The Quickie - Conversations with Designers

Today's guest is Dalton Ehn. He is an Art Director at Apel Design in Malibu CA. Apel Design is a high-end architecture firm and with a tagline "Connecting People to the art of living", you know they get the importance of art and design within architecture.  During this episode we talk about: -how Dalton has also been an Art Director for YouTube personalities and their awesome kitchens. -Cerea...

Today's guest is Nathan Reuss. He is the Creative Director at R+R Partners in Las Vegas NV. Nathan has previously been Creative Strategist or Creative Director at YouTube, Google, Facebook, and Instagram. He says he traded in the Silicon shuffle for the Las Vegas hustle.  During this episode we talk about: -the possible return of jingles...and Nathan's amazing jingle voice. -how he was encour...

Today's guest is Marisol Ortega. She is a Designer, Illustrator, and Design Educator in Seattle WA.  During this interview we talk about: -Marisol studying abroad in Italy and how that lit her creative fire -a story about working on mosaics and stained glass in an Italian Church -her time at both the Starbucks Global Creative and Amazon -leaving in-house design and jumping into freelance life...

Today's guest is Rocky Roark. He is the design director at Blue Cyclops Design in San Diego CA. Rocky is also the host of a podcast called The Design Break Podcast.  During this episode we get into: -how he name is company -being fired from jobs and his tough road to freelance -the one logo that always stood out to him growing up and why -his time working in a print shop to help his family th...

Today's guest is Chad Michael. He is the owner and designer at Chad Michael Studio in Dallas TX. Chad is a designer for products of indulgence. Spirits, Beer, Wine, Tobacco, Cannabis, and playing cards. His work is incredibly detailed and his instagram is madness! @chadmichaelstudio. During this episode we get into: -his story about being an eclectic art kid who ate his lunch in the art room most...

Today's guest is Jordan Wilson. He is a freelance designer under Jordan Wilson Designs, as well as a co-host of the Creative Course Podcast. During this episode we talk about: -his go-to karaoke song  -how he moved to Portland for music as part of a band -how designing merch and album covers for the band was his gateway to design -the struggles and challenges of figuring out freelance; accoun...

Today's guest is Derek Anton, Creative Director, Designer, and fellow Canadian at Graphos in Edmonton AB. During this episode, we talk about how even at a young age, Derek would not only see great design but would wonder about the purpose behind certain decisions made. Derek also shares how he digs deeper and keeps creating and working even when he thinks he created a knockout winning design the f...

Today's guest is Steve Wahlin, he is a designer, illustrator, photographer and hobby mixologist at Ultra Creative in Minneapolis MI. Steve grew up loving music, drama, and all the arts. During this episode, he tells us how he always noticed and appreciated toy and cereal packaging. It was in college though he was really pointed in the direction of art and design. Steve shares with us the point ear...

Today's guest is Scotty Russell. He is the gentleman behind Perspective Collective and the host of the Perspective Podcast. During this episode, Scotty tells us about how he always had a notebook with him as a kid and he was always drawing and doing art. But because he was bullied through school and by his brothers, he never shared any of it. Until he did and his talent was out there in the world....

Today's guest is Amy England who is the Sr. Designer at Elysian Brewing in Seattle WA. Elysian not only has amazing beer, but the labels and packaging are always amazing. Amy tells us about the book that really lit her passion for design and art on fire! We also talk about working in teams and how her awesome crew at Elysian work together to share and encourage each other. We also talk about namin...

Today's guest is Jason Hildre, Sr. Designer at hendlin! in Minneapolis MN. Jason and I talk about Upper Deck cards and how baseball cards were where he first started noticing design. We also talk about 90's hip hop and TBT, you know it, Throwback Thursday. Jason tells us about a time in his career where he wasn't quite happy with what he was designing for his job, so he took it upon himself to cre...

Today's guest is Kiel Tillman. He is the owner, designer, illustrator, and mural artist at Tillman Creative Co. on the Gold Coast in AUS. During this episode, we talk about how surf culture, skate culture, and playing with laser cutters all contributed to Kiel's creative path. Kiel tells us about a recent speaking gig he had at the Typism conference and what that was like. We talk about how he was...

Today's guest is Jordan Coon, Partner and Designer at Brethren Design Co. in Tulsa OK. The other partner for Brethren is his brother Jeremy who lives in St. Louis MI. During this episode we talk about the remote working partnership and how they handle that. Jordan also gives us his intro to design story through punk bands and skate culture. Jordan also shares a story with us about a web design pro...

Today's guest is John Stiff, a Sr. Designer and Illustrator at Ultra Creative in Minneapolis MN. John has done it all...seasonal home decor design, design for Hallmark, mylar balloon design, in-store display design, screenprint design, food packaging, and illustration.  He grew up in a sports family but by the time he was 10 or 12yrs old, he was designing logos and patches. John and I talk ab...

Today's guest is Nick Vargas, a freelance Visual Designer living in Santa Cruz CA. For the last 22+ years, Nick has been a professional tattoo artist which was his gateway to design and illustration. He still does tattoos but has a focus on design and illustration also. During this episode we talk about surf and skate culture and the inspiration that has been on his career. Nick and I also talk ab...

Today's guest is Scott Carslake. Scott is the Co-founder and Creative Director at Voice in Adelaide AUS. During this episode, we talk about Scott's rural childhood and the creative things he would get up to on the farm. He had always enjoyed design and being creative, but there was one book that really lit the design fire for him. He tells us which one it was, and why. Scott co-founded Voice over...

Today's guest is Jooahn. He is a graphic designer and lettering artist in New York City. He is currently working at an independent publisher in their children's book division. Jooahn recently had the first book that he designed published and printed. He tells us what the feeling was like getting that book in his hands. On that same project, the first time he designed it he actually did not set it...

Today's guest is Emily Cheung. She is a freelance graphic designer and lettering artist in Vancouver BC. Her first job out of design school was with the marketing team at Whole Foods Market where she was a graphic artist. Emily tells us about the knee injury that gave her the moment of clarity she needed to start focusing on and pursuing the creative career path she had always wanted to. She also...

Today's guest is Jonny Vignola, a Visual Designer freelancing as JV•Creative and a Digital Designer at Crocs. During this episode, we talk about packaging and specifically, action figure packaging! We also talk about the strength of a brand and some of the instantly recognizable brands but just a logo or a color. Jonny shares a story with us about when his constructive criticism was not well recei...

Today's guests are Paul and Andrea Tetrault, Owners and Creative Directors at Tétro in Winnipeg MB. Tétro has been creating amazing work and serving the Winnipeg area and beyond for over 21 years now. Part 2 of this interview starts with talking about diversity and equality in the workplace as studio owners. Paul and Andrea then tell us about the most challenging time in their career so far, marri...

Today's guests are Paul and Andrea Tetrault, Owners and Creative Directors at Tétro in Winnipeg MB. Tétro has been creating amazing work and serving the Winnipeg area and beyond for over 21 years now. Part 1 of this interview is all about their stories and individual journeys to coming together as a couple and then starting the studio. Andrea was more of the "childhood art director", and Paul was...

Today's guest is Carly Fairbank, a freelance graphic designer in Vancouver BC, and owner at CarlyFries Co. Carly tells us all about leaving her day job and making the leap to go full-time freelance. We talk about the things she really enjoys about that, but also her least favorite parts of freelancing. She tells us who some of the designers that were an early influence on her creative journey and...

Part 2: Today's guest is Anna Belousova, the creative brains and hands at Byallmeans Studio in Prague CR. Anna has customers all over the world and took some time out of her business trip in California to be on the show. During this part of the interview, we talk about the commoditization of design and the importance of design. We also talk about the emotional value of design. Anna shares a detail...

Part 1: Today's guest is Anna Belousova, the creative brains and hands at Byallmeans Studio in Prague CR. Anna has customers all over the world and took some time out of her business trip in California to be on the show. She tells us that she was always drawing in her childhood and originally wanted to be a fashion designer or maybe involved with architecture. We talk about the events leading up t...

Today's guest is Jason Craig, an Independant Designer & Illustrator in Augusta GA. Golf Town! Jason shares with us that he is from the "blue-collar" midwest so design and creative was a bit of a right turn initially. He tells us about his first real design project being a 3 on 3 basketball tournament tshirt design, how he took it super seriously, but it was also the same project where he start...