My Life In Design Podcast

In this bonus episode, recorded live at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity, Claire met up with Roger Sho Gehrmann, the VP of Partnerships at MassiveMusic. One of the pioneers of audio branding, MassiveMusic shapes brands through music, sound, and voice, including names like TikTok, L’Oreal, Colgate and Philips. Roger has become known as 'the sonic branding guy’ and here he shares...

In a bonus episode, recorded live at the Northern Design Festival, Claire met up with Emma Barratt, global ECD at Wolff Olins. One of the industry’s most trusted leaders in branding, she speaks regularly on global stages and heads up juries at places like D&AD, The One Show and the LIA Awards. She leads large-scale brand transformations for some of the world’s most influential companies, inclu...

In the last episode of series 9, Claire met up with Laurence Bendjenad, Creative Director of the brand design agency Lonsdale in Paris. Laurence talks through her journey from dropping out of her law degree to finding her passion in design. She talks about working for some of the best CPG brand agencies and the opportunities to travel and live in San Francisco and NYC.  LINKS: Red Setter Dba Lonsd...

This week Claire meets up with legendary designer Michael Johnson, founder of brand design consultancy Johnson Banks. He’s known for defining and designing brands that make a difference, such as UCL, Shelter, Jodrell Bank, University of Cambridge, RIBA and the UN Climate Change Conference - COP26. Michael speaks design conferences around the world, teaches at leading institutions including Ravensb...

This week on the podcast, Claire sits down with Jessie McGuire — Managing Partner of the independent design & creative studio Thought Matter. This year’s winner of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Communication Design.  With a career spanning some of the most respected studios in the industry, Jessie has built a reputation for shaping work that is not only beautifully crafted, but e...

This week Claire met up with Sarah Williams - President of AIGA NY, where she champions the future of design for all, and co-CEO of branding agency Beardwood&Co. An award-winning creative leader, she has been recognised by the DBA Effectiveness Awards, The Clio Awards, and PAC Global, and has worked with brands including Hyatt Hotels, Yankee Candle, Pottery Barn, Corona, and Bath & Body Wo...

This week on the podcast Claire, sits down with Kiser Barnes, chief creative officer and partner at Red Antler. The episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Red Antler’s new Manhattan studio.  From startups to Fortune 100 brands, Kiser has helped shape some of the world’s most recognisable companies, including Google, LVMH, Crocs, Delta Airlines, Calvin Klein and McKinsey. A Cannes Lion...

On the podcast this week Claire met up with Mitch Monson, executive director of creative and partnerships at Sibling Rivalry. An award-winning creative leader, his work has been recognised by organisations including the Clio Awards, Art Directors Club and the Broadcast Design Association, and he has received three Emmy Awards. Mitch has led brand and broadcast campaigns for global clients includin...

Content warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse and substance abuse (timestamps 03:07 - 06:23) On the podcast this week Claire met up with James Martin, an award-winning designer, author of The Honest Guide to Creativity and Logo Design, and founder of the studio Made By James. He is known for his distinctive brand identities and straight-talking creative education. Through his...

This week Claire met up with Paul Watmough-Halim and Jan Stein, the co-founders of the brand studio Hyperfocus.  Paul was named by Creative Boom as one of the top creatives of 2025, and has spoken around the world with Jan at festivals such as D&AD. Paul was head of design at clothing brand Bench and has worked on German media channel Funke and the Olympic Games for Coca-Cola. Jan has worked o...

The award-winning Rejane Dal Bello, founder of Studio Dal Bello, joined host Claire Blyth at a live audience recording at D&AD’s headquarters, talking about her book ‘Citizen First, Designer Second’ and its unique perspective on design.  On the podcast Rejane shares her design journey through her book, with insights, and advice for designers who want to make a meaningful impact.  She discusses...

In the first podcast of series 9, Claire met Samar at Pentagram’s new London studios for a wide-ranging conversation on design, culture, and global identity. Samar is known for her creative, multilingual approach to design, working at the intersection of cultures. Her work spans major global projects - from city rebrands such as Dubai, to launching Apple’s brand in Arabic, and campaigns for many c...

In the last of the series, Claire sat down with Phil Jones, a true design innovator and a major force in the UK’s creative, digital, design and sports industries. Now best known as the founder of the invite-only Podge Lunches, Phil is also a mentor, consultant, and former MD of leading digital and typography agencies. He’s a pioneer of digital design and was voted into the BIMA Digital Hall of Fam...

This week, Claire is joined by Helena Raven, managing director of brand design and innovation partner Bloom. She has helped shape work for major brands such as McVitie's, KP snacks, Tango, Heineken, Talisker and Virgin Atlantic. Helena shares her early career as a professional ballet dancer, and how an injury redirected her path into marketing, comms, and ultimately brand design - via roles i...

This week, Claire sits down with Jono Holt, founder of the communications and design studio Otherway. Founded in 2013, the agency now boasts a 75-strong team across London and New York, known for building brands such as Lucky Saint and Butternut Box, creating standout work for Smythson, Hylo, Strongbow, and Deliveroo, and nurturing long-term partnerships with icons like Fortnum & Mason. Links...

This week on the podcast, Claire is joined by Radim Malinic, creative director, designer, podcaster, and bestselling author. As the founder of Brand Nu and Brand Nu Books, Radim has worked with global names like Harry Potter, Adidas, and the London Film Museum. A regular keynote speaker at events including OFFF, Adobe MAX, and TEDx, he’s the author of six acclaimed books, with his seventh arriving...

Recorded at London Packaging Week, Chloe Templeman, ECD at Pearlfisher, joined Claire on the podcast to talk about her life in design so far. Chloe leads the creative vision of the London studio overseeing a diverse portfolio of brands across food & beverage, beauty, tech, healthcare and lifestyle. Her work during her career includes clients such as Fortnum & Mason, Smirnoff, Lipton Iced T...

This week, we’re coming live from Transform Tuesday at the Crown & Two Chairman pub in London’s Soho, with Simon Dixon, co-founder of DixonBaxi.  Simon shares his journey from setting up his first agency straight out of an art foundation course, to where he is today running one of the best known branding agencies.  He gives great advice on how to get noticed as a young person entering the indu...

Recorded at FutureBrand’s Amsterdam HQ, Queenie Lo, President of Spatial Design, joined Claire on the podcast to share her life in design so far. Queenie leads the global team to create immersive, insight driven brand experiences across retail, hospitality, and branded environments for global clients including LVMH brands such as Sephora and YYX, McDonald’s, Bentley, Bottega Veneta and Adidas. Lin...

Joining the podcast this week is Christoph Lindner, President and Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art. Recorded at the RCA’s innovative Battersea campus, Claire and Christoph have one of the most sensible and thought-provoking conversations about the wide-reaching possibilities of design and creativity in every aspect of our lives and work. Christoph shares his design journey – from a libe...

Joining the podcast this week is James Greenfield, CEO and co-founder of Koto. James co-founded Koto 10 year ago, from humble beginnings in the corner of his friend Mr Bingo’s studio, to Koto’s global expansion with studios in London, Berlin, LA, New York and Sydney and clients including Amazon, Google, Spotify and Uber. James shares his design journey - from the life-changing work experience at 1...

Recorded with an audience live at D&AD’s London HQ, Lisa Smith, the new D&AD President and Global Chief Design Officer at Uncommon Creative Studio, joined host Claire Blyth, to share her life in design so far, which is nothing short of inspiring.  On the podcast Lisa talks about her first steps into graphic design, from foundation art to knocking on doors to get a job, then time at agencie...

In this bonus episode recorded live at New Designers, Claire speaks with ceramicist, designer, and curator, Peter Ting about his life in design. Renowned for work that fuses Eastern heritage with Western elegance, Peter has collaborated with brands like Asprey and Thomas Goode, founded the Ting Ying gallery, and is featured in major collections worldwide – including the V&A, where his celebrat...

In the final episode of this series, Claire sits down with Tosh Hall, global chief creative officer at JKR, an agency that has been recognised as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies and winner of multiple top design awards, including Creative Review’s Design Studio of the Year and Ad Age’s A-list Design and Branding Agency. Tosh has been named one of Ad Age’s most creative people and h...

In our latest episode, Claire speaks to Helen Keyes, who was most recently the global head of brand, communications and digital design at Philips, where she was also part of the award-winning Philips Design leadership team. She has contributed to major brands along the way including Royal Mail, Mazda, Scandinavian Airlines, and the Ford Motor Company. Helen shares her life in design so far and som...