The NDA Podcast

Join your host & producer, Katie Cadwell & Hatty Wytton, as they reflect on Season 3. With a whole host of new listener stories and opinions, we look back on all the great conversations from the past 10 episodes – and talk about what’s next. Huge thanks to all our guests and contributors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pro bono work. Is it too good to be true? Some view it as a generous donation of our skills. Others as a strategic way to entice new clients. And for those who’ve been burned, believe it’s devaluing the industry. In the last episode of season 3, we’re joined by two industry heavyweights to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of working for free. Legendary Paula Scher, Partner at Pentagram, who share...

There are around 2 million posts published on Linkedin every day. Once a business platform, it has become the home of the ‘professional personal brand’. Creative leaders are fighting in the feed for engagement – chiming in with thought-leadership, hot takes and opinions of the work & world. The pressure to have an online persona (and a following to match) is bigger than ever. This week we’re a...

The creative industry loves to talk about creatives. But what about the hidden army of people that keep our studios afloat? The split of creative vs ‘non-creative’ roles is around 50/50 – but it’s rare to hear from those behind the scenes. Client services, operations, finance, HR… Seen as the vital cogs to a studio's success, but too often reduced to emails, admin, or budget police. This week, we’...

To partner or not to partner? 83% of our listeners say they want a business partner. But the reality? It’s complicated. You spend more time with your co-founder than you do your family.  How do you choose the right person to go into business with? Handle conflict when creativity clashes with cash? And what is it like for the teams caught in the middle of founder tension? In this episode, we u...

This is the episode you’ve been asking for — and the one we were nervous to record. When we asked our listeners if they’d experienced burnout, 97% said yes. Nearly a quarter have been signed off work. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a sign of an industry that’s ignoring the primary reason for losing their workforce. In this episode, we talk honestly about what burnout really looks like: physical sy...

How many disabled creatives have you worked with? 27% of the EU population has a disability. By the time we all reach 65, half of us will be disabled. But the creative industry? Surprise, surprise, that number drops to just 12%. We went on a mission to find out why — and ask some of the questions we’re all afraid to. Like, how do I approach someone to find out about their disability? What wor...

Our freelance listeners are furious – and maybe they have a right to be. Cancelled bookings. Late payments. Chaotic onboarding. Loneliness. But with nearly half of the creative industry being self-employed and studios relying on freelancers to bolster their teams, what’s going wrong? This week, we talk to two experts in all things freelance. Sadia Noor, Creative Partner at Small World shares...

With the rise in conversations around ‘working mums’, we wondered, why don’t we call fathers ‘working dads’? As we strive for equal parenting, Dads are picking up more of the mental, emotional and physical load of raising children. Juggling being hands-on both at home and in the studio. All with less parental leave, less support and less opportunity to share how they’re coping. Our two guests are...

It is a fact that multicultural teams outperform homogeneous ones. But roughly 9% of the design industry is made up of people in minority groups, whereas the wider workforce is 17%. And that’s not factoring in how many of those are in junior positions. So why are we taking so long to catch up? Our guests in this episode think there’s too much talk, and not enough action. So join us, Andy Khatouli...

80% of our listeners are only just managing financially. The creative industry has taken a pummelling over the past few years. From an unstable economy, unpredictable politics, a rise in the cost of living and staffing costs… It’s harder than ever to make money as a creative business. But how are the ‘big’ studios really doing? From their LinkedIn feeds, all seems well – but we wanted to ask them...

We're back with Season Three. Debating and debunking all the biggest secrets in the creative industry. Joined by leaders from all the best design and advertising agencies, we'll be talking about the issues usually kept under NDA – and hearing from our listeners with anonymous stories, to really hear what's going on in our studios. Tune in every Wednesday. – The NDA Podcast is created by Lucky Dip....

Join your host & producer, Katie Cadwell & Hatty Wytton, as they reflect on Season 2. With a whole host of new listener stories and opinions, we look back on all the great conversations from the past 10 episodes – and talk about what’s next. Huge thanks to all our guests and contributors. ————— Comments from:  Pearse O’Halloran / @pearseohalloran Mirella Arapian / @mek.studio Mike And...

83% of NDA followers have pitched for a project. Widely debated and often condemned, pitching for creative work is still rife. In an economic climate that gives clients more power than ever, we’re seeing a steady return to speculative work to win projects.  We want to get to the bottom of it, talking to Leo Porto & Felipe Rocha (Porto Rocha), who have publicly declared their anti-pitching...

Who has the best ideas – humans or robots? The topic on everyone’s feeds. AI is snowballing faster than anyone can keep up with, with billions of dollars being invested, new models appearing everyday, and a plethora of opinions to boot. But, how does this relate to the creative industry? Some are embracing it, others fear it, and some feel underwhelmed by it. In today’s episode, we want to underst...

Is the agency model as we know it dying out? Big office spaces, permanent teams, mandatory in-person working, rigid processes and hierarchies — all symbols of the traditional creative studios that have been pillars of the industry for decades. But the pandemic accelerated the rise of the small agency. Those working in a nimble way, remote from anywhere in the world, with bespoke freelance teams bu...

In today’s episode, we’re tackling one of the industry taboos – ageing. Joined by two creatives proudly in ‘mid-life’, Michael Johnson (Johnson Banks) & Jane Evans (Visible Inc.) we’re asking all the questions no one else dares. Hearing the statistics on age diversity in the industry, it’s obvious there are empty seats where older creatives should be. To figure out why that is, we discuss how...

This week, we want to understand what it’s like for juniors entering the creative industry. We’re asking who’s responsible for their success, and if we might be failing them. We talk to DINES (STUDIO BLUP) & Ellen Ling (LINGO) about whether the expectations we’re placing on our newest creatives are unrealistic. Can we really expect them to be multi-disciplined? What about having side hustles,...

For the first time, NDA is coming to you live from Birmingham Design Festival. Host Katie Cadwell sits down with Christopher Doyle (CD&Co) and Elise Santangelo-Rous to demystify culture in creative agencies. Alongside the BDF audience, they explore how culture shapes the intangible yet essential energy within a studio, influencing everything from employee satisfaction to client relationships....

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the harsh realities that new parents, especially mothers, face in the creative industry. From announcing your pregnancy to the daunting return post-baby and beyond — what effect does parenthood have on your career, your creativity, and how you navigate your professional life? Guests Rachel Allison, Founder of Axe + Saw, and Laura Randall, Creative Director, sh...

In this episode, we’re tackling the epidemic of copying in the creative industry. Whether you’re the copied or the copier, originality is a constant battle for creatives. We’re exploring the emotional and practical impacts of being ripped off.  Malika Favre, globally renowned French artist, is arguably one of the most copied creatives of the past decade. She shares her journey from anger to l...

This week, we’re going in-house. Asking whether there’s a stigma attached to moving client-side. And more importantly, if it’s deserved. Joined by industry experts Emma Sexton, founder of Inside Out, and Kieran Mistry, Head of Design at YouTube, we unpack what in-house creativity really looks like. Covering everything from work/life balance and stakeholder management to creative freedom and career...

In the first episode of the new season, we dive straight into the deep end. We’re talking about how we choose our clients. Join us and our guests Johanna Roca (Accept & Proceed) & Pedro Messias (OMSE) as we unpack ethical dilemmas, personal morals, and the realities of running a business alongside them. We confront some tough questions: How do we feel about industries like oil, gambling, p...

We're back with Season Two. The NDA Podcast debates contentious topics the creative industry has been keeping under waiver for years. It’s a space for unfiltered conversations about the biggest issues creatives face today. A space to challenge opinions, disagree & learn with no fears of being cancelled.    Season Two tackles everything from free pitching to the stigma of going in-hou...

This week, we're looking back on season one of NDA. Sharing all the opinions and stories from our listeners on each episode, and chatting about what season two has in store. The DICE Charter – www.getdice.co.uk – Hosted & created by Katie Cadwell Edited by James from Be Heard Original music 'Theme From NDA' by Jamie Ellul & Toby McLaren Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...