The Creative Boom Podcast

What gives a brand its spark? That little bit of magic that no one else has? Is it even possible for a brand to be unique anymore? As the world becomes ever more connected, the art of branding has never been more critical or more challenging. This week, we are talking about brand strategy with  G Torto , senior director at  Koto  in Sydney, Australia. G, originally from London and now a key player...

How does technology affect our daily lives and interactions, and  what role does design play  in making it more humane and delightful? Today, we're in conversation with Clara Gaggero Westaway, co-founder and creative director of  Special Projects . Recently celebrating its tenth anniversary, the London-based design and innovation studio is known for its work in humanising technology, creating expe...

We never really know how we’ll feel when we turn 30 or even 40. For some, it’s no big deal; for others, it can be a shock to the system. Where does the time go? And how do we keep going with work, responsibilities? How do we even stay relevant in the creative industry when so much new and young talent floods into the market every year? And what about turning 50? For our next guest, it proved to be...

We don't know where you grew up or where you call home, but we're from Stoke-on-Trent. Oatcakes, Port Vale, the friendliest and funniest people on Earth. Northern Soul and the rave scene. Shelleys, Kinetic, and Golden. And, of course, Wedgwood and Brindley. Have you never heard of it? As a kid, we'd tell people we were from Manchester because everyone knows Manchester, and it's cool. But Stoke? Pa...

We all want to lead more sustainable lives, but what about work? Are we doing enough to connect with clients that are making a difference? Do we even have any power as creatives to steer brands in the right direction if they're not quite there yet? Of course, no one is perfect, but it's great that so many companies are taking strides towards becoming more sustainable and doing some good in the wor...

Social media has come a long way over the last two decades. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter weren't just great places to connect with others; they became how we built our creative businesses, found clients, and promoted our work. But all good things must come to an end. Profits and shareholders inevitably entered the fray, twisting algorithms and features upside down. We've spent much time and...

Fear can hold us back and make us feel stuck. But if we don't face the things that scare us, how will we ever progress? That's certainly the case for us creatives. Whether we're afraid of going freelance, starting a side project, applying for that job, or making a complete lifestyle shift, embracing what terrifies us could actually lead us to happiness. And if it doesn't? Well, there's always a le...

Ever wonder how to make it big in animation when the industry is always on the move? How do you keep your focus and drive when everything around you is shifting so fast? This week, we explore these important questions with  Sean J. Cuttino , an influential figure in animation, illustration, and storytelling. His journey shines a light on what it really takes to stay ahead in a world where the crea...

We're kicking off a new season of The Creative Boom Podcast with something a little bit different. Today, we're talking about posture and how we can stay pain-free as creatives. Because let's face it, we all spend so much time sitting, working, and leaning over laptops and gadgets – perhaps getting into bad habits; it's inevitable we'll run into trouble unless we look after ourselves. Of course, w...

Have you ever seen a brand change its image and thought, 'Wow, that's bold!' or 'What were they thinking?' Today, we're unravelling the mysteries of successful brand transformation sparked by WHSmith's recent controversial trial to shift to 'WHS.' It was only a trial change but one that stirred debate. So, what can we learn from it? To guide us through this maze, we're joined by Lee Rolston, chief...

If you think graphic design or illustration are challenging industries, try filmmaking. Although technology has made the craft more accessible and affordable, opening up many opportunities for anyone passionate about storytelling, the increased competition and ongoing cultural shifts mean that writing scripts and shooting scenes is more difficult than ever. The entire sector continues to adapt as...

Before we bid another year farewell, we thought a nice festive special might be in order where we bring back some former guests from the show and see how they're all doing. We're talking motion designer  Dan Silverstone , illustrative designer  Lisa Maltby , cultural champion  Boma Krijsman , graphic designer  Kieron Lewis , illustrator  Katie Chappell , design director and podcaster  Harrison Whe...

Have you ever looked at your career and thought, 'What's next?' You're not alone. It's a common myth that by our forties, we'll have it all figured out. Instead, we might find ourselves grappling with more questions than ever before, and the prospect of change feels as daunting as it is necessary. It's something this week's guest,  Graeme McGowan , knows only too well. As the creative force behind...

Change is inevitable. We all understand nothing stays the same for long. But right now, change can feel like it's happening at a terrifying rate as the world continues to surprise and shock on what feels like an hourly basis. The only thing we can be sure of is that we can't be sure of anything. Change feels like it's been a running theme since the global pandemic, and now many of us are feeling p...

When you leave school or university, you'll likely find yourself working at any place that will have you. And later, if you're lucky and have worked hard enough, you might enjoy the luxury of steering your own ship and finding purpose and meaning in your creative field. That was certainly the case for this week's guest, Kirsty Minns, partner and executive creative director at  Mother Design  (part...

Did you know that 900,000 women left jobs because of menopausal symptoms in 2019? That's according to research by  Bloomberg  that is probably only scratching the surface. And it's something this week's guest wants to make more people aware of. Melissa Robertson is the CEO of  Dark Horses  in London. And she has launched an open-source  menopause policy  inspired by her own experience with the con...

As creative freelancers, we love what we do and enjoy being our own boss, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Burnout is sadly familiar to many of us, including this week's guest,  Radim Malinic , who wants to offer other creatives some valuable help. Taking all that he's learned from running his studio,  Brand Nu , the creative director, graphic designer, and author has just released two new...

If you've been trying to keep up with social media lately, you're not alone. Twitter becomes X, and no one likes or sees our updates anymore. Instagram's engagement plummets. And then comes Threads – is that even worth the effort these days, as the excitement seems to have died down? Not to mention BlueSky, Discord, Mastodon, and what else? It's all proving to be a little overwhelming. Here to hel...

With everything that's been happening lately, you'd think things are getting worse, not better. But here's the thing. Despite these challenging times, life has improved for the vast majority of people – from lower levels of crime to higher life expectancy around the world. It's encouraging stats like these that form the basis of Stefan Sagmeister 's new book,  Now is Better , and the focus of this...

What does the future of graphic design look like? And how can today's emerging designers stay relevant in a fast-paced world? These are just some of the questions we posed to  Paula Scher , one of the world's most influential graphic designers, as we kick off season six of  The Creative Boom Podcast . Described as the "master conjurer of the instantly familiar", Scher straddles the line between po...

It's been two years and nearly a hundred episodes since we launched  The Creative Boom Podcast . With 2023 fast approaching, we thought a Christmas Special might be in order. One that celebrates how far we've come and pays tribute to the people who helped us get here but also allows us to look ahead and consider what's next. What better way to do so than return to our very first guest? And that's...

It's our final guest of season five. Angela Roche is a graphic designer and creative director who runs Manchester studio,  Love & Logic . We've been trying to get Angela on the show for quite some time. Disclaimer alert: we're great friends and once shared an office when she was running Design By Day – a brand and digital agency that had tremendous success, working for clients such as the NHS,...

Our next guest is  Meredith Schomburg , a Brooklyn-based illustrator originally from North Carolina. Today, we'll be hearing about the interesting twists and turns of Meredith's career thus far. Like many of us, she was told as a child that art wouldn't make a living, so she went down the more "constructive" graphic design route. After graduating in the field from North Carolina State University i...

This week's guest is Lyndsay McLaren – account director at  All Conditions Media  and founder of  Neighbourhood Skate Club . Lyndsay has spent the past decade in marketing and creative communications for action sports, outdoors, fashion and lifestyle brands worldwide. We're talking Patagonia, Go Pro, Adidas, Arc’teryx, Yeti and many more. Originally from Scotland, she graduated in Corporate Commun...

This week's guest on is  Dyneisha Gross , an American graphic designer based in Washington DC, currently working at  Ogilvy , one of the most respected creative agencies in the world. Dyneisha describes herself as someone who loves to tell stories, spark conversations and solve problems, starting with paper and a good writing utensil. Her punchy and colourful work reflects her bubbly and outgoing...