The Creative Boom Podcast

For the final episode of Season Nine, we're joined by James Greenfield, founder and CEO of  Koto , the global brand agency celebrating its 10th anniversary. James reflects on a decade of building one of the most talked-about studios in the industry, from humble beginnings and "recycling problems" to global offices, high-profile clients like Amazon, and a team that now numbers over 180. We explore...

In this joyful bonus episode of The Spark, Katy Cowan and Fiona McGarva let their hair down after the main show, diving into the quirky, honest and oddly profound bits that make us who we are. From early mornings in silk gowns (or just pyjamas) to the emotional support cuddly toy that's seen it all, we explore the rituals, irrational comforts and unlikely talents that fuel creativity. Fiona reveal...

In this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Katy Cowan is joined by  Fiona McGarva , founder of  Sundae Communications  and longtime collaborator with  Shangri-La  at Glastonbury Festival. They explore how Fiona and the team have completely reimagined how they communicate with audiences—ditching traditional social media announcements in favour of handmade risograph posters, seed packets, and dir...

In this bonus episode, The Spark, our founding editor Katy Cowan reunites with  Kenny Gravillis  for a more playful, off-the-cuff chat that lifts the lid on the personality behind the creative powerhouse. With the serious stuff out of the way, it's time to talk rules, rituals and ridiculous snacks. Kenny shares the one design rule he tries not to break (but sometimes does) and how his relationship...

He branded the Oscars. Designed the iconic Ready to Die album cover. Created film campaigns for Inglourious Basterds, West Side Story, Dune and more. In this episode, our founding editor Katy Cowan chats with creative director  Kenny Gravillis , the East London-born designer who's helped shape the visual language of contemporary film. The founder of  Gravillis Inc. , Kenny shares how he went from...

In this joyful, laugh-out-loud episode of The Spark, our founding editor Katy Cowan sits down (again!) with the brilliant Emily Jeffrey-Barrett, founder of creative agency  Among Equals , to continue where they left off—with less business chat and more banter. Expect everything from shameful Brownie troop confessions and controversial creative opinions (spoiler: she doesn't think we're artists), t...

In this candid and energising conversation, our host, Katy Cowan, sits down with Emily Jeffrey-Barrett, founder of creative agency  Among Equals , to mark its fifth anniversary. From launching in lockdown with nothing but patio furniture and ambition to opening a second office in Dubai, Emily shares the real story of building an agency entirely on her own terms. They talk openly about what it mean...

Welcome back to The Spark, your extra dose of insight and fun from this week's guest. Today, Adrian Carroll of  D8  returns to answer a few quick-fire questions—and as you'd expect from someone with decades of experience, his answers are full of wisdom and wit. Adrian shares his most controversial creative opinion (and it's a good one), the best advice he's ever received, and the one ordinary day...

In this episode, our founding editor Katy Cowan sits down with Adrian Carroll, co-founder and executive creative director of  D8 , a leading creative agency with studios in Glasgow, Amsterdam, and beyond. With over 26 years in the industry, Adrian reflects on the constant change he's weathered—from the dawn of the internet to economic crises, the rise of social media, and the latest wave of AI dis...

In this bonus Spark episode,  Emma Barratt  returns for a funny, honest, and brilliantly unfiltered chat with Katy Cowan. She takes on some of our favourite quick-fire questions — from the best advice she's ever received to the song she'd like played at her funeral. Emma shares her most controversial creative opinion (spoiler: not everything is "transformative"), the word that gives her the ick, a...

In this raw and energising conversation, Katy Cowan is joined by  Emma Barratt , global executive creative director at  Wolff Olins , to talk about class in the creative industry, imposter syndrome, and the kind of diversity we don't discuss enough. With honesty, grit, and a huge amount of heart, Emma opens up about her working-class roots in Salford, the long road into the design world, and the r...

In this bonus episode,  Liz Mosley  returns for a relaxed, thoughtful catch-up with Katy Cowan. They chat about building confidence, embracing cringe, and the joy of just having a go — plus Liz answers some of our favourite Spark questions. From the best advice she's ever received to a dream she can’t forget, Liz shares her most controversial creative opinion, the word that drives her mad, and the...

In this laugh-out-loud, heart-on-sleeve conversation, Katy Cowan is joined by branding designer and podcast host  Liz Mosley  to explore the messy, magical world of podcasting. With over 120 episodes of the  Building Your Brand  podcast behind her, Liz shares the honest truth: podcasting isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up as yourself. Together, Katy and Liz dive into the highs and low...

In this bonus episode, The Spark, we welcome back  Sam Gilbey , the pop culture illustrator whose work brings our favourite films to life, for a lighter, more personal chat. After Monday's nostalgic deep dive into his creative journey, Sam returns to answer some of our signature questions, offering a glimpse of the person behind the prints. From his controversial view on talent (spoiler: he's not...

This week, we’re joined by the brilliant  Sam Gilbey  – a celebrated illustrator known for his detailed, painted portraits of cult movie characters, iconic pop culture figures, and, more recently, football heroes. In a lively and nostalgic conversation, Sam and host Katy Cowan explore what it means to survive and thrive as a creative today — through economic downturns, industry disruption, and the...

In this bonus episode, The Spark, we welcome back  Gnome Taylor , senior creative at Grey London, for a lighter, more personal chat. After Monday's powerful conversation on resilience, Gnome returns to answer some of our signature questions—giving us a glimpse of the person behind the job title. From why kindness is the best lesson she's learned in her career, to the odd comfort she gets from even...

This week, we chat with  Gnome Taylor , senior creative at Grey London, about the resilience it takes to make it in the creative industries—especially when life starts out tough. Gnome shares her incredible journey from growing up in foster care to carving out a thriving career in advertising. With honesty and humour, she reflects on the chaos of her early years, the stereotypes she battled, and t...

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we share a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration—and this season, we've switched things up. Each Spark now features a bonus conversation with our guest from earlier in the week. Today, we're once again joined by the award-winning creative director,  Christine Smith , who returned for a...

In this episode, Katy is joined by award-winning creative director Christine Smith to explore the topic of role models and their critical importance, particularly for women in the creative industries. Christine shares her personal journey of navigating a male-dominated field, describing how she spent her early career without any female figures to look up to. This gradual realisation shaped her mis...

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration. And this season, we've switched things up. Each Spark now features a bonus conversation with our week's guest. Today, we're joined once again by Kiser Barnes, partner and CCO at  Red Antler , who returns for some quick-fire fun. Kise...

What does creativity look like in a world increasingly shaped by technology and AI? In this episode, Katy Cowan speaks with  Kiser Barnes , partner and chief creative officer at  Red Antler , about the evolving relationship between technology and creativity. Together, they explore how AI presents both thrilling opportunities and existential challenges for the creative industry. Kiser emphasises th...

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration. And this season, we've switched things up. Now, each Spark features a bonus conversation with our week's guest. For this first revamped episode, we're joined by Michael Johnson, the founder of Johnson Banks, who returns to have some...

Are we in a phase where all design looks the same? In this thought-provoking episode, host Katy Cowan is joined by Michael Johnson, the founder of  Johnson Banks , to explore the creeping sameness in today’s visual landscape. From swirling animations to hyper-minimalist logos, we unpack why charities, fintechs, and universities now often look indistinguishable. Is it the influence of AI, digital p...

'Twas the night before deadline, and all through the house, not a keyboard was silent, not even the mouse... Welcome to a very festive edition of The Creative Boom Podcast. As another year draws to a close, it's time to wrap up projects, reflect on your achievements, and embrace the magic of the holiday season. In this special episode, founding editor and podcast host Katy Cowan invites some favou...

In this final episode of the season for The Creative Boom Podcast, host Katy Cowan is joined by the inspiring  Jessi Brattengeier , Creative Director at The New York Times. This engaging conversation takes a closer look at the world of design, storytelling, and the culture behind one of the world's most iconic publications. Jessi shares what it's like to shape and innovate within the established i...