Spotlight Sessions

Multidisciplinary creative Collinx Mondesir shares how his background in psychology informs a human-centered design practice rooted in emotion, empathy, and storytelling, and why those skills matter more than ever in the age of AI. ---- Visit Collinx's ⁠⁠ website⁠⁠ , connect with him on ⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠ , or follow him on ⁠ Instagram⁠ and ⁠ Behance⁠ . And be sure to check out his music with mCo....

Branding consultant, art director, and graphic designer Jamie Victor returns to the show to provide more insight on what it takes to be successful as a full-time freelancer. ---- Visit Jamie's ⁠website⁠ or connect with him on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Multidisciplinary artist and creative director Tammy Lovin shares how she blends 3D, CGI/VFX, and AI-driven visual production to create high-impact work for global brands and stand out in a rapidly evolving creative industry. ---- Visit Tammy's ⁠ website⁠ , connect with her on ⁠ LinkedIn⁠ , or follow her on Instagram and Behance . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Bay Backner, Head of Live Experiences for Decentraland and Assistant Professor of Emerging Technologies at Berklee College of Music's European campus, shares insights on virtual worlds, creative community, and her role as a leading voice in web3 gaming. ---- Visit Bay's website , connect with her on LinkedIn , or follow her on X (Twitter) . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Comic book illustrator, concept artist, and art director David Nakayama shares insights from his work on Marvel and DC titles like X-Men, Spider-Man, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn, along with his journey from video games to becoming one of today's most recognizable cover artists. ---- Visit ⁠David's website , check out his work on ArtStation⁠ , and connect with him on ⁠ Instagram .⁠ ---- Conn...

Brian Thompson, writer, creative director, and Content Manager at CreativeMornings , shares lessons on craft, collaboration, navigating fear and failure, and sustaining meaningful work over time. ---- Visit Brian's website , connect on LinkedIn , or follow him on ⁠ Instagram⁠ . And go hang out with him at the next CreativeMornings Austin event! ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Multidisciplinary artist and Senior Visual Designer at Adobe, Gabriela Iancu shares how her work, screened on NASA TV and aboard the International Space Station, blends art, design, AI, and storytelling to explore our relationship with Earth and the cosmos. ---- Visit Gabriela's website and follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

LA-based collage artist and designer Julia Walck shares her transition from working with companies like Ticketmaster, Output, and Yami to building a full-time creative business with work published and sold internationally. ---- Connect with Julia on LinkedIn , Instagram , and over at her website . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Artist and designer Steven Overturf shares lessons from building large-scale creative work with the Houston Texans and LA Galaxy, and what it takes to build a career rooted in people and purpose. --- Visit Steven's creative practice, Overturf Design Studio , or connect with him on LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok , and X . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠websi...

Lettering artist and brand designer, Chelsie Tamms, shares an honest look at running a small business, including wholesale, passion projects, navigating chronic illness, and filtering out advice that doesn’t actually serve you. ---- **Note: Due to a connection issue during recording, you may notice brief audio quality fluctuations at various points in this episode. Thanks for your understanding.**...

Joseph Soto, the Director of Art and Brand at Nickerson and President-Elect of the AIGA Los Angeles, discusses creative leadership, the power of mentorship, and navigating the business side of design. ---- Connect with Joseph on both LinkedIn and Instagram , and be sure to get involved with the AIGA Los Angeles . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Senior designer Tara McCormack shares what it's like designing for entertainment and live sports, from NBCUniversal to FIFA World Cup 2026, while reflecting on community, mentorship, and finding inspiration beyond the screen. ---- Visit Tara's website or connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Founder and Executive Creative Director of Analogue, Barry Darnell shares how he built a studio by taking risks early, creating his own opportunities, mentoring new talent, and empowering young creatives to drive their own destiny. ---- Check out Barry's company Analogue or connect with him on ⁠ LinkedIn⁠ . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Designer and Adobe Creative Apprentice Julia Heatherly traces her journey from indie game development to attending ArtCenter to now working at Rhythm Agency, revealing how curiosity, experimentation, and her signature "What if?" mindset fueled the creative path she’s carving today. ---- Visit Julia's website⁠ , or connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram . ---- Connect with Justin...

CBU professor, commercial photographer, and agency partner Christopher Kern explores how education, mentorship, and collaboration equip the next generation of visual storytellers to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. ---- Check out Christopher's photography program at CBU , ⁠his studio agency Compelle , or connect with him on ⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠ Instagram⁠ . ---- Connect with Justin Bamfor...

Former NASA engineer turned multimedia artist Tanya Gupta shares how she left a career in space for the creative world, blending technology, fashion, and imagination to build a uniquely vibrant creative practice. ---- Visit Tanya's website , or connect with her on ⁠ LinkedIn⁠ , Instagram , and TikTok . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ o...

Designer and strategist Brady Patterson shares how he went from designing for the San Francisco 49ers, USC Athletics, Hulu, and Fox Sports to launching his own studio after a layoff, building a creative career fueled by discipline, resilience, and the mindset of an athlete. ---- Visit Brady's website , ⁠his agency Distract Studio , or connect with him on ⁠ LinkedIn⁠ , Instagram , and TikTok . ----...

Rafael Espinal, President and Executive Director of the Freelancers Union , shares how he’s working to protect, support, and empower independent workers in today’s ever-evolving economy. ---- Connect with Rafael on ⁠ LinkedIn⁠ , ⁠ Instagram⁠ , or his website . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ....

Developer and designer Jason Vaughan shares his unique career path, from coding for GEICO to developing for DARPA within the Department of Defense, and how running his lawn-care business, The Turf Nerd, helps him stay grounded. ---- Connect with Jason on LinkedIn , Instagram , or his website, The Turf Nerd . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠...

Returning guest Timothy Schmidt shares how his career has developed, what it takes to break into UX design, and insights from his work as Director of Design Operations at Mastercard. ---- Connect with Tim on ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ . ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . ---- Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adobe Creativ...

Community creator and designer Rhea Rendon (aka Romi) shares lessons from her creative journey and what it took to join the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship program. ---- Visit Rhea's ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ or connect with them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . ---- Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adobe...

Illustrator and designer Sneha Shanker, whose clients include Vans, HarperCollins, Lush, The Guardian, and the BBC, shares insights into her creative process and reveals what life is really like for a creative, beyond the clichés. ---- Visit Sneha's ⁠⁠ website⁠⁠ , Instagram , YouTube , or connect with her on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Adobe user experience designer Shruthi Andru talks about the messy middle of design, what she’s learned from her career in UX, and how her wide-ranging projects have helped her better understand the creative process. ---- Visit Shruthi's ⁠ website ⁠ or connect with her on ⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Filmmaker Galen Summer talks about directing documentaries, editing for film and TV, and his Emmy-nominated journey in the entertainment industry. ---- Visit Galen's website , ⁠his company Public Record , or connect with him on ⁠ LinkedIn ⁠. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . ---- Check out the brand new ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adob...

From financial clients to big tech and AI, Microsoft's Sean Bamforth reveals how to create impact and add value to any organization and your own career. ---- Connect with Sean Bamforth on ⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠. ---- Connect with Justin Bamforth on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . ---- Check out the brand new ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adobe Creative Apprenticeship⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ progr...