The CMD-Z Show

“Art for art’s sake…” or so the old French slogan goes. A topic that’s been debated for centuries, Shelby and I ask the question, “Does art require meaning?” Philosphical and relatable, we dive deeper into what really makes art art and how we can define it in order to find its truth. 

As creatives, we’ve all heard the phrase, “We’re not curing cancer.” We’re told that what we do doesn’t really make a difference in the grand scheme of things. But how can we change that? How can we use our skills to change the world around us? That’s the question we decided to tackle in this week’s episode of The CMD-Z Show. From finding organizations that speak to you to getting involved in comm...

Finding just the right story to encapsulate a client's brand and mission can be a challenge. From understanding your central themes to knowing the story's purpose to discovering how  your  voice works within the project, there are a lot of working parts to consider. On this week's episode, Matt and Shelby discuss how you can find those stories and, once found, how to tell them well. 

Some seasons are slower that others… And sometimes seasons are impacted by recession and plague. Whatever is happening to make business slow down, you have to be prepared. And beyond just being prepared… How can you use it as an opportunity to grow? 

When you’re just starting out and you finally hire your first employee, it can be daunting. But what does that look like for the person you’re actually hiring? This week, we invited Made By Things’ first hire, Colin van’t Veld, onto the podcast to give his perspective. 

In the current age (at the time of this episode's posting) of the writers strike and understanding how we can define the value of the creative services we provide, Shelby and Matt sat down to discuss how creatives can establish their worth. From finding your confidence and holding your ground, to the financial ramification of knowing one’s worth, to the value of AI… We cover a lot of ground in thi...

Getting creatives together in one space where they can learn and grow together has always been a challenge, especially once you’re working outside the realm of academia. But at Made By Things, we’ve been creating a place to do just that. In the latest episode of The CMD-Z Show, we chat about creative communities and our new instructional space, the Make Create Club. 

The term “self-promotion” can really make a creative cringe. It’s uncomfortable to just put yourself out there, whether that be on social media, through phone calls and emails, or simply creating demo reels. No one wants to come off as sales-pitchy. So how can a creative effectively promote their work while remaining true to their brand? 

Finding and developing a personal art style is a process every artist goes through. While that process may look a little different for everyone, artists all face the same anxieties, pressure, and cyclical exercise of defining and re-defining what their style looks like. We sat down with Made By Things art director Melissa Lee Johnson to discuss what this process looks like on the latest episode of...

Which came first? The money or the artist? We’ve worked on projects with a wide range of budgets, but it can still be challenging to know when it’s time to get scrappy and when we should really start to push ourselves and our capabilities on a project. In this week’s episode of The CMD-Z Show, Matt and Shelby discuss just how much of an impact finances have on creative projects and creative busine...

You've been on the same track for a long time and it's time for a change. But how? How can you alter the path you’ve been on this whole time? That’s what we asked Nils Root on this week’s episode of The CMD-Z Show.

Matt and Shelby chat with Dylan Menges about his first year back working full-time (as opposed to freelancing).

Imposter syndrome looks different for everyone, especially those working within the creative field. From being a perfectionist to doing everything yourself to becoming an “expert” for self-validation, the feeling that you are impersonating the professionals can take many shapes. Matt and Shelby discuss what imposter syndrome means to them and how creatives can overcome it.

Finding time to have a side project can be challenging, let alone really finishing one. From budget constraints to time commitments to losing steam midway, there can be a lot of challenges in completing a project outside of our usual working hours. But when your work/life balance focuses on the love of the work, this can look very different. This week on The CMD-Z Show, we sat down to discuss Shel...

At the heart of creativity sits the human urge to make things and tell stories in ways only we as individual creatives can. But, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, will that all change? What happens to the role of the “maker” when technology can also create? Matt and Shelby sit down with CJ Casciotta to discuss these questions and more in this episode of The CMD-Z Show. 

Matt and Shelby catch up with Audrey Stemen to discuss her second year of freelancing. Check out last year's episode to hear more from Audrey!

Matt and Shelby discuss what goes into effective feedback and how reviews should be constructed to help your team grow. 

Matt and Shelby discuss setting boundaries with projects, understanding red and green flags, and how to handle projects you've said "yes" to, when you probably should have said "no." If you're interested in hearing more about this topic, check out a past CMD-Z Show episode from October 2022, "How Do You Handle 'Bad' Clients?"

Matt and Shelby discuss the goals Made By Things had for this year and where we are now. This is a great episode for anyone looking to reflect on their past year and looking for inspiration on where to head next with their goals.

Matt and Shelby discuss the meaning behind being a creative director and how one can effectively lead a creative team.

Matt and Shelby answer questions about business and budgeting from young creatives, covering everything from social media, distributing work, buying and renting equipment and software, and handling financial emergencies in a business.

Matt and Shelby discuss what goes into starting a business from scratch and how to accomplish your goals on a tight budget.

Matt and Shelby discuss tax strategies for small creative businesses with accountant and tax advisor Eric Thiergartner.

Matt and Shelby discuss the existence of creative block, how creatives can break it, and how to find inspiration.