The Creative Condition podcast

Flow is a creative agency specialising in animation, film and video production. I'm joined by founder and Creative Director Karl Doran who shares a great story of yet another unconventional, longer route into the arts. Karl discusses the recent run of awards, how the work of Barney Ibbotson in the studio windows brought in a crucial job for Arts Council England and why it's essential to create a d...

The FIFA world cup is a cocktail of emotions, memories, opportunity and athletic prowess, but without the visual decadence we've had over the years, what would those memories be? Gordon Reid of Middleboop and Callum Stephenson created the wonderful 'Weird World Cup' following a throwaway conversation in a London pub. 20 visual communicators have designed 20 beer mats with their favourite weird wor...

The third and final episode in the collaboration with the National Festival of Making. Travelling through cultural traditions, time and generations of family members, Dawinder Bansal collaborated with home-based artisans and the small businesses that ensured a 1980s wedding in Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities went ahead with the unforgettable sensations that Bansal remembers from her...

You don't need to opt back in on this show. In collaboration with the Association of Illustrators, I'm joined by Silvia Baumgart who answers many questions from a panicked creative freelancer. Look no further that episode x3, GDPR exposed. Relax and take a breath.http://theaoi.comhttps://jwssllp.com/http://illustrationweb.comhttp://heartinternet.co.uk

The debut Arrest All Mimics video podcast is live and here's a teaser of my guest, LJB Studio's Laura Boast and what you can expect. To enjoy the full episode and visual treats on offer as we discuss Laura's journey, love of print, childhood art crimes and brand new magazine, Design Giving, head to https://youtu.be/x6jcQSJX4_Y now. The film is directed and filmed by Jake Powell Videography. Specia...

Martyn Ware joins me on the second of three special podcast episodes in collaboration with the National Festival of Making. We're waking the ghosts of Tony's Empress Ballroom, home of the Northern Soul all nighter for the wonderful 'Church of Rare Souls' soundscape. As part of Art in Manufacturing season 2, an electronic music pioneer takes us on a journey, explaining why retaining creative integr...

In an exciting collaboration with the fantastic National Festival of Making, celebrating the UK making industry, comes the first of three special episodes covering Art in Manufacturing season 2.Crossing seven of the UK's most adventurous artists with the machinery of Lancashire's premier industrialists, Im first heading to Darwen's Ritherdon, where artist and sculpture maker Nicola Ellis is collab...

As founder of Studio DBD, Dave Sedgwick joins me to discuss his journey as a graphic designer, art director and creative director. Working with a broad range of clients, Dave details the importance of honesty in design, listening to problems in order to arrive at the best solution for the clients and a philosophical tale of force fed sponge pudding. Full of insights, tips and hilarious lessons alo...

On the surface, Typographic Specimens is a collection of extraordinary creatures made entirely out of letterforms, numerals and punctuation marks. But behind this beautiful book is a fascinating tale of the Reverend Jackson Whitehead and his adventure aboard the HMS Pica, sister ship to HMS Beagle, which famously carried one Charles Darwin. I'm joined by A.W. Bainbridge, a lecturer in Graphic Comm...

Jack Renwick Studio is an independent branding and design agency in London. I chat to founder Jack Renwick about her journey from Glasgow roots, the challenges she encountered in making sense of the creative industry and her special design shoes. Now working on major projects worldwide, 'Make It Different, Make A Difference' is more than just a slogan. We discuss work ethic, the traits Jack looks...

Charles Williams takes us into his geometric, isometric, 3D, surreal type and illustration playground. His fascinating work tests the mind with its stunning depth, finesse, colour palettes and has graced the likes of Adobe, Wetransfer and The New York Times. Charles joins me to share the journey, from being, in his own words, 'a clever little shit' drawing 3D type at school, he took an interesting...

An exclusive conversation with iconic graphic designer Malcolm Garrett as part of the first in the new X series of unplanned episodes. Released on the day that the 'Orgasm Addict Reframed' exhibition opens at the G.F Smith Show Space in central London, I talk to Malcolm in the midst of hanging the work about his roots, early punk days, work in music and the benefit of restriction. Malcolm shares h...

Who are you? What do you do for pleasure? What are you drawn to and from where do you get your sense of identity? It's one of the most valuable things we have, the thing that sets us apart and brings us together for all the right reasons, our armour in the arts. Photographer Owen Harvey joins me to discuss why his portfolio is 100% personal passion work, how he developed his iconic projects docume...

Gail Armstrong's intricate and stunning paper sculptures have formed the basis of many iconic campaigns, editorial features and intriguing artworks. I visit Gail's studios to see the inner workings and hear her story, from studying in Glasgow to working as a graphic designer and the origins of her unique artwork style. We talk confidence, quiet spells, Kleenex and befriending Amazon delivery peopl...

I'm joined by Sharm Murugiah, London based illustrator. Sharm's journey is an intriguing one and we discuss resistance to pursuing an art or design career path from parents and peers, comic book influences and the surreal aspects of his stunning artwork. Sharm's Little White Lies cover adorned a D&AD award winning issue and he shares the story. A longer journey to pursuing his passion of drawi...

Katy Cowan joins me to discuss Creative Boom, the online magazine she founded and has just rebranded. The platform covers projects, people and news stories right across the creative industry and has evolved over the years to become one of the major showcases for new and established artistic talent. What makes for a news worthy piece of work? How did the magazine start and grow and how does Katy fe...

With a kick start by The Guardian assignments, Olivier gets deep into his mind-bending cache of stories throughout his reportage illustration career. What happened when he joined a journalist at the home of a Mafioso supergrass with a contract on his head? We hear all about his important work in his new book Escaping Wars and Waves having spent time in the refugee camps of Cos, Calais and Iraqi Ku...

Olivier Kugler's much loved style of reportage illustration has taken him on an unbelievable ride. In part one of the 100th special two-part show, he guides us through his formative days of working out his place in the art world, studies in New York City and early people drawing in Hamburg's Reeperbahn. Olivier details his early work with The Guardian and the impact it had on his creative directio...

Gary Mansfield was sent to prison. It was in there that he fell in love with art. He shares his fascinating journey and we discuss the details of his early life and the dangers of no belonging or identity. Now, he curates shows and creates his own art exploring themes of identity, understanding others and tells some hilarious tales of how his 'Walk A Mile' project has been received by the younger...

Sarah Peters loves to draw. She follows the heart without overthinking and this has led her to creative work in various disciplines, including directing, drama and marketing. She has aspirations to enter the illustration world and her work is certainly taking her that way. We discuss why it's important for some people to take the unplanned route, to take time and arrive at places in natural time....

Tomato's creative work is globally respected for its timeless, soulful, forward thinking innovation. One of the key components to their work is Graham Wood. A graduate of Central Saint Martin's, Graham discusses the benefits of the freedom to explore at art school, how working other jobs before his creative education played a key role in his journey, work with the band Underworld and the beginning...

Kate Forrester is a hand lettering specialist and illustrator. Her work has graced the covers of many books and many other projects including murals. I meet her to hear the story, how her distinct and hugely popular lettering originated and developed. Like many of us in the creative industry, Kate took a slightly skewed route to where she is today and she explains the role her ambitions to be an i...

Change. It's a frightening word at times. Jay Taylor built a successful career as a freelance illustrator and over ten years worked with The Guardian, Channel 4, Mixmag and many other major clients. Then he began lecturing at Coventry University and with the financial pressure off, began to explore his personal paintings on a deeper level. After successful shows, he has evolved and committed to a...

Kim Vousden is a typographer, graphic designer and image maker. I join her in her London studio to talk about letterpress, typography and good design practice. Why is it essential to know the rules before breaking them? How has the analog language of type seeped into modern mainstays like Adobe InDesign and why is process and space so crucial to creating great design? Kim treats us to the beautifu...

The imposter syndrome, the week on week confidence rollercoaster, the baggy, knackered hoodie we creep out to the shop in. There are many battles we fight in the pursuit of a creative career, but the biggest of all is against ourselves. Personal impact specialist, Jodi Goldman joins me to discuss maximising what we already have in our arsenal. In an industry where individuality and character are c...