The Quickie - Conversations with Designers

Today's guest is Andrea Van Der Ree. She is the CoFounder of Ok Dave out of Vancouver BC. During this episode we talk about: -the Ok Dave Studio startup story.  -growing up in Venezuela and her move to Canada 10 years ago. -some differences between the design scene in Venezuela and Canada. -the designer who's work she loves and why.  -what it is like to experience your designs in print.&...

Today's guests are Cinthia and Ben. They are Owners and Muralists at Chalk and Brush out of Miami FL.  During part two of this interview we talk about: -the mural project they are working on that consists of fice city blocks of murals. -the top three proejcts they are so proud to have been a part of and why. I'll give you a hint... Shake Shack, Starbucks, and Spotify. -more lessons learned in...

Today's guests are Cinthia and Ben. They are Owners and Muralists at Chalk and Brush out of Miami FL.  During part one of this interview we talk about: -their completely different backgrounds and how they came together, and the formation of Chalk and Brush. -the first chalk job Cinthia ever had and where it came from.  -the Cuban magazine that really influenced her. -Ben's creative influ...

Today's guest is Tom Ross. He is a freelance designer turned CEO at DesignCuts out of London in the UK.  During this episode we talk about:  -his creative childhood and as soon as he could "design", he started making money from it anyway he could. -his transition from freelance designer to CEO of DesignCuts. -his first taste of Photoshop. -the growth of DesignCuts and the sacrifices he h...

Today's guest is Israel Pargas. He is a 3D artist, designer, and owner at Vanquish Design our of Newbury Park CA.  During this episode we talk about: -how he was born in Mexico and moved to the US around 8 years old.  -his father being an architect and how that shaped him.  -the creative entrepreneur that he follows closely and why.  -the hand-illustrated packaging project he w...

Today's guest is Tracie Ching. She is a Freelance Illustrator out of Washington DC. Even though she is a super busy mom with three kids, she is hustling and has had the opportunity to work with Michelle Obama, Star Wars, John Wick, Lizzo, Captain Marvel and so many more! During Part Two of this episode we talk about: -why the last 18 months have been the toughest time in her career.  -not say...

Today's guest is Tracie Ching. She is a Freelance Illustrator out of Washington DC. Even though she is a super busy mom with three kids, she is hustling and has had the opportunity to work with Michelle Obama, Star Wars, John Wick, Lizzo, Captain Marvel and so many more! During Part One of this episode we talk about: -how she is from a family of makers.  -her lifestyle design and having her e...

Today's guest is David Saracino. He is an Illustrator and Visual development artist out of Brooklyn NY. His work has been featured in the NY Times, Washington Post, The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal and he has worked with HUGE Inc., Target, Google Android, Facebook, and more. During Part Two of this interview we talk about: -the four most challenging times in his career, what the obstacles were,...

Today's guest is David Saracino. He is an Illustrator and Visual development artist out of Brooklyn NY. His work has been featured in the NY Times, Washington Post, The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal and he has worked with HUGE Inc., Target, Google Android, Facebook, and more. During Part One of this interview we talk about: -his childhood moving from Buffalo to Italy and the cultural influences...

Today's guest is Derek Friday. He is an experiential designer working as Finndustry out of Boulder CO.  During part two of this episode we talk about: -the german company that he does work for, how that came to be, and the large format prints that he does for them.  -how ultra-marathon running helped pull him out of a challenging period in his career.  -a project in Poland that he w...

Today's guest is Derek Friday. He is an experiential designer working as Finndustry out of Boulder CO.  During part one of this episode we talk about: -how he originally trained as an architect. -his adventures as an ultra marathon runner. -his journey from architect to experiential designer.  -the artist that influenced him early on and what Derek used to collect. -print - loads of stuf...

Today's guests are Morgan and Marc. They are Partners and Designers at Bamff Studio in Calgary AB. During this interview we talk about: -the creation story of Bamff Studio, how they met, and how the two freelancers teamed up.  -the album cover artwork that really stuck with Marc. -the logo and designer that was influential to Morgan.  -the packaging "oops" Marc made and what he learned....

Today's guest is Jon Kutt. He is a Graphic Designer working as The High Road Design out of Kitchener ON.  During this episode we talk about: -his gigposter days. -how he got into graphic design while he was a bar manager.  -that he is actually red/green color blind. -the projects he worked on for Blackberry.  -the challenge of learning to work directly with clients.  -the Syman...

Today my guest is Josh Lewis. He is an Illustrator and Designer who specializes in children's illustrations out of Colorado Springs Co.  During this episode we talk about: -how he would draw NFL logos and Disney characters as a kid. -he didn't intend to become an illustrator and started down a different career path. -how he has a children's book author and illustrator in his family history.&n...

Today's guest is Erin Potter. He is an in house designer at Domtar Paper out of South Carolina. Domtar puts out some geat papers but I know Cougar and Lynx really well! During this episode we talk about: -the time he was laid off twice in quick succession and the struggles he faced after to get back on track. -the instructor that taught him Quart Express back in the day and how that really lit his...

Today's guest is Benjamin Howes. He is the Founder and Commander of Graphics at Howes Design Service in Columbus OH.  During this episode we talk about: -how his mom was a designer and his grandfather was an architect and their influence on his creative childhood.  -his band poster intro to design.  -the one logo that stuck out to him, why, and what it symbolizes.  -the deeper...

Today's guest is Sean Adams. He is the Chair of the Graphic Design Program at the Art Centre College of Design. He is also a published author, a two-term President of AIGA National, and Founding Partner of Adams Marioka Inc. where he spent over 20 years.  During Part Two of this episode we talk about:  -the tough decision he had to make about leaving his agency of over 20 years to go ful...

Today's guest is Sean Adams. He is the Chair of the Graphic Design Program at the Art Centre College of Design. He is also a published author, a two-term President of AIGA National, and Founding Partner of Adams Marioka Inc. where he spent over 20 years.  During Part One of this episode we talk about:  -his transition from teaching from agency life.  -his free-spirited creative pare...

Today's guest is Robert Almeida. He leads graphics at SB Architects but also side hustles with motivational hand lettering at DudeBeAwesome out of Miami FL.  During this interview we talk about: -what design and the creative field is like being color blind.  -how a bad breakup led to the motivation he needed and the start of DudeBeAwesome.  -how his grandparent's photography and art...

Today's guest is James Martin. He is the founder of Baby Giant Design Co out of the UK.  During this episode we talk about: -the arts foundation year that introduced him to Graphic Design and how that career path ticked all the boxes for him.  -the design movemwnat that was very influential to him and why. -the printed look book he created for his own company, why he did it in print, and...

Today's guest is Ron Burrage. He is the Sr. Director, Head of Design at PepsiCo Beverages North America.  During part two of this episode we talk about: -his time and Hershey and how one of their logos accidentally represented something else to other people.  -the Disney project he was a part of that he is so proud of and why.  Ron is such a great guy to chat with and isn't afraid o...

Today's guest is Ron Burrage. He is the Sr. Director, Head of Design at PepsiCo Beverages North America.  During part one of this episode we talk about: -how Ron is a theatre junkie and a big fan of beauty and fashion photography and creative. -how artist Aunt Gloria helped him flick that design and creative switch for him.  -the type of design that was influential to him.  -how Pep...

Today's guest is Tyler Pate. He is the designer behind Tyler Pate Design Co. and the mind behind the Creative Pain.  During this episode we talk about:  -how he used to rip off logos in Microsoft paint. -his move from freelance, to studio life, and back to freelance, and why.  -the product he made as a kid that ended up becoming his first design project.  -the last 4 months sin...

Today's guest is Armin Vit. He is the CoFounder of Under Consideration and the Brand New Conference as well as a Graphic Designer.  During Part Two of this episode we talk about: -the struggle that the recession threw at them just when they thought things were steady.  -a project he was a part of for a golf course in China and why it didn't go as planned.  -the struggle with committ...

Today's guest is Armin Vit. He is the CoFounder of Under Consideration and the Brand New Conference as well as a Graphic Designer.  During Part One of this episode we talk about: -the band logos he doodled for years before pursuing Graphic Design. -what really lit the design fire for him and why it took until the third year of his design degree.  -the Under Consideration startup story. -...