Brand Design Masters - Personal Branding, Creative Entrepreneurship, Small Business Marketing & Career Success for Designers and Content Creators

What does it take to stay creative through decades of career pivots, industry disruption, and personal reinvention? In this episode of the Brand Design Masters Podcast, Philip VanDusen sits down with designer, creative director, author, and workshop facilitator Erik Evans to explore the enduring principles of creativity in a rapidly changing world. Erik shares lessons from a career that has spanne...

AI is in the midst of changing the landscape of business, careers and humanity as a whole. And if you're like most creative professionals or business owners, you're probably feeling a mix of curiosity, overwhelm, and maybe even a little fear. In this episode, I sit down with certified AI consultant Mitali Deypurkaystha to cut through the noise and get practical. We talk about what’s really happeni...

ReDesigning Your Creative Career After 50 with Philip VanDusen If you’re a creative professional over 50, redesigning your creative career after 50 isn’t about starting over, it’s about building resilience, relevance, and long-term leverage.  In this episode, I walk you through a practical framework for career reinvention, income diversification, and staying professionally valuable in an AI-accele...

Most Small Businesses Are Using AI Wrong - Here’s How to Fix It with Philip VanDusen Most small businesses are using AI wrong, and in this episode I break down exactly how to fix it with practical, real-world strategies you can implement immediately. If you’re a small business owner feeling squeezed by rising marketing costs, shrinking attention spans, and increasing customer expectations, this is...

How to Stop Wasting Time - 7 Time Management Hacks That Actually Work with Philip VanDusen Many creative professionals feel constantly busy but still end the day wondering if anything meaningful actually moved forward. In this episode, Philip VanDusen explores why traditional productivity advice often falls short and why most time management systems fail to solve the real problem. The issue is not...

Navigating Career Transitions and Inflection Points Careers rarely unfold in straight lines. In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation I originally recorded with strategist and executive coach Kathy Oneto about navigating career transitions and professional inflection points. We explore why careers often evolve through pivots rather than predictable steps up a ladder, and how moments of friction...

How To Stay Relevant as a Creative Professional In this episode, I break down how you can stay relevant as a creative pro in a fast-changing industry where ageism, AI, and commoditization are real forces. If you’re a mid-career designer, creative director, strategist, or agency owner, this is about building career insurance that protects you from volatility you can’t control. I share the uncomfort...

How To Get Promoted When You Work Remotely If you want to get promoted when working remotely, this episode breaks down what actually drives career advancement when you’re not in the office every day. I walk through how remote employees can increase visibility, earn trust, and position themselves for a promotion even when their manager and leadership team rarely see them in person. In this episode...

10 Ways Small Business Can Use AI Now - and Why It Matters Brand Design Masters Podcast EP163 with Philip VanDusen Leveraging AI should be the top priority this year for small businesses and creative professionals. In this episode, I break down ten ways that small business owners and creative teams can use AI right now to work smarter, move faster, and stay competitive without losing what makes th...

Episode Overview In this episode, Philip breaks down the complete process of design project planning step by step and explains why creative projects fail long before design even begins. If you’ve ever dealt with scope creep, unclear objectives, endless revision rounds, stakeholder misalignment, or subjective “I just don’t like it” feedback, this episode is for you. Whether you're a freelancer, age...

Links Mentioned: BONFIRE Mastermind group: https://philipvandusen.com/bonfire Personal Brand Wheel: https://philipvandusen.com/pbw Brand Positioning Statement Tool: https://philipvandusen.com/brand-positioning-statement-optin In this episode of Brand Design Masters , I break down what’s really holding creative professionals back and how to move forward with clarity and confidence. If you’re a desi...

EP 160: LinkedIn Just Got Much More Important Brand Design Masters Podcast with Philip VanDusen LinkedIn just became one of the most powerful platforms for personal branding, client acquisition, and career growth. In this episode, I break down why AI search, content longevity, and platform dynamics are dramatically increasing LinkedIn’s importance for professionals and B2B businesses. AI platforms...

How to Get More Clients Without Working Harder with Philip VanDusen Brand Design Masters Podcast – EP 158 BONFIRE https://philipvandusen.com/bonfire TUBEBUDDY (affiliate link) https://tubebuddy.com/philipvandusen Getting more clients doesn’t have to mean working longer hours, posting nonstop on social media, or chasing cold leads that go nowhere. In this episode, Philip VanDusen breaks down how cr...

Career transformation isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a process. BONFIRE : https://philipvandusen.com/bonfire PERSONAL BRAND WHEEL: https://philipvandusen.com/pbw In this episode, Philip VanDusen shares a practical, experience-based framework for navigating career pivots as a creative professional. Drawing on 30+ years across corporate leadership, global agencies, solo consulting, and personal bra...

Personal Branding Power Tips In this episode of the Brand Design Masters podcast, Philip delves into an advanced perspective on personal branding, which he dubs 'Personal Branding 2.0'.  Philip explores the evolution of personal branding and discusses how creative professionals can leverage new platforms and formats, like short-form video on TikTok and Instagram Reels, to build an authentic presen...

The Best LinkedIn Video Strategy for 2025 In this episode of the Brand Design Masters podcast, Philip addresses the often-overlooked potential of LinkedIn for video marketing. He discusses the importance of understanding different LinkedIn video formats, including feed videos, short videos, and LinkedIn Live, emphasizing their unique advantages.  Philip outlines a seven-step guide to leveraging Li...

10 Mistakes Small Businesses Will Make This Year If you’re a small business owner, agency, or freelancer working with small businesses, this episode is a must-listen. I’m breaking down the 10 biggest mistakes small businesses will make this year—mistakes that can slow growth, hurt profits, or even put you out of business if you’re not careful. From ignoring AI and automation to neglecting customer...

Have you ever wondered how AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Bard decide which content to recommend? If you're a content creator looking to expand your reach, this episode is a must-listen. I recently had a game-changing conversation with someone who discovered my work—not through YouTube or Google, but through ChatGPT.  That’s when it hit me: AI-driven recommendations are a massive, untapped oppo...

How to Find a Job in the Creative Industry Landing a job in today’s creative industry isn’t easy—especially if you’re mid-to-late career. But it’s far from impossible. In this solo episode, I break down five proven strategies to help you stand out in a competitive job market, refine your approach, and ultimately secure the role you’ve been striving for. We’ll cover: • How to tailor your resume for...

Networking Strategies for Designers and Entrepreneurs Episode 152 In this episode, Philip explores how networking has evolved with the rise of remote work and digital platforms. He shares innovative, non-standard networking tactics that go beyond traditional methods such as industry mixers and LinkedIn messages.  Philip emphasizes the importance of a strong online presence and gives actionable tip...

Best Content Marketing Strategy for 2025 Episode 151 A great content marketing strategy includes more than just producing and posting as much as possible. That’s why I’m breaking down the most impactful shifts in content marketing for 2025 and beyond.  This episode dives into the strategies that are working right now—based on trends in audience behavior and the changing tools of the trade. Whether...

The Power of Brand Alignment with Brandon Coleman, Jr. In this episode, Philip welcomes Brandon Coleman, Jr., a legend in branding and strategic consulting with over five decades of experience.  Brandon discusses his journey in branding, launching a successful strategic branding firm, and writing his book, 'Brand On!: the Hidden Power of Brand Alignment.'  He emphasizes the importance of brand ali...

In this episode of the Brand Design Masters podcast, host Philip delves into the journey from designer to creative director. He outlines five key steps: gaining exposure to upper management, managing and mentoring others, mastering project planning and delivery, managing clients and presentations, and being solutions-oriented.  Philip emphasizes the importance of visibility, leadership skills, rel...

Experience Transformative Growth with Joseph Bojang In this episode, Philip welcomes special guest Joseph Bojang, a certified coach with expertise in human behavior, marketing, and business. Joseph shares his unique journey from running a marketing agency to becoming a transformational coach.  The discussion explores the difference between problems and dilemmas, the significance of archetypes in p...

In this episode of the Brand Design Masters Podcast, Philip interviews Amanda Webb, Owner of Spiderworking , who specializes in digital marketing ROI, Google Analytics, and analytics mentoring.  Amanda shares her journey from film to digital marketing, insights into optimizing marketing efforts through analytics, and the importance of understanding data for business growth.  They discuss topics in...