrator specialising in 'live event' illustration for brands such as Google, Facebook and Apple. She's also one of the founders of The Good Ship Illustration, helping other artists to navigate a creative career. Here, we talk about how Katie found her niche. And she explains why there's no shame in a part-time job when you're trying to make illustration a full-time career. We also discuss productivity tips, business planning and why having your own creative community is everything.

Lisa Congdon is an artist of many talents. Based in Portland, Oregon, she does everything from fine art to illustration, but is best known for her colourful graphic drawings and hand lettering. With an amazing career so far, Lisa has so much advice to share on building a successful creative business. Here, she talks about getting started, surviving the ups and downs, and reveals helpful marketing tips.

Our guest this week is Marina Willer, an award-winning graphic designer and filmmaker and one of Pentagram's many respected partners. Before joining the global agency, she was head creative director for Wolff Olins in London.

With an MA in Graphic Design from the Royal College of Art, Marina has enjoyed an incredible career so far. She's led the design of major identities, including Rolls Royce, Oxfam, Nesta and Amnesty International. She recently rebranded Battersea and Sight and Sound Magazine. And as a multi-faceted designer, she has even designed major exhibitions for the Design Museum, including Ferrari: Under the Skin and Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition. Both were the most-visited shows in the museum's history.

Elsewhere, Marina's first feature film, Red Trees, premiered at the 2017 Canne Film Festival and was released worldwide by Netflix in 2018 to much critical acclaim. She talks about it fondly in this episode and shares many other fascinating insights into her amazing creative journey.

We talk about her process and inspirations. We learn more about Pentagram and how she feels about the world right now. We discuss the idea of "home" and how it feels to be in London post-pandemic. And she shares the joy of realising that work continues to surprise her, even after it's been 20 years since she famously rebranded Tate.

Season Four of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Astropad Studio.

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to carry you through the week. Whether you need motivation or insights, we've got you covered!

This week on the podcast, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting Christopher Doyle, who brightened up the winter gloom with his Aussie warmth and charm. He opened up about something we don't talk about enough in the creative industry: The Great Unknown.

What is it, exactly? If you haven't tuned in yet, make sure you do. But to give you a taste—it's that constant barrage of brilliant design work online. You're having a great day, feeling good about your work, and then bam, you see something that's so good it stops you in your tracks. Sometimes, it inspires, but other times, it chips away at your confidence. In our chat, Chris offers some great advice to help combat that common feeling.

Now, let's move on to this week's creative news. First up, Oxford University Press has announced its Word of the Year for 2024: brain rot. It captures the collective unease over endless scrolling and its impact on mental well-being. Defined as the decline of intellectual sharpness due to an overconsumption of trivial online content, it struck a chord, particularly with younger generations navigating the highs and lows of digital life.

In tech news, wearable devices like smartwatches and health rings are making waves in personal health tracking, with proposals for integrating them into NHS care. While they've been praised for encouraging healthier habits, doctors caution against overreliance on these gadgets, reminding us that no device can replace professional diagnostics. Still, the shift towards at-home care keeps the debate alive.

Over on LinkedIn, AI-generated writing has quietly become the norm, with more than half of long-form English posts now likely written by AI. While these tools make polished posts a breeze, critics worry about the loss of authenticity. On a platform often dominated by corporate speak, though, it seems the line between human and machine-generated content is getting blurrier—and perhaps, for some, that's okay.

In our Spotlight segment, Creative Boom celebrates the resilience and growth of its community in 2024. Illustrator Marloes Devries shared how saying no to misaligned projects led to her best financial year yet while also helping other artists by passing on opportunities. It's a reminder that success isn't just about output; it's about making thoughtful choices and leaning into the support of your community.

For our Book of the Week, we're recommending How Life Works by Philip Ball. This fascinating read explores the cutting-edge world of modern biology, from reprogramming cells to redesigning living systems in ways evolution never imagined. It's an inspiring look at how these scientific leaps are reshaping what we know about life—and hinting at what might be possible in the future.

Now for our Tip of the Week: as the festive season approaches, managing the end-of-year chaos is key. Ruthless prioritisation is your best friend—focus on what must get done, communicate clear boundaries to clients, and let go of the rest. A little self-care doesn't hurt either. Wrap up strong, and you'll be set to start 2025 on the right foot.

Looking ahead, we've got Joseph Parsons joining us on Monday. By day, he's a graphic designer; by night, he's a stand-up comedian about to go on tour with his new gig, Re-designed. Don't miss it—it's bound to be a riot. After Joe, we'll chat with Jessi Brattengeier from The New York Times, and then we'll round off the season with our festive Christmas Special featuring some familiar faces. Until Monday!

We kick off season five of The Creative Boom Podcast with a topic that is, thankfully, getting louder in the creative industries. And that's mental health. We've invited Manchester-based graphic designer Graham Jones as our first guest to guide us through.

Now, if you're one of those creatives who doesn't do any marketing or seek fame in this industry, then Graham's approach will appeal. He's stayed deliberately quiet, not seeking out interviews or press coverage. Instead, he's been focusing on navigating his way through a successful career spanning over two decades. And he's had the publicity without even trying, as his work speaks for itself. He's been published in dozens of respected books by Victionary and Counter-Print and celebrated in magazines such as Computer Arts and Grafik.

Graham runs the independent design studio Loose Collective and is a part-time senior lecturer at the Manchester School of Art. If there's one thing he's especially famous for in the North West, it's for being one of the nicest people in the industry. Graham knows everyone and is well-loved. He's a positive force for good in the design community and someone who, we discover, has fought many battles to overcome his own mental struggles.

In this episode, we chat about the obsession with fame and fortune in the design industry, why it's bad for mental health and why being famous shouldn't be the goal. Graham also gives us a reality check about the field overall – it's not glamorous, for the most part. It can be hard work, a real slog. You have to love the profession to do it.

We also discuss overcoming imposter syndrome and the little mind tricks we can play to be happier creatives. And Graham gives us lots more reassuring advice to navigate what can sometimes feel like a demanding career.

Luke Tonge is a freelance graphic designer and art director based in Birmingham and also one of the co-founders of Birmingham Design Festival. Here, we talk about the last decade or so, as we share similar paths in publishing and how we survived the global economic crisis and found a whole creative community online. We also talk of how times have changed, why the design industry still has some way to go, but how Luke is hopeful for people entering the working world today.

This week, we sit down with creative consultant Holly Howard, who discusses her recent course, Beyond the Feed, and the evolving landscape of marketing for creatives. It will be a welcome conversation for anyone sick of chasing 'likes' and not getting the same engagement we once enjoyed.

But here's the thing: Holly emphasises the importance of understanding the fundamentals of marketing and sales, not just relying on social media algorithms. She explains how, over time, social media has shifted from community-based engagement to algorithm-driven content, and many creatives have lost sight of their original goals.

Holly's approach is designed to help creatives refocus on sustainable business practices, encouraging them to build meaningful, long-term relationships with their audience and clients. She believes we can still thrive without being tethered to social platforms, highlighting how crucial it is to nurture real connections, understand audience needs, and develop strong communication skills.

Throughout our chat, she really hits home the power of personal branding and positioning oneself as a guide rather than a hero, especially when approaching potential clients. She also touches on the role AI can play in supporting creative businesses, helping them streamline tasks like project management, client communications, and marketing strategies.

For designers and illustrators feeling overwhelmed by social media fatigue – and hey, you're not alone – Holly offers insights on how to embrace alternative marketing methods and stay relevant in a world that seems to demand constant attention. Her practical advice encourages us to focus on what truly matters for our careers: strong relationships, a clear vision, and authentic, enthusiastic engagement with our work.

Holly also shares her thoughts on 'visioning' as a tool for success and how it helps us creatives clarify our goals, both professionally and personally. This episode is packed with actionable tips for freelancers and entrepreneurs alike, especially those looking to step away from the pressures of social media and the increasing "sea of sameness" to build a sustainable, fulfilling creative practice.

Sarah Boris is an award-winning graphic designer, creative director and artist based in London who's worked with some of the world's leading publishing houses and art organisations, including Phaidon Press, The Photographers' Gallery, Tate and Barbican. Here, we chat about the events of 2020, and how the year transformed her perspective and practice. We'll also discover what makes her happy.

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Each Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode packed with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to fuel your creative journey as the week winds down. Whether you need a quick shot of motivation or insights to carry you through, we've got you covered.

In this episode, host Katy Cowan reflects on her thought-provoking conversation with Holly Howard, who explores alternative ways for creatives to market themselves outside of social media. Holly's advice challenges us to focus on meaningful connections and slow-building relationships in a world where everyone seems to demand instant results. If you're feeling overwhelmed by social media, this is one conversation you don't want to miss.

In Creative News, we look at the UK's recent Budget and whether it has any impact on the creative sector, York's celebration as a UNESCO City of Media Arts, and the return of Wallace and Gromit in Vengeance Most Fowl.

TSpotlight features predictions from industry leaders on design trends for 2025—a year that's shaping up to be pivotal as we balance tech and humanity in design.

For our Book of the Week, we highlight Expressive Type Today by Counter-Print, a beautifully curated collection that showcases typography as more than just text—it's an expressive art form.

And in our Tip of the Week, we're celebrating the upcoming World Kindness Day with a reminder of how small acts of kindness can uplift the entire creative community.

Next Monday, Katy sits down with David Sedgwick of Studio DBD in Manchester for a heartwarming chat about creativity, resilience, and everything in between.

What was it like to move to the UK from Delhi in the 1970s, aged just five years old? For Gush Mundae, founder of creative agency Bulletproof, he felt that, as an immigrant, he was never "invited in", so he admits it was a real hustle from the beginning.

Hip-hop was just emerging in Britain, which he became obsessed with – along with all the associated culture, like graffiti art and sneakers. But Gush admits the street art "got him into a lot of trouble with the boys in blue and rival gangs" until his art teacher encouraged him to take that passion for art to explore graphic design and consider a respectable career in the creative industry.

So, in 1998, Gush took the plunge and founded Bulletproof using £2,000 of his personal savings. Today, his agency works with Cadbury, Football Association Wales and Soapsmith from studios in London, Amsterdam, New York, Sydney, Singapore and – most recently – Shanghai.

Describing Bulletproof as his "life's work", we were eager to learn more about what he's been through. The blood, sweat and tears. The big lessons and the bold moves. Join us for this fascinating, honest chat from one of the best names in the business – from racism and Brexit to hip hop, modern music and design; from overcoming childhood traumas and growing a global agency to adapting to the world today – Gush Mundae reveals all.

Season Four of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Astropad Studio.

On a mission to make the world a happier place, Meg Lewis is a designer, comedian, performer and educator who will put a smile on your face. With clients including Google, Dropbox and Barbie, and her own hit podcast that combines mindfulness and comedy, Meg has enjoyed a fantastic career to date. She puts her success down to discovering her superpowers and finding a purpose. Here, we'll get to uncover those secrets on building a personal brand while enjoying a giggle over "wet cheese" and poops.

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to carry you through the week. Whether you need motivation or insights, we've got you covered!

This week, we welcomed Joseph Parsons to the podcast. By day, Joseph is a freelance graphic designer, and by night, he takes to the stage as a stand-up comedian. His dual career path sparked a fascinating discussion about balancing two passions: navigating the challenges of freelancing and the unexpected parallels between pitching design ideas and performing stand-up comedy. This episode is for you if you've ever juggled different roles in your creative journey.

Joseph shared his thoughts on how the industry is changing, including the impact of the Government's IR35 legislation on freelancers and small businesses. We also explored how comedy has evolved, with platforms like social media offering new opportunities for comedians to find success outside traditional routes. Joseph's upcoming tour, Re-Designed, is a brilliant blend of his experiences in comedy and design—be sure to check it out for a good laugh and some relatable industry insights.

This week's creative news takes us on a journey of nostalgia and innovation. In Finland, Aalto University is unveiling Nokia's design archive on 15 January, celebrating the brand that defined the mobile world in the '90s. From the iconic 8110 "banana phone" to the customisable 3210, the archive is a treasure trove of design sketches, marketing materials, and audio recordings, offering a rich blend of inspiration and history. Meanwhile, Cornish landscape artist Dianne Griffiths has won the 2024 People's Choice Award for her atmospheric painting Driving Home. This evocative depiction of a Texaco petrol station under a starry sky captivated voters and has even been purchased by the petrol station itself. In tech news, Apple is rumoured to be working on its thinnest phone yet, the iPhone 17 Air. Combining sleek design with advanced technology, it's shaping up to be a bold step forward in minimalist tech.

Our Spotlight segment this week celebrates the 25 most admired graphic designers of 2024, as voted for by the design community. From bold innovators like Jessica Walsh to typographic legends like Astrid Stavro, these creatives are shaping the future of visual culture and leaving a lasting impact on the industry. The full list is a testament to the diversity and brilliance of today's graphic design scene.

Our Book of the Week is Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949–1990 by Katja Hoyer. It offers a fresh look at life behind the Iron Curtain. This detailed history reveals the complexities of the GDR, from its Marxist roots to its collapse, blending personal stories with political insights. A must-read for history buffs!

For our Tip of the Week, we look at networking and why it should be your priority in 2025. Networking is about building real connections. Start small—ask simple questions like, "What brought you here?" Follow up afterwards to keep the relationship alive. Authenticity is key. Networking isn't about selling yourself—it's about making new friends.

On Monday, our guest will be Jessi Brattengeier, creative director at The New York Times. She will share her inspirations, processes, and aspirations and give us a really interesting look behind the scenes at one of the world's most prestigious publications. And then, instead of The Spark on Thursday, we've got a Christmas Special for you, featuring ten former guests of The Creative Boom Podcast, all helping us get into the festive spirit. Until then!

We're kicking off season four of The Creative Boom Podcast with Constance Fleuriot – a writer, games developer and producer based in Bristol who runs her own game design company, Pretty Digital.

Constance also runs Grrrl Games to support women and girls of all ages to make games. A big part of her practice is helping people to develop ideas and research plans – and she encourages people of all ages to be creative producers, rather than consumers. Her work history includes creative technologies research for HP, Intel, NESTAfuturelab, pmstudio/Watershed and various community-based and educational organisations. She’s also part of the University of West of England team delivering the MSc in Data Science.

In this episode, we talk about women and girls in gaming, why there still aren't enough of us and how we can inspire more to join the industry. We talk of diversity in gaming overall and whether any progress has been made in recent years. We consider gender roles and identity and why it's important to create female as well as gender-neutral video game characters. And there's a delve into the creative process of game design, and why you don't need to know how to use a computer to get started.

For anyone interested in making video games, Constance is hosting a course at Clayhill Arts in Somerset from 13 to 15 May 2022. Titled Creating Stories: Game Design For Complete Beginners, it will show participants how to experiment with this rapidly-growing medium using simple, analogue tools.

Season Four of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Astropad Studio.

For episode 74, our guest is Sarah Hyndman, a graphic designer and researcher and the person behind Type Tasting – a practice that's on a mission to change the way we think and talk about typography by making it fun and exciting for everyone.

Sarah specialises in making typography entertaining and relevant with humour, a dash of theatre and lashings of audience participation. And she is also the author of various books on type, including the bestselling book Why Fonts Matter and the title, How to Draw Type and Influence People.

Through her practice, she gets us to think about type in ways we never thought possible. Whether she's doing a TED X talk, TV interview, radio show or installation at the V&A – she takes typography way beyond the world of graphic design. Chef Heston Blu-men-thal even calls on Sarah as his "font science" expert.

I wanted to pick Sarah's brains on all things type. On how typography has changed since she first discovered it as a child, looking at chocolate and sweet wrappers in her local corner shop. We hear her thoughts on trends and the overall design industry about type snobbery and why we're all experts. And we delve into the subconscious and how we feel about various typefaces. Even whether they have the power to change the world, shape our behaviour and influence pop culture.

Season Four of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Astropad Studio.

Known for his bold and innovative typographic artworks, Craig Black is a Scottish-born designer, lettering artist and typographer whose worked tirelessly over the last five years to build his own design studio near Glasgow. Here, he shares some of the secrets to his success, including some helpful ideas to boost productivity, improve mental wellbeing and achieve your goals. This is an eye-opening, utterly honest treat that will leave you feeling energised and ready to take on anything.

This week's guest is Katie Jones, a graphic designer from Manchester. We met Katie at the Manchester School of Art, where she is currently an associate lecturer. It's a role she adores, as she spends a lot of time doing something she loves while helping the next generation of designers. She enjoys it so much that in 2019, she scooped an MMU Teaching Award for 'Outstanding Feedback', the first teaching award the Art School has ever won.

The School is where Katie studied her own art foundation and a degree in Graphic Design. During her course, she looked around at the other students and teachers and found a calling to create a magazine called Fresh – one that would shine a spotlight on diverse creatives. It's a side project that has since opened many doors, built skills and confidence, and introduced Katie to the wider creative industry.

In fact, Fresh made Katie realise just how important it is to build her own community. And so, she's since become part of SLAN Collective, a global network of artists and designers who all support one another. She's also become one of the people behind Ladies, Wine & Design in Manchester – the networking group for women. Aside from these valuable hustles, Katie also runs a vegan food truck with her family.

In this episode, we talk about the values and life lessons Katie inherited from her parents and two brothers. It's the way she holds herself, not conforming to any gender roles and why she has the strength and courage to pave her way – despite having that conversation with her mother, the one some of you know only too well.

We also hear about side projects and why they can be so fruitful. About rebellion and artistic freedom. Of listening to your gut and not being afraid to change or quit something if it isn't working. Katie also shares why she will not accept the status quo and doesn't want to be pigeonholed into one field or merely picked out for the colour of her skin. It's a warm and honest conversation with someone who reminds us to count our blessings and counter these difficult times through the currency of kindness.

Glasgow-based illustrator and design writer, Greg McIndoe, otherwise known as Headless Greg, graduated in 2020, during the height of the global pandemic, and has immediately gone freelance. Here, we chat about the pandemic and how it's affected us. We also talk of slowing down, distancing ourselves from social media and why it's ok to share the things we all suffer from. That we're all the same. We also talk of overcoming rejection, finding our creative paths and why we don't have to worry about being stuck creatively.

Manchester-based multidisciplinary artist Kofi Nelson has just graduated in graphic design from the University of Salford and is also a music producer, collaborating with musicians around the world. Here, we talk about entering the working world under the shadow of Covid-19 and an uncertain economy. We also talk about music and its accessibility, overcoming self-doubt, and finding ways to stay creative during difficult times.

Illustrator Ana Jaks creates work that is full of shape, colour, pattern and inclusivity. Originally from the Isle of Man, she went to Falmouth University to study Illustration and then did a Masters in Visual Communications at Bath Spa before graduating in 2015. She's always worked for herself and has so far picked up clients such as Facebook and Nike. I headed down to Bristol in March to meet Ana and chat about freelancing, work/life balance, and why she's spending more time on her hobbies these days.

New York-based British artist Jon Burgerman reveals his love of googly eyes and his sense of humour, plus we hear tips on making it as an independent artist today. We also chat about being a creative introvert in the Big Apple and why he prefers his own company, unlike his stuffed friend 'Burgsy' who always seems to steal the show.

Welcome to The Spark, your creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode to give you that midweek boost of inspiration. We’ll share creative news, practical tips, book recommendations, and even some emails from our listeners. Whether you’re looking for a quick shot of creativity or need some insights to carry you into the weekend, The Spark has got you covered.

In this episode, we looked back on Monday’s interview with Brian Cannon and the incredible listener feedback we received about the golden days of designing for Oasis in the '90s. Plus, we teased our next guest, Seema Sharma, and the fascinating conversation we’ll have about creativity and AI—exploring what it means for the industry, and whether AI is a friend or foe.

In Creative News, we discussed Mozilla's new retro-inspired brand identity designed by JKR, and Meta's latest AI innovations, including celebrity-voiced chatbots and AR glasses. Closer to home, Factory International's creative skills training in Manchester is making waves in local venues. And we revealed the UK creative industries' impressive £124.6 billion contribution to the economy.

In The Spotlight, we shone on Shaping Tomorrow, a groundbreaking new podcast series produced by Hear Art that amplifies the voices of deaf creatives in the industry.

Our Book of the Week, The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop, is a memoir that goes beyond acting to explore resilience, women's rights, and personal triumphs.

For Tip of the Week, we had a mental health reminder from Liam Hopkins of Lazerian Studio on nurturing your mind and embracing rest as a creative tool.

Finally, in Letters to the Editor, we shared thoughtful listener emails about balancing work, managing perfectionism, and why it’s refreshing to have platforms that don’t always focus on the bigger industry names.

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, or any from our show, send your thoughts to letters@creativeboom.com, and we'll do our best to read them out during next week's The Spark.

Graphic designers and friends Eve Warren and Anna Wanczyk have recently joined forces to launch the first chapter in Yorkshire of Kerning the Gap, a community founded in 2015 to get more women into leadership roles in the design industry. Eve is currently working at Robot Food in Leeds while Anna has recently set up her own studio. It was great to hear about their different career paths and see how they navigate the usual roller coaster of being a creative professional. We also talk about being women in the creative industries, share stories of what we've encountered, and what we hope to see change.

We don't know where you grew up or where you call home, but we're from Stoke-on-Trent. Oatcakes, Port Vale, the friendliest and funniest people on Earth. Northern Soul and the rave scene. Shelleys, Kinetic, and Golden. And, of course, Wedgwood and Brindley.

Have you never heard of it? As a kid, we'd tell people we were from Manchester because everyone knows Manchester, and it's cool. But Stoke? Pah. We're ashamed to say we never sang its praises. But what did we know? We left Stoke for Manchester, seeking our fortune. But that was many years ago. And we've recently returned to the area. We see Stoke with fresh eyes now and proudly tell people that's where we're from.

Funny enough, we weren't the only ones with this attitude. Stoke has an unfair reputation, which is absurd given its affectionately known as The Potteries – a creative city that creates art from dirt and is now named the World Capital of Ceramics. But despite its incredible industrial heritage, the local and national news just seems to spout negative stories, and everyone talks about its decline.

But one person is hoping to change all that. Simon Davies is an industrial and product designer and co-founder of Protect-a-Pet, a company that sells his inventions worldwide, which help protect cats from the risk of free roaming. Si has big ambitions for the city. He is hugely passionate about the region and believes it's on the brink of a resurgence. A rebirth.

Fed up with seeing a place in post-industrial decline and driving past derelict buildings each day on his way to work, he and some others have set up a Community Interest Company called The Teapot Factory to bring people together and drive change. He's also behind a 'netwalking' event called the Teapot Tours, the first of which was attended by a few Chamber of Commerce members and some local artists. The idea was to bring together creatives and business people, something Stoke is famous for. The walks are guided by a local history expert and end at a venue with an interesting speaker or poet.

We wanted to find out more about a city with so much potential, a proud history, a talented workforce and a network of local creatives determined to make the Potteries legendary once more.

This season is proudly sponsored by MPB, the largest global platform for buying, selling, and trading used photo and video equipment. Visit MPB.com to find out more.

Erik Brandt is an acclaimed graphic designer and educator who's been active since the mid-90s. He began his career as a cartoonist in Japan where he discovered a love of food, teaching and graphic design. Here, we chat about those days and how he ended up as a professor in Minnesota as well as launching his own studio, Typografika, with work exhibited internationally. A warm and comforting chat that also delves into music, art, and the joy of travel.

Fear can hold us back and make us feel stuck. But if we don't face the things that scare us, how will we ever progress? That's certainly the case for us creatives. Whether we're afraid of going freelance, starting a side project, applying for that job, or making a complete lifestyle shift, embracing what terrifies us could actually lead us to happiness. And if it doesn't? Well, there's always a lesson to be learned.

Joanna Henly is no stranger to change. She spent her childhood moving around, as her parents' careers dictated. On making new friends at different schools and getting used to new roots, she naturally built resilience and, as a result, didn't shy away from her fears.

That's not always been the case. Just like any of us, Joanna has her ups and downs. But in 2019, she suddenly decided to leave London for Lisbon, completely changing her entire lifestyle and career. And when the global pandemic happened, that only encouraged her to pursue her dreams even more.

She became a creative mentor and now works with aspiring, emerging and mid-term career artists to propel their creativity and careers forward. She's taken everything she's experienced from her own journey of being an illustrator, muralist, fine artist, and digital and VR painter to help others. Joanna has worked with Reebok, Google, Vivienne Westwood, and Wacom. She's presented her work and ideas as inspiration sessions for Apple and sold out workshops and masterclasses at venues including The V&A, The Saatchi and National Portrait Galleries.

Her artworks have even hung in the Saatchi Gallery and Somerset House, while her books are stocked at the Tate and National galleries. She's curated and exhibited solo shows in London and Hong Kong. More recently, she's presented ideas and interactive art with everyone from Google to fashion giants Galliano, painted in VR for the Land Rover Evoque world premiere, and so much more.

So, how on earth do the rest of us face and overcome fear? How do we move forward as creatives and discover new ways of working and living? Essentially, how do we become unstuck and move forward? Joanna gives some excellent advice for anyone itching to make a significant change this year.

This season is sponsored by MPB, the largest global platform for buying, selling, and trading used photo and video equipment. Visit MPB.com to find out more.

How does technology affect our daily lives and interactions, and what role does design play in making it more humane and delightful? Today, we're in conversation with Clara Gaggero Westaway, co-founder and creative director of Special Projects. Recently celebrating its tenth anniversary, the London-based design and innovation studio is known for its work in humanising technology, creating experiences that prioritise user friendliness and satisfaction.

Clara's expertise has guided Special Projects in partnerships with some of the biggest names in tech and research, like Samsung, Google, and King's College London, turning complex tech challenges into accessible solutions. From digital therapy tools for individuals with psychosis and enhancing smartphone usability for older people to helping us step away from our smartphones a little, her work exemplifies the power of empathetic design.

But what does it all mean? We ask Clara about the intricacies of creating technology that's helpful and not intrusive, the challenges and surprises of designing for a global audience, and the future trends she sees shaping the industry. We'll also take a closer look at her creative process, how her educational roles influence her professional practice, and how she and her team tackle the ethics of technology and design.

In this episode, Clara also shares how she sees everyday frustrations as opportunities and how drawing on them can create those "warm, fuzzy feelings" she loves so much. This conversation lies at the fascinating intersection of creativity, technology, and human-centric design with one of the industry's leading voices.

This season is sponsored by MPB, the largest global platform for buying, selling, and trading used photo and video equipment. Visit MPB.com to find out more.

Timothy Goodman is an award-winning designer, illustrator, muralist and author based in New York City who also teaches at the School of Visual Arts. His beloved grandma simply calls him an artist. We've seen Timothy's art and words across everything from basketball courts and buildings to magazine covers and galleries worldwide. And his clients today include Google, Samsung, and Airbnb.

He's co-created lots of notable side projects – like the famous 40 Days of Dating (which also became a book) and 12 Kinds of Kindness with Jessica Walsh. He's also behind People of Craft, a growing showcase of creatives of colour. And he's the author of the Sharpie Art Workshop. He's got a third book in the making, which he announces in this podcast. Timothy has also done a collection with Uniqlo. And he's just enjoyed his first solo exhibition in New York, too.

I'd got some impression of what Timothy might be like through various interviews and projects, but I didn't expect such an open and honest chat about his life and work. Or that we'd cover the meaning of life. Timothy also talks candidly about the lessons he's learnt, of having to pay and work his way through education, and why it's so important to have side projects, ask for help, and speak up and speak out. As we're on the verge of welcoming 2022 and hoping it brings much positivity, I thought this was a timely conversation with someone that doesn't hold anything back.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

Ashwin Chacko is an illustrator, designer and hand-letterer based in Dublin who loves to bring the world together through his positive art. Born in India, Ashwin's joyful and colourful work features strong characters mixed with typography and pattern – each piece telling a story of love, kindness, and acceptance. Recent clients include Facebook, Adobe and Puma. This is a warm and relaxed chat with a gentle, kind soul who puts purpose at the heart of everything he does.

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Each Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode packed with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to fuel your creative journey as the week winds down. Whether you need a quick shot of motivation or insights to carry you through, we've got you covered.

We reflected on this week's interview with Luigi Carnovale, in which we focused on the art of reinvention. Luigi shared his insights on navigating new tech, client demands, and personal evolution as a creative. His message? Business is about people, and we are in control of our own paths. If you've been feeling stuck, his words will inspire you to embrace change, just as he has.

In this week's Creative News roundup, D&AD's 2024 Annual Showcase highlights the best creative campaigns and trends, such as fandoms and textural evolution, to inspire the next generation. Headspace introduced Ebb, a generative AI chatbot to support mental health with personalised real-time conversations. Finally, teenage gamer Michael Artiaga made history by resetting Tetris after reaching the highest level. Gosh, it's an amazing feat. I can hear the music in my head now. How it didn't drive him mad, I'll never know. But, understandably, he confessed he'll never play it again.

For The Spotlight, we looked at the independent type foundries set to shine in 2025. From Jessica Walsh's emotionally driven Type of Feeling to Grilli Type's standout creations, these foundries offer fresh, experimental fonts that push boundaries. And the best part? We had nothing to do with the final cut; it was all down to you, the creative community, as you shared your favourites.

Our Book of the Week is Never Play It Safe by Chase Jarvis, a manifesto for creatives looking to embrace intuition and risk-taking. Drawing from his experiences as an award-winning photographer and entrepreneur, Jarvis offers practical strategies for breaking out of our comfort zone, pursuing bold ideas, and building a fulfilling life rooted in personal passion. Doesn't it feel appropriate, given this week's conversation with Luigi? We thought so.

In our Tip of the Week, we look at how to differentiate yourself. And one way to stand out in a crowded creative industry is by embracing vulnerability. Share your authentic experiences—audiences connect more deeply with honesty than perfection. There's lots more advice on this theme in the article on Creative Boom, so be sure to check it out.

We received different responses from listeners about recent podcast episodes for our Letters to the Editor this week. Mike, an illustrator from Leeds, shared how Seema Sharma's discussion on AI completely changed his perspective, leaving him more optimistic while affirming that the human touch remains irreplaceable. On the other hand, Amara, a creative director from London, expressed concern about AI, cautioning against over-reliance on machines at the risk of losing the originality that defines creativity. Another letter from James, based in Devon, reflected on Luigi's experiences in the design industry. James related to Luigi's decision to leave the city, sharing how his move from London to his hometown led to unexpected creative opportunities while maintaining connections in the capital.

What about you? What do you think? We'd love to hear from you! If you have any thoughts on this episode or anything else from the show, drop us a line at letters@creativeboom.com, and we might feature your email in next week's episode of The Spark.

On Monday, Lisa Smith, global executive creative director at JKR, will join us. She will share hard-hitting insights on leadership, creativity, and building a career at the top. Don't miss it!

Art and design might feel like everything to you, but has it ever been a matter of life and death? This week, we're joined by Kelly Korzun, an individual for whom creativity has truly been a lifeline.

Kelly is not only an acclaimed artist and the visionary behind METAL & DVST, a vibrant art space that champions the voices of artists worldwide; she's also deeply invested in the nonprofit sector and passionate about education. Her journey through the realms of creativity and her advocacy for the arts as transformative tools are nothing short of inspiring.

Today, we'll take a closer look at a poignant chapter in Kelly's life where art transcended passion and became her lifeline during a critical moment in her youth. Our conversation will highlight the resilience of the human spirit and underscore the powerful role of art in healing and personal growth.

We'll also explore the significance of giving back to the creative community, a mission close to my heart through nearly 15 years at the helm of Creative Boom. Join us as we uncover the profound impact of creativity on our lives and the world around us.

Izzy Burton is an award-winning director, illustrator, author and lead artist at Netflix Animation. Based in Brighton, she directs short films, draws for television and film, and illustrates and writes for books. In this episode, we talk about how Izzy went from graduation to working at lead studios to freelancing, publishing books and then joining one of the largest broadcasters in the world and directing her own films – all in the space of six years. An inspiring story told by one of the most exciting storytellers of today.

Dapo Adeola is an award-winning designer and illustrator who creates fun and upbeat characters and images that challenge expectations around gender and race. He's also the co-creator of the best-selling children's picture book, Look Up. Here, we talk about carving a career out of art and design, the importance of representation and why kindness and compassion will keep you sane. We also discover why Dapo had to turn down Disney twice.

Graphic artist, print-maker and design Anthony Burrill is probably best known for his typographic prints and posters, including the now-famous 'Work Hard and Be Nice to People' – something that has become a mantra for the design community. Here, we chat about where his positive attitude comes from, his love of acid house, and why he still suffers from imposter syndrome.

Welcome to The Spark, your creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode to give you that midweek boost of inspiration. From creative news to practical tips and book recommendations, The Spark has everything you need to keep your creative energy flowing. Whether you’re looking for a quick shot of creativity or insights to carry you through the week, we've got you covered.

In this episode, we looked back at Monday’s insightful interview with Seema Sharma, a creative director from the Netherlands and co-author of The New Creatives. Seema’s unique collaboration with AI sparked a fascinating conversation about how technology is changing the future of creativity. One key takeaway? As AI grows more prevalent, the need for human connection and authenticity in design has never been stronger.

In Creative News, we covered the big headlines, starting with the news that Rankin's agency The Full Service has filed for bankruptcy. Rankin pointed to the challenges of reduced budgets and the rise of AI, which are changing the traditional advertising landscape. In gaming, 343 Industries has officially rebranded as Halo Studios, signalling new projects ahead, all developed with Unreal Engine 5. Meanwhile, Epic Games has announced Unreal Engine 6 to power the next wave of metaverse experiences. Finally, Google has launched a new feature that lets users search the internet by simply recording a video—AI is certainly transforming how we search online.

For The Spotlight, we explored the future of audio-visual design in our feature article Key Trends in Audio-Visual Design: What’s Next for 2025. We dive into immersive AR and VR experiences, AI-generated visuals, and the growing emphasis on emotional intelligence in audio design. Brands are getting smarter at using sound to connect with audiences on a deeper level, and we’re excited to see where this trend takes us.

Our Book of the Week is a biography of the iconic Lee Miller, a trailblazing photographer and inspiration behind the upcoming film Lee, starring Kate Winslet. Written by her son Antony Penrose, The Lives of Lee Miller gives an intimate look at her many lives—from Vogue cover girl to war correspondent—and features some of her finest work. A must-read for anyone passionate about creativity and history.

In honour of National Work-Life Week, our Tip of the Week is all about balancing your career and creativity. From setting clear boundaries to making time for personal projects, we shared practical strategies for avoiding burnout. One great tip? Use "calendar blocking" to allocate time for work, creative pursuits, and relaxation to keep your life in balance.

For our Letters to the Editor this week, we heard from Christine Smith of Warfield Smith Design, who shared her thoughts on Tom Cunningham’s article about "blue collar designers." Christine reflected on her own journey from big NYC and LA agencies to working directly with decision-makers in upstate New York—a path that, she says, has been refreshing and rewarding.

What about you? What do you think? We’d love to hear from you! If you have any thoughts on this episode or anything else from the show, drop us a line at letters@creativeboom.com, and we might feature your email in next week’s episode of The Spark.

Brand consultant William Seabrook began his career in 2002 when he graduated with a degree in Visual Communication from Birmingham City University. He then spent three years working as a fashion illustrator but later ventured into design, launching his own branding consultancy. Here, we chat about growing businesses, the lessons we learn, the mistakes we make – all leading to something bigger and better. It's a very honest chat about surviving and thriving in the creative industries.

Award-winning British designer Craig Oldham is behind Office of Craig, the creative studio based in Manchester. He's also written a few books, notably Oh Shit, What Now to support emerging designers. More recently, he's published They Live, a book that celebrates the sci-fi cult movie by John Carpenter. There was much to discuss when I met Craig in Manchester pre-lockdown, including the state of the creative industries, favourite movies, and where he gets his no-nonsense attitude from.

This week, our guest is Michael Freimuth – the co-founder and creative director of Franklyn, a respected design studio in New York City.

If you find yourself on Michael's personal website, you immediately get a sense of his character. There's a whole heap of humour and a dose of humility. He doesn't take himself too seriously but is passionate about the people and causes he gets behind. Whether he's focused on branding, design or illustration – collaboration and play are at the heart of everything he does.

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Michael's already enjoyed much recognition during a varied and rewarding career. He received the ADC Young Guns and New Visual Artists awards early on, recognising the world's top creatives under 30. A decade later, he's happily still at the helm of Franklyn, but much has changed since the pandemic and, more recently, since becoming a father.

In this episode, we get quite nostalgic, talking about Michael's childhood in Chicago and how his time spent with friends and growing up watching John Hughes movies inspired how he is today. With collaboration being so important to him, it almost feels as though that '80s innocence of bike rides, tree climbing and scratched knees, and occasional shenanigans with friends has never really left him.

It's this optimism that shines through his personality and his work. We've mentioned how he feels about "play", which comes across in his illustration practice – but whilst he mostly pokes fun at the world around him, he simultaneously highlights important issues.

Here, he gives us a wonderful insight into studio life beyond New York City, the difficult balance of career and fatherhood, and the legacy he wants to leave for his son. And we discover why he might just make a short film with childhood friends, inspired by those seemingly simpler times.

When you leave school or university, you'll likely find yourself working at any place that will have you. And later, if you're lucky and have worked hard enough, you might enjoy the luxury of steering your own ship and finding purpose and meaning in your creative field.

That was certainly the case for this week's guest, Kirsty Minns, partner and executive creative director at Mother Design (part of the Mother family), who has shaped her entire career by choosing to only work for companies with values in line with her own.

Today, Kirsty has almost two decades of design experience in the brand-building space with the likes of The Future Laboratory, Google Creative Lab and DesignStudio, and has worked with an impressive range of clients. Her work stretches from developing award-winning experiences for Google Pixel and Selfridges, rebranding large complex components of the BBC and Facebook, to working on creative briefs for names such as Belstaff, Hunter, Baileys, Hennessy, Jamesons and Nike.

Right now, she's based at Mother, an agency with a strong purpose that she was drawn to – one that aims to create work that would "make their mothers proud". But Kirsty says it's more than that: it's about making the next generation proud, too. "It's as much about making our industry a rewarding, exciting place to work, trying to challenge what it looks like, surprising and delighting and entertaining our consumers as it is about changing the world," she explains.

But as Kirsty admits, not every brief should or can do that. Grand gestures are nice, but small steps and a little kindness can also make a huge difference to our industry and the wider world. We all have the power to speak up, suggest something better, or even adapt our own way of thinking. It all helps.

What else can Kirsty teach us about finding purpose and meaning in our creative work today? How can we ensure we're doing something worthwhile? We dive right in to get some insight.

Emma Reynolds is a freelance children's book illustrator and author based in Manchester. She's also behind the global #KidLit4Climate campaign which brings together thousands of children's illustrators and authors from over 50 countries to stand in solidarity with the youth climate strikes. In this episode, we chat about freelancing, mental health, and climate change. And we touch on the joys of city living when you've grown up in a quiet village.

Boma Krijgsman is a cultural champion who is currently part of the team at JDO in London. As a brand ambassador and talent manager, she helps the creative agency raise its profile to attract clients and diverse talent.

A self-proclaimed 'hustle bunny', Boma began her career travelling the world, working incredibly hard and picking up skills and experience along the way. She spent two years in Vietnam as the PR and marketing manager for a large fashion retailer, which she admits was a "dream job" as she worked with brands such as Versace, Christian Louboutin, and Jimmy Choo. She then returned to the UK, where she launched her own business to specialise in project management. Today, she's settled in Kent and is the proud mother of three children, juggling parenthood with her role at JDO.

We wanted to learn more about her exciting adventures and how she found herself in her current role. From a dip into tourism and then modelling to discovering a passion for PR and marketing, there seems to be no limit to Boma's infectious energy and talents.

We talk about diversity and inclusion in the creative industry and why we still have a long way to go. And we share truths about confidence, motherhood and being a woman in design, and finding ourselves – realising our potential and embracing everything that comes our way.

Season Four of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Astropad Studio.

British artist and designer Liam Hopkins is the man behind Lazerian, a creative studio in Manchester with clients including Bloomberg, Virgin and Habitat. Claire McDivitt runs Lost Heritage, one of the North West of England's leading printing firms. Partners in both business and life, they've had a challenging couple of years lately. We sat down to chat about doing what you love, overcoming loss, and why family always comes first. Some laughs as well as tears here.

Graphic designer Damian Graham has spent the last 25 years becoming a specialist in his field, creating entire collections for names such as Speedo, Mitre Football and Berghaus. Here, we talk about Damian’s career and uncover excellent tips for aspiring designers hoping to enjoy a similar path to his own. Our conversation with Damian reminded us that we all find our way in the end – even though it might often involve some twists and turns. And that no experience is ever wasted.

It's been two years and nearly a hundred episodes since we launched The Creative Boom Podcast. With 2023 fast approaching, we thought a Christmas Special might be in order. One that celebrates how far we've come and pays tribute to the people who helped us get here but also allows us to look ahead and consider what's next.

What better way to do so than return to our very first guest? And that's Malcolm Garrett. The esteemed graphic designer and creative director also happens to be one of the co-founders of Design Manchester, an annual festival in our home city and one that holds a special place on the international design calendar.

It's actually where we headed last month to meet Malcolm but also catch up with other former guests of our show plus meet some new names. It seemed particularly fitting to make our Christmas Special during Design Manchester, as this year's theme is about Legacy – something that honours the late great Professor David Crow of the Manchester School of Art, who was one of the champions and supporters of the festival.

Held in the Benzie Building of the esteemed art school, the event meant that everyone was reflecting on the legacy of Design Manchester as well as their own creative journeys, and how that legacy plays into the future. It was an honour to capture some of that reflection for Creative Boom – much of which we'll share now. And to just add a little fun, we asked everyone for their own Christmas memories – a time of year that means something different from one person to the next. But whether good or bad, it was agreed that the festive season brings people together. And I also asked about new year resolutions and how they feel about 2023.

We kicked things off with Malcolm but then also chatted with former Creative Review editor Patrick Burgoyne, creative director and stylist Harris Elliott, graphic designer and artist Ian Swift aka Swifty, graphic artist Anthony Burrill, designer and artist Sarah Boris, artist and illustrator Stanley Chow, designer and digital whizz Zoë Hitchen, material and performance artist and artistic director Naitiemu Nyanjom, designer and illustrator Jane Bowyer, designer Ian Anderson of The Designers Republic, and Sir Misha Black Awards Chairman and Arts University Bournemouth Honorary Fellow, Mary V Mullin.

That's it for Season Five of The Creative Boom Podcast. We're going to take a short break, but we will be back in 2023 with lots of new guests, covering many different themes – topics important to you as a creative professional. Until then, from myself and everyone at Creative Boom, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and peaceful New Year.

We're kicking off a new season of The Creative Boom Podcast with something a little bit different. Today, we're talking about posture and how we can stay pain-free as creatives. Because let's face it, we all spend so much time sitting, working, and leaning over laptops and gadgets – perhaps getting into bad habits; it's inevitable we'll run into trouble unless we look after ourselves. Of course, we want to help you avoid that, or – if you're already suffering (myself included) – then we'll hopefully help you find a way out.

To talk us through this big topic, our guest this week is Eleanor Burt, otherwise known as Posture Ellie. Based in the beautiful Peak District in England, she's a posture coach who runs her own programmes, hosts in-person events such as special retreats and even shares a load of free stuff on YouTube to help a lot of people become more in tune with their bodies.

She doesn't claim to be an expert. And she certainly doesn't promise to "fix" anyone. But she's absolutely found her calling and is helping many people to empower themselves to move and feel better. Is your neck or back giving you grief? Are you suffering from sciatica, bulging discs in your spine, or do you just feel out of alignment? Then, this episode will introduce you to a new approach – one that doesn't rely on popping pills forever and might even get rid of your pain.

This season is sponsored by MPB, the largest global platform for buying, selling, and trading used photo and video equipment. Visit MPB.com to find out more.

It's our final guest of season five. Angela Roche is a graphic designer and creative director who runs Manchester studio, Love & Logic.

We've been trying to get Angela on the show for quite some time. Disclaimer alert: we're great friends and once shared an office when she was running Design By Day – a brand and digital agency that had tremendous success, working for clients such as the NHS, Barnardo's, and Brother.

We fondly remember leaning out of the window of our Northern Quarter base, watching the world go by as we helped each other figure out all the challenges of running a business. Or when we had swivel chair races across the floor. Or create fun videos for her agency's Instagram feed. Or when we dressed one of our team as a 'hipster', complete with a fixie bike, turned-up jeans and a little hat. They were great times and great people: Sami, Jonathan, Rob (whom we've also had on the podcast), Parham and many more that followed. Angela looked after them all, offering a great place to work and grow.

But after 12 years – 16 months spent during the pandemic – Angela found herself at a difficult crossroads. After much soul-searching, which we can imagine wasn't easy for someone we know who cares hugely about other people, Angela decided running an agency wasn't for her anymore. And so, she closed Design By Day and launched her solo venture, Love & Logic.

In this episode, we'll talk about building a design agency and its many challenges, and we'll hear of Angela's experience of closing it down, despite its success. We'll cover themes of the fear of failure, confronting gut feelings, and opting for difficult choices when you know they involve more than just you.

Amrit Singh, aka Mr A Singh, is an award-winning artist based in Birmingham and the creative director and founder of creative agency, Rebel Creatives. Here, we look at how social media has propelled him to fame and fortune, despite the odd challenge. We learn how he's adapted and grown, turning his creative passions into a thriving business. We also look at why it's so important we work on ourselves before we consider helping others. And why being positive and kind will reap rewards in the long run.

Kaye Dunnings is the creative director of Shangri-La at Glastonbury Festival, which was set to celebrate its 50th anniversary this June until it was postponed. Pre-lockdown, we met in Bristol to chat about how the festival has evolved over the last decade, its wilder days, and how she came to be Shangri-La's creative director. Kaye also shares her thoughts on climate change, alternative living, and why she hopes the future is looking brighter.

Gail Anderson is an American graphic designer, writer and educator based in New York. Famous for her typographic works, hand-lettering and poster designs, she graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 1984, where one of her teachers was Paula Scher.

She began her career as a designer at Vintage Books (part of Random House) and later The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. She then became senior art director for Rolling Stone, where she worked for 15 years, working her way up the ladder. In 2002, she was creative director at Spot Co, a studio that specialises in advertising for the arts and entertainment sectors. Today, Gail is a co-founder of Anderson Newton Designs, which she runs with Joe Newton.

Gail has won numerous awards for her work over the years – some of which is in the permanent collections of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum and the Library of Congress. She's also co-author with Steven Hellar of various design books, including the recent Type Speaks. And she's come full circle, working at the School of Visual Arts in New York where she enjoys teaching the next generation of graphic designers.

Earlier this month, we chatted with Gail between lectures about what she's been up to lately. We hear more about her family, her childhood, and how the pandemic made her realise a few harsh truths. We learn of pumpkins and bears, and the real joy of having a place to call home. This is a warm and inspiring conversation with one of the biggest yet most humble names in graphic design today.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

As creative freelancers, we love what we do and enjoy being our own boss, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Burnout is sadly familiar to many of us, including this week's guest, Radim Malinic, who wants to offer other creatives some valuable help.

Taking all that he's learned from running his studio, Brand Nu, the creative director, graphic designer, and author has just released two new books, Creativity For Sale and Mindful Creative. These new titles are based on his own experiences over two decades and offer solid advice and wisdom to help you triumph as a small business and hopefully avoid making the same mistakes.

Radim talks of his struggles, of working too hard and sometimes for the wrong people. He covers the kind of juicy stuff any of us could learn from. But, more often than not, these are the moments that we have to experience for ourselves before the lesson truly sinks in. Nevertheless, Radim wants to offer some reassurance that we all suffer the same stuff, so it's better to be aware of what might go wrong to prepare us for those difficult times.

He shares the good stuff, too. And there's plenty of that. So, if you've just gone freelance or been running a business for some time, we're sure our conversation will have you nodding in agreement and give you some extra comfort that you're not alone, and these are things we all go through.

Ananya Rao-Middleton is a London-based freelance illustrator and chronic illness activist who uses her work to express herself post-brain injury and as someone living with multiple sclerosis (MS). 

Her work is vivid, vibrant and explorative. Eye-catching colours and powerful affirmations are a common feature, too, as Ananya describes herself as a feminist illustrator and someone who wants to support people with invisible illnesses. 

Here, we learn more about Ananya's journey and how she came to suffer herself. Why it's important to speak up and share her experience to help others. She highlights the importance of rest and listening to our bodies. She also talks of discrimination, a lack of understanding – and how she's trying to turn that around, making people more aware of the invisible disabilities or illnesses that people might have. It's an important topic. 

Ananya also talks of her childhood, about bullying and racism, how that's made her a stronger person, able to cope with the challenges of today. She is so hopeful and positive that the creative community can be the force that brings positive change. This is a positive, thoughtful chat for anyone curious to learn more about these topics or perhaps have the reassurance they are not alone.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

Dave Smyth is a designer and developer based in the UK. Over the last few years, Dave has become increasingly interested in privacy and surveillance capitalism. He sometimes shares his thoughts on these topics via his blog – from looking at our permanent digital records and how to de-Google ourselves, to read receipts, Twitter lists and cookies.

With so much happening in the tech world right now – including Facebook rebranding as Meta, the increasingly noisy conversation about privacy, and recent leaks that have shocked the world – we felt it was a timely conversation to consider how we use the Internet and social media, and why we might want to review the browsers, search engines, tools, platforms and apps that we use.

We talk about digital minimalism, social media holidays, managing Twitter and removing all followers (and why that is beneficial but sometimes problematic). We talk data, tracking and advertising. We also ponder over the value we get back from sharing our lives with the world. Of course, these are themes that have possibly entered the realm of death, funerals, and pensions – we don't like to talk about them. It's often easier to ignore, hoping that the issues will go away.

But the elephant in the room is that millions of us are suffering from "online fatigue" and we're increasingly worried about our mental health, weekly screentime and privacy. As such, many of us are looking for an escape from this digital world. Never mind the metaverse, if you've been thinking about how you use apps, how you email or browse the web, then Dave will definitely leave you something to think about.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

Describing herself as a "maker of things", Danielle Rhoda is a freelance illustrator and animator based in Manchester, UK. Originally from Poland and "partly raised" in Nottingham, she calls herself a northerner at heart after graduating from the Manchester School of Art in 2018 and deciding to settle in the city. We talk about how she's finding self-employment so far, especially during lockdown. We also talk about dystopian fiction, zombies, cycling, and surviving a creative career as introverts.

Change is inevitable. We all understand nothing stays the same for long. But right now, change can feel like it's happening at a terrifying rate as the world continues to surprise and shock on what feels like an hourly basis. The only thing we can be sure of is that we can't be sure of anything.

Change feels like it's been a running theme since the global pandemic, and now many of us are feeling pretty damn exhausted, fed up with everything shifting under our feet. To offer a positive slant, though, this week's guest is Metz ti Bryan, co-founder and production partner at The Or, a creative agency she launched in 2021. Part of the Mother Family, its core values are celebrating curiosity, rewarding empathy and encouraging independent thinking. And it is built on this premise – that change is something to embrace and behold.

Metz, herself, is someone familiar with change. She grew up in Latin America, later Canada and then moved to the UK in 2012, working at leading agencies such as adam&eveDDB, McCann London, and BBC Creative.

Her career has been about learning to pivot and adapt to the times. Change has been healthy for her, making her believe we should all be open to change. That adaptability is one of the most significant traits we can have to cope with the ups and downs of modern life, thrive in our careers, and even help make the world a better place.

This week, we sit down with Kwame Taylor-Hayford, the new president of D&AD and co-founder of Kin in New York, to explore his mission of empowering the next generation of creative talent.

Kwame brings his extensive experience from both the agency and brand sides, having worked with industry heavyweights like Sid Lee, Saatchi & Saatchi, Anomaly, and Chobani. Our conversation delves into the challenges underrepresented groups face in the industry, the need to uplift mid-career professionals, and the power of creativity in driving meaningful change.

Kwame shares insights from his own journey, reflecting on an upbringing that spanned Ghana, Egypt, South Africa, the UK, and New York, which instilled in him a deep sense of empathy and a considered approach to leadership. We discuss the importance of creating work cultures that prioritise people's well-being, embracing diversity, and the role of travel in broadening perspectives.

In our chat, we touch on the shifting dynamics of the creative industry, where employee power is on the rise, and examine the implications of AI on creativity. Despite the increasing digitalisation of our world, Kwame emphasises why human connection remains essential. He also opens up about his journey, revealing thoughts on life balance, career aspirations, and his 20-year vision for the future.

Ultimately, this episode offers a glimpse into the mind of a creative leader who is shaping the future of D&AD and striving to make the industry more inclusive, resilient, and purpose-driven. After this fascinating conversation, it feels like a much brighter future is on the horizon.

If you think graphic design or illustration are challenging industries, try filmmaking. Although technology has made the craft more accessible and affordable, opening up many opportunities for anyone passionate about storytelling, the increased competition and ongoing cultural shifts mean that writing scripts and shooting scenes is more difficult than ever.

The entire sector continues to adapt as the way we consume movies seems to change yearly, if not weekly – not to mention the recent Hollywood strikes that, although deemed necessary, certainly didn’t make life easier for those independents fighting for recognition and income.

This week’s guest is no stranger to these things. Miles Watts is a British independent director and screenwriter for Hollywood, as well as a producer. He’s made four of his own movies so far and is a co-host on a Hammer horror podcast called Hammer Heads. And whenever he can, he tours the UK to teach screenwriting and film production at schools and universities.

Miles says that he’s been making movies since he was a kid, so with everything that’s changed since the late 1970s in the film industry, we wanted to know what it takes to survive this often-brutal sector. Miles gives us a fascinating insight into his world, from the glory days of 1980s cinema to some of the best films and TV shows today.

He shares how you must overcome rejection many times over, why you must stop focusing so much on that ultimate goal, perhaps holding that Oscar, thanking all you love and work with, and instead finding joy in the struggle. I guess that’s something we can all relate to.

Kicking off our third season with Kieron Lewis, a south London-born freelance graphic designer, public speaker and Adobe Live Host, with a degree in Graphic Arts. His clients so far include Penguin Books, Levi's, and Harper Collins.

Aside from his freelance work, he's also one of the co-founders of London creative studio Olga and Kay, which he runs with photographer Olga Kott. Along with their collaborative projects, they're on a mission to give talks at local universities and colleges to inspire younger people to pursue a creative career. Kieron admits he didn't see many people who looked like him when he was in education, so wanted to do something about it.

In the coming months, a book he designed, called Still Breathing: 100 Black Voices on Racism, will be exhibited at venues across London and the South East. And this week, Kieron will be one of the key speakers at Adobe Max.

He's achieved a lot since we first wrote about him back in 2017. I met him in London in September, during London Design Festival, to chat about his decision to go freelance during a pandemic, why he loves to give back to the next generation, and how he's feeling after quite a few eventful years. We discuss the power of side projects, pushing creative skills and how to build confidence. We also talk of life getting back to normal, of dinner parties and how the world is changing for the better.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

Anoosha Syed is an illustrator and character designer for animation whose clients include Google, Netflix, and Warner Brothers.

Born in Pakistan, Anoosha has spent much of her life moving around the world, growing up in Switzerland, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and settling in Toronto. She studied Illustration in Switzerland and began her career in animation, starting on the preschool series 'Dot' for Sprout and Disney Jr before beginning to work extensively in children's books.

Her debut picture book, Bilal Cooks Daal, won an award and led to further commissions, including the most recent Rise Up and Write It by Nandini Ahuja. And this year, she was excited to have a dream come true, publishing her debut children's book, which she wrote and illustrated.

In her spare time, Anoosha co-hosts a podcast called The Art Corner, which aims to educate younger artists on the ins and outs of the art industry. She also has her own YouTube channel. As a woman of colour, Anoosha's priority in her work is always diversity; she never saw herself in the media she consumed as a child and wants to correct that with more diverse stories and characters.

Here, we talk of diversity in animation, how she's thankful for being a freelance illustrator in the 2020s when she's free to create a wealth of different characters and stories, and why audiences have more power to shape the books and the films we all enjoy. She is optimistic about the future and talks of her passion for creating children's books and inspiring the next generation. We also learn of her career shift from animation to publishing and why listening to your heart and knowing when to make a change is so important. We also hear how she moved away from her identity when she was a child, as a teacher mispronounced her name – sadly, a common issue. 

We dip into the issue of pricing and why no one is talking about money in the world of freelance illustration. And if you're an illustrator yourself, keen to find out how to get published, Anoosha gives us an insight into that often secretive industry.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

By day, Gavin Strange is a director and designer for Aardman Animations in Bristol, the people behind Wallace and Grommit, and Shaun the Sheep. By night, he's a "passion project pursuer" where he indulges in everything from filmmaking and toy design to illustration and photography. In this episode, we chat about his boundless energy, his love of giving back, why he avoids the "heavy stuff" and why you can only rely on yourself to improve your skills.

Dan Silverstone started out as a graphic designer at a "safe" council job before he found the courage to leave and join GRIN, a creative studio in Birmingham. It was there that he developed his creative skills, becoming senior designer and later, art director. Today, he specialises in motion and loves to indulge in lots of side projects via his venture, Pica. In this episode, we chat about growing up in Birmingham, switching careers to do more of what you love, and his love of video games and cyberpunk.

Simon Dixon is the co-founder of DixonBaxi, one of the world's most respected brand and design consultancies, boasting clients as big as Netflix, AC Milan and the Premier League. The London firm, which has achieved god-like status amongst the design community, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In this episode, we get a fascinating, no-nonsense insight into the brains behind DixonBaxi, and learn more about what it takes to be a great designer.

Mat Voyce describes himself as a "non-award-winning" graphic and motion designer based in the UK – not only because he hasn't yet won any awards and wants to joke about it, but perhaps to prove a point that you don't need a trophy to be a success.

And a success Mat has truly been. Specialising in 2D type animation, Mat has become known for his pioneering style that explores illustrative kinetic typography. It's actually what made him famous, as he spent the pandemic creating simple yet positive type art on Instagram. He gained a huge following, which allowed him to raise his profile and network with the global creative community, leading to huge client wins such as Disney, Google, Nike and YouTube.

Spending so much time and effort on his Instagram account allowed Mat to flex his creative muscles and build on his skills. We wanted to chat with Mat about this rise to fame, his experience of Instagram overall and how when Covid-19 hit, he just got his head down and got on with his work. We talk of the treadmill of freelancing and how to find a good balance – even whether that's possible. We discuss looking after our mental health and the highs and lows of social media. And we hear more about creative copycats and how to cope with people who are a little too inspired by our own work.

There's a lot that Mat has generously shared here. So we hope this "friendly neighbourhood type animator", as he describes himself, brings you some warmth and wisdom this Monday morning.

Season Four of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Astropad Studio.

Our next guest is Meredith Schomburg, a Brooklyn-based illustrator originally from North Carolina. Today, we'll be hearing about the interesting twists and turns of Meredith's career thus far. Like many of us, she was told as a child that art wouldn't make a living, so she went down the more "constructive" graphic design route.

After graduating in the field from North Carolina State University in 2015, she secured an internship at IDEO in Boston, which led to her first full-time job at a small creative shop before landing the role of Experience Designer at Airbnb in San Francisco a year later.

In 2019, she joined Koto in LA as a senior designer. It was during her time at that studio when the pandemic hit, which proved to be especially difficult for Meredith but also valuable. She realised she really did want to pursue a career in art, turning to illustration as her full-time gig. Well, it's been almost a year since she went freelance, all is going well, and she's just been signed by the agency, Jelly.

In this episode, we talk about Meredith beginning her journey as a fully-fledged illustrator, having previously worked in-house at some of the world's leading brands and design studios. We hear more of how she found herself in a bit of a bad patch during lockdown and why she decided to move away from a full-time design role. And then we get to grips with how she made that happen, how she found her optimistic and colourful style, and how she kept going. And how her voice has finally taken shape.

We even talk about all that practical but necessary business stuff. Because, as a freelancer, no one really tells you what it takes to work for yourself, so she was keen to share what she's learnt on that and much more.

Jane Bowyer is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Manchester, and the person behind Women in Print, a side project that opened many doors for Jane and encouraged her to go freelance. In our conversation, we talk about her experience of running a business, share tips on freelancing in general, and chat about favourite biscuits, circus tricks, and her "Jack Nicholson eyebrows".

Our next guest is Muiz, an art director, artist and designer from Manchester who specialises in Arabic and Latin branding, editorial and type design.

Many of you will know why it's impossible to define precisely what you do. Job titles, after all, can be so limiting. It's why Muiz points out that he's a natural-born illustrator with an academic background in product design and fine art and also a qualified graphic designer working with clients as big as Arts Council England, Audi, and Bloomsbury. It's important for him to get this across, as so much of what we do influences our output.

Just as Muiz doesn't want to be defined by labels, he doesn't want to be put in any box because of his background or ethnicity. It's why he keeps a low profile online and has never shown his face on social media or the web.

Despite all this, Muiz has enjoyed a successful career, finding ways to network and get ahead via more traditional means. Straight after graduation, he spent 18 months working with two of the world's leading typographers – Bruno Maag and Erik Spiekermann, via Fontshop International. He tells us how that came about in this episode (and it's quite surprising).

He also reveals how he worked for the Palestine Festival of Literature for eight years. And we learn more about Rice & Gold, the creative studio he founded five years ago with his friend and illustrator Jonny Wan.

We also delve into the importance of identity and why you can be a success no matter where you're based. We cover the secrets of self-promotion without sharing your entire personal life on social media. Muiz also shares why real connections matter, as they're not "transactional", perhaps like a 'like' or retweet.

But mainly, we hear of Muiz finding himself, leaning into his strengths, and discovering that he – just like anyone else – has a real and valid voice that deserves to be heard.

British illustrators Barney Ibbotson and Stanley Chow both grew up in Manchester, and went to the same school where they became life-long friends. They’ve followed similar paths, both pursuing a career in art and design. In this episode, we chat about how they've become successful artists and share laughs on university days before the Internet, Drum n' Bass mixtapes, and keeping egos in check.

This week's guest on is Dyneisha Gross, an American graphic designer based in Washington DC, currently working at Ogilvy, one of the most respected creative agencies in the world.

Dyneisha describes herself as someone who loves to tell stories, spark conversations and solve problems, starting with paper and a good writing utensil. Her punchy and colourful work reflects her bubbly and outgoing personality. And it was also one of the things that got her noticed after university, leading to awards and recognition that put her work in front of Ogilvy and landed her that dream job.

A graduate of Graphic Design from the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Dyneisha spent her final year in the depths of the global pandemic, trying to navigate the "new normal" and finish her degree. She began a side venture to keep herself sane during that time, creating and selling greeting cards in her distinct lettering style. These cards feature many positive messages that she admits act as affirmations for living a good life.

In this episode, we talk about the struggles she's overcome, the lessons of lockdown, and what she's found has helped her get noticed and succeed in her current career. We talk about social media and how it can be a blessing and a curse. We delve into the content she creates, which shows how she loves to spread some love and positivity, helping others in a similar position to succeed.

We also talk about diversity in the industry and how she feels about the future of design. It's always great to hear from those at the beginning of their creative careers, and Dyneisha doesn't hold back.

Our next guest is Niki Groom, also known as Miss Magpie Spy, an award-winning fashion, beauty and lifestyle illustrator from the UK. Creating work that is colourful, hand-drawn, and feminine, her clients include Vogue, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Liberty.

Whether it's for ad campaigns, window displays, editorial pieces, or live events, Niki favours a mixture of watercolour paints, marker pens, ink, and fine liner. Before her venture into illustration, she was a fashion designer for 15 years, something she says helps her enormously in her career, as she has a unique understanding of colour, fabric and print.

Aside from her freelancing, Niki is part of the brilliant live-illustration LIL Collective, which brings together a selection of talented fashion illustrators who specialise in events illustration. So far, she's illustrated at venues such as Selfridges, Harrods, and even live on air for BBC Radio 1.

I met Niki in London last month to hear more about her creative journey. Our conversation threw up lots of helpful advice on freelancing, marketing, and surviving as a professional illustrator. We hear of her fascinating experience of being a fashion designer, her time living in India, and how a backpacking trip to Australia led to her first illustration commission and work with Vogue. And we dive into cultural shifts, slow fashion, and diversity in the creative industries.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

We're thrilled to kick off another season of The Creative Boom Podcast with an exclusive episode featuring someone who is undoubtedly a hero to many graphic designers and creatives.

We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Brian Cannon of Microdot fame, the legendary graphic designer behind some of the most iconic album covers of the '90s, including Oasis' unforgettable artwork for classics like Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. With Oasis recently announcing their highly anticipated reunion tour, Brian takes us on a nostalgic journey through his incredible career, sharing untold stories from the heart of Britpop.

We delve into the creative magic that sparked his long-standing collaboration with the Gallagher brothers, the rebellious punk-rock spirit that inspired his early work, and the defining moments that cemented his legacy in music history. From designing album sleeves in his bedroom to working on re-releases for Oasis today, Brian offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the art, the pressure, and the sheer joy of crafting visuals for one of the world's most beloved bands.

Whether you're a fan of Oasis, fascinated by graphic design, or love a good creative story, this episode is packed with insight, humour, and nostalgia. So grab a brew and get ready as we bring you the art, the legacy, and the stories behind the scenes with Brian Cannon.

Venessa Scott is a Manchester-based prolific artist and a specialist in creative education whose reputation and artistic practice have grown significantly in recent years, leading to two commissions for Blue Peter, one of which involved her designing a Blue Peter badge.

Venessa is also behind one of the UK's tallest murals, celebrating the pioneering work of Sylvia Pankhurst. She's won awards, become a Great Mancunian – which is a local project by Manchester College to celebrate people who have had a significant cultural and creative impact on the City of Manchester and its surrounding areas – and has been appointed as an official ambassador for The Pankhurst Centre.

But despite all this success, Venessa has gone through unimaginable suffering and loss of late. Even for this podcast, she told us of further sadness. But as always, she is positive, and full of and warmth and determination. This strength perhaps comes from having a solid family and local community. It's perhaps why Venessa dedicates so much time to helping others, as she and her sister also run Seven Three One, a non-profit organisation that uses creativity to further the education and skills of serving prisoners, ex-offenders and disengaged young people.

Here, Venessa chats about finding her voice despite the sexism or racism she has sometimes endured. About not having a seat at that mythical table and why it's important to build our own, welcoming everyone else to join us. We hear why it took Venessa a while to declare herself an artist. And we talk of her work, colour, pattern, doing what we love, having confidence, speaking up, speaking out – and why great things can happen if we let down our armour, be ourselves and embrace all the joyful wonderful things that make us unique and special.

Season Three of The Creative Boom Podcast is kindly sponsored by Capture One.

This week's guest on The Creative Boom Podcast is Lisa Smith, global executive creative director at JKR, whose leadership has shaped some of the most recognisable brands in the world.

In this candid conversation, Lisa shares her journey through the creative industry, discussing her experience leading major rebranding efforts for global giants like Burger King, Mozilla and Chobani. She also delves into the complexities of navigating cultural differences in design across the Atlantic. Lisa opens up about the challenges women face in leadership, emphasising the crucial role of building a supportive community in a competitive industry, and how authenticity and hard work have fuelled her success.

We explore the significance of brand ideas as the core driver for business growth, the cultural nuances that shape how design is perceived, and the ongoing challenge of balancing personal identity with professional demands.

Lisa shares some hard truths about whether we can truly "have it all" and what it takes to build a successful career — the late nights, sacrifices, and barriers that still need breaking.

If you're a creative professional looking for insights into leadership and community or simply want a behind-the-scenes look at someone at the forefront of design, this episode is packed with wisdom, humour, and powerful takeaways.

British designer Malcolm Garrett talks about designing album covers for bands like Buzzcocks, Duran Duran, and Peter Gabriel in the 1980s. He also shares his thoughts on technology and why his agency was the first to embrace digital in 1990. There's even some insight into what it was like to be an art student in the 1970s – we'll give you a clue, it involves a tin of black paint and jeans!

Are you just as interested in the people behind the work as the work itself? The Creative Boom Podcast takes a unique approach—it's not just about the finished project; it's about what makes creatives tick.

Join host Katy Cowan for warm, candid conversations with fascinating guests, from well-known names like Paula Scher, Gail Anderson and Stefan Sagmeister to lesser-known but equally inspiring creatives making waves in their own right.

In each Monday episode, we dive into personal breakthroughs, creative frustrations, and the human side of creativity. And now, with The Spark, a new Thursday bonus episode, you'll get a quick pick-me-up with creative news, practical tips, and listener stories to keep you inspired through the week.

So whether you're after deep conversations or a burst of inspiration, The Creative Boom Podcast has you covered. Subscribe now and join the conversation.

How do the world's most successful creatives stay focused, continuously come up with new ideas, and keep getting booked for new jobs? What does it take to stay relevant in today's competitive industry? Particularly with the threat of AI hanging over all of us?

That's what we're here to find out. This week's guest is the incredibly talented illustrator and visual storyteller Christoph Niemann.

Christoph's work has graced the covers of The New Yorker, National Geographic, and The New York Times Magazine and captured the hearts of art lovers around the world. His unique ability to blend humour with poignancy and simplicity with depth makes his illustrations instantly recognisable.

In this episode, we'll explore the essential elements of Christoph's creative process. For many of you, his approach will resonate deeply as it mirrors the universal challenges and joys of creative work. Christoph believes that the process itself is an integral part of the final artwork, emphasising that the journey is just as important as the destination.

We'll also delve into what it takes to be a successful illustrator in today's competitive environment. Christoph will share his insights on how the industry has evolved over the past two decades, discussing the significant changes in publishing that have led to fewer traditional opportunities and how the demands from brands have shifted, influencing the kind of work produced.

Moreover, we'll discuss the role of AI in art and illustration. As technology continues to advance, Christoph will offer his perspective on how this impacts the field and where it might lead us. We'll consider the importance of human authenticity and how it could be the key to thriving in a world where digital and artificial creations are becoming ever more prevalent.

But while talent can spark an artist's journey, it's relentless hard work and dedication that carve out a successful career. Christoph is here to remind us that no matter the changes and challenges, continuing to push through is what makes the difference.

This season is sponsored by MPB, the largest global platform for buying, selling, and trading used photo and video equipment. Visit MPB.com to find out more.

Loz Ives is a Manchester-based graphic designer, typographer and illustrator, and one of the co-founders of Fieldwork – a digital and branding agency which began eight years ago and has gone through many changes. In this episode, we talk about the ups and downs of growing a design studio and why staying "small" isn't such a bad option.

Cat How is a creative director and co-founder of How&How, a creative agency based in Lisbon and London. Here, we talk about Cat's adventurous spirit and how she's always followed her gut. We discover how she found herself in the field of graphic design. We talk about how what’s going in the world can impact us and why there are always silver linings to look for during difficult times. There's a lot of insight into growing an agency, too.

Jaheed Hussain and Yasmin Banks are Salford University graduates in graphic design and have recently entered the working world as freelancers. On the side, Jay also runs the Fuse Directory, a non-profit platform celebrating ethnic minority creatives in the city. Curious to hear more about their journey so far, we talk about being a creative 20-something today, overcoming modern challenges, being aware of mental health, and why they feel positive about their future.

Visual artist and author, Oliver Jeffers chats about how the events of last year affected him, putting a family round-the-world trip on hold. We also talk about how his practice has developed over the years, where he gets his ideas from, and what he has in store next. We discover, too, the sense of optimism and hope Oliver has for the future and why we all could benefit from slowing down.

Illustrator and animator Abbey Lossing is known for her delightful portraits of people, working for clients such as Google, Facebook, and The Washington Post. In this episode we chat about life as a freelancer in New York, her love of rock climbing, and why she's trying to be more mindful in her work.