Lex Talk Design

In this episode of Lex Talk Design, Renée sits down with Krista Shearer from Bespoke Careers for a wide-ranging conversation about design, recruitment, career pivots, workplace culture, and the shifting needs of the architecture and interiors industry. Krista began her career as an architect before making the leap into recruitment - a move that eventually led her to launch the Sydney office of Bes...

In this episode of Lex Talk Design, Renee sits down with Daniel Chan, CEO and founder of JoJo Ventures , a Hong Kong-based next-generation AI creative studio working across film, television, commercial content, marketing and advertising. Daniel shares his journey into generative AI, from the early excitement of tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT through to building a creative studio focused on help...

In this episode of Lex Talk Design, we’re joined by Avalana Simpson, British artist, wallpaper designer, and founder of Avalana Design - a luxury homeware brand known for bold, colourful wallpapers, fabrics, and immersive interior murals. Avalana shares her journey from working in textile and surface pattern design to building her own global creative business. Starting with hand-painted watercolou...

This week on Lex Talk Design, Renee is joined by Kyle Hughes-Odgers - an acclaimed Australian artist whose work spans painting, illustration, publishing, and large-scale public murals across the globe. Based in Perth, Kyle has built a distinctive visual language that explores the relationship between people, nature, and place through bold geometric forms and stylised figurative imagery. Since his...

In this episode of Let’s Talk Design, we sit down with Melbourne-based artist and interior designer Danielle Brustman - a creative force known for her bold use of colour, playful forms, and deeply emotive spaces. Danielle’s work spans residential, retail, and hospitality design, alongside striking art installations exhibited both locally and internationally, including at the National Gallery of Vi...

In this episode of Let’s Talk Design , Renée sits down with writer, historian, and publisher John Harms to unpack the delicate balance between creative expression and the commercial realities of writing for a living. From navigating inconsistent freelance income to working under tight deadlines, John shares an honest and insightful look at what it really means to sustain a career in writing. The c...

In this episode of Lex Talk Design , Renee sits down with designer Daniel Spat to explore what it really means to design in today’s digital world. With over 17 years of experience spanning print, multimedia, UI and UX, Daniel shares how his career evolved from traditional graphic design into the complex, ever-changing world of digital experience. What started with posters, packaging and visual mer...

In this episode of Lex Talk Design, we sit down with Brisbane-based photographer Dee Van Der Merwe - founder of Pixel Punk and a visual storyteller with over 16 years of experience capturing everything from weddings and families to global brand campaigns. Dee’s work goes far beyond aesthetics. Known for her editorial, emotive style, she has a rare ability to capture not just how a moment looks… bu...

In this episode of Lex Talk Design, Renée sits down with Damian Hinks, a long-time figure in the Australian design industry and founder of The Commercial Creative. With more than two decades of experience spanning print production, music management, agency leadership, and consultancy, Damian has spent the past nine years helping creative professionals transform their studios into sustainable, prof...

Lex Talk Design is back for season 2 and we're chatting with all the talented creatives and creators around the world, about the business of design. My favourite part of doing season 1 was talking to all sorts of design people, and hearing their unique point of view, on their specific industry.  This season, we’ll head down that path again. I’m chatting to everyone from graphic designers, art...

In this episode of Lex Talk Design, host Renee Ballard speaks with architect Bernadette Wilson about her diverse career in architecture, her insights on the politics of space, and the supportive nature of the Australian design community. They discuss the importance of education in architecture, the intersection of music and design, and the challenges of delivering projects in a collaborative envir...

Today’s guest is Desmond Chung. Desmond is based in Hong Kong, where he is the Vice President of Creative Management with blockchain and web3 specialist brand, Collectiv. Before arriving at this role, Desmond has spent the past ten years working in all areas of content creation and media production throughout Asia.  Desmond Chung’s career is anything but linear. He studied finance/law in Tasmania,...

Jo-Ann Kellock, CEO of the DIA shares her insights and strategy for how Australian design can lead product development, boost the economy and reduce waste. Jo-Ann Kellock has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) since 2015. Jo has spearheaded initiatives to enhance Australian designers' competitive success while leading organisational restructuring effo...

A photographer, videographer and viral content creator, David Leigh Dodd, is an Australian who is living the dolce vita in Rome, Italy. David gives us a masterclass in how to approach making content, from what goes in, and more importantly, what to take out.  During our interview, David shares his love of pop culture and how it inspires his creative collaborations. He has worked with everyone from...

Tamzyn Adding could also be known as the Queen of Colour. Her designs are renowned for being bold and balanced. A New Zealander who now lives in Queensland, Australia, Tamzyn draws inspiration from everything around her. Her creative process blends intuition, and technical know-how, to create stunning, vibrant designs.  A natural entrepreneur, Tamzyn has navigated the complexities of the business...

Retail design direction will split into two distinct categories, those who use AI and those who don't. In 2025, Renee predicts we'll see two distinct trends in retail design emerge; brands that rely on AI for design direction, with their stores reflecting the latest (global) trends. And brands that will double-down on their commitment to solely express their unique DNA in 3D. Follow Lex...

With over 15 years experience in the events' industry, Samantha Hobbelen is the creative force, and founder, behind Sapia Creative. Samantha is a natural entrepreneur, and she shared with us how she's applies her creativity, both conventionally and unconventionally, in building her brands. Samantha also took us through her creative process;  how she starts with the big picture vision, an...

With over 30 years as a CPA accountant, business owner and business adviser, working from Melbourne, Australia, Damian O'Donnell has worked with countless clients and companies, streamlining their finances and helping them to fortify their future. Damian has worked with all sorts of industries, including the design and creative fields, so he has firsthand insight into what makes our industry...

Chatting with Ruby was a great reminder to fall in love with design, and fall-in with the community who loves what you love. Ruby has not wasted a second since joining the Australian design industry. She's won the Dulux 37th Colour Award in the student category, and was a two-time finalist in the 38th Dulux awards. She was also honoured as a Design Institute of Australia - Graduate of the Yea...

Hello and welcome to Lex Talk Design. I’m your host, Renee Ballard and I’m a Design Strategist with Lex Design Agency. We specialise in retail design, but that’s only one part of the vast and varied world of the creative industries. We’re speaking with all the talented creatives and creators, to find out their unique perspective, and firsthand experience, of working in the business of design. We&a...