Obsessed Show: Recent Episodes
Josh Miles
Obsessed Show host Josh Miles interviews some of the hottest designers—from branding and illustration, to industrial design and architecture, to learn what makes them tick.
SOLOPRENEUR OG Today on Obsessed Show I’m chatting in person with one of my best friends of all time, Torrey Dawley. This is my second in-person interview in a row, as well as another amazing creative professional from Indianapolis. Torrey started his own brand and design business back in 2006 called Sandpaper Studio. Today he’s scaling down client work with the aim of helping others harness the power of solopreneurship.
Torrey and I discuss the early challenges we both faced with scaling our businesses, the decision to go solo, and ways other solopreneurs can thrive.
Without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Torrey Dawley.
Mentioned in this episode: https://www.duffy.com/
https://twitter.com/torreydawley
https://www.torreydawley.com/
https://www.sandpaperstudio.com/
https://www.instagram.com/torreydawley/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/torrey-dawley-0bb3673/
Today on Obsessed Show we have a long-overdue part II episode with my friend, Sam Vázquez. You may remember Sam from Episode 15 of the show. Seven years later, we’re catching up with Sam about his work in graphic design, fine art, music, and now, teaching.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Sam Vázquez.
(I was trying a new thing on this episode, recording in-person with a multi-camera setup… If you tune into the YouTube version you’ll notice my camera dies after the first few minutes, but fortunately, Sam’s camera carried the weight.)
Today on Obsessed Show, I’m excited to chat with the Principal Designer of Focus Lighting, Brett Andersen.
Focus Lighting is an award-winning professional architectural lighting design firm located in New York City. The Focus Lighting team’s creative process is informed by a combined experience in theater, architecture, and design and they create lighting design solutions for hotels, resorts, retail, restaurants, museums, nightclubs, offices, and private residences around the world.
I’m excited to learn more about Brett’s role in the firm, and to chat with the first-ever lighting designer on the show…
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Brett Andersen
Today on Obsessed Show, I’m excited to chat with the CEO and Co-owner of Mancini Duffy, Bill Mandara, Jr, AIA.
If that firm sounds familiar, it’s probably because we interviewed the other co-owner and “anti-architect” Christian Giordano & Jessica Mann Amato.
I’m excited to learn more about Bill’s role in the firm, a massive project they’re working on in the heart of Times Square, and his music.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Bill Mandara Jr., AIA.
CARLOS MUSQUEZ, EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CATALYST MARKETING AGENCY
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with Carlos Musquez, Executive Creative Director at Catalyst Marketing Agency bringing his brand of creative excellence to the B2B branding space, something that is near and dear to my heart…
You may remember Carlos from episode 143, when Carlos was the Executive Creative Director of ELA.
Since then a lot has changed… we’re going to catch up on what’s new, what’s the same, and what he’s looking forward to next.
So without further ado, please enjoy this second conversation with Carlos Musquez.
On January 13th, 2018 at 8:08 am, an alert was issued to the 1.4 million citizens of Hawai'i, BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
Today on Obsessed Show, I’m excited to chat with the creative team behind the immersive and creative new VR film, “On the Morning You Wake (to the End of the World).”
On the Morning You Wake uses innovative documentary storytelling and virtual production techniques to viscerally recreate the lived experiences of people who, for 38 minutes, had to react and make impossible decisions in the face of nuclear violence.
Steve Jamison is an Emmy Award-winning, BAFTA-nominated Director-Producer, and the co-founder of London production company Archer’s Mark., and Co-Director and Cowriter of the Morning you Wake…
Michaela Ternasky-Holland is the Emmy, Webby, and Sheffield Doc/Fest award-winning storyteller and Impact Producer for the film…
Lovely Umayam is the founder and chief creative producer for Bombshelltoe, an arts collective pushing for an active exploration of arts, culture, and history to promote nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament and impact fellow for the film.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with the creative team from On the Morning You Wake.
Fredrik Öst & Erik Kockum Today on Obsessed Show, I’m excited to chat with the founders of creative agency, SNASK, Fredrik Öst & Erik Kockum. "Freddie" was adopted from South Korea and raised in Northern Sweden after being found outside a police station. Erik is a confused and misunderstood misfit genius who believes that the feeling of freedom and allowance of making mistakes is the key to creativity.
Today we’re going to talk about how they formed SNASK 14 years ago, in the face of conventional wisdom, and the meaning behind their mantra – "Make Enemies & Gain Fans."
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with SNASK.
#snask #branding #designpodcast
If you prefer audio, you can find all of the places to tune in at: https://kite.link/obsessed
Today on Obsessed Show, I’m excited to chat with the president and co-owner of NYC tech-first architecture and design firm Mancini Duffy, Christian Giordano and co-owner and design principal, Jessica Mann-Amato. Christian has dubbed himself and his podcast "The Anti-Architect" and I’m excited to dig into that statement alone…and learn more about the 105-year-old firm.
Drawing inspiration from some of the tech-forward companies Mancini works with—like Peloton, Disney, and Soho House—Christian and Jessica focus on technologies that propel the world of design forward. Mancini launched the Design Lab, which brings together designers, technologists, and clients to leverage VR, 3D Printing, Drones, Generative Design, and AI to break barriers limiting traditional design capabilities.
I’m excited to chat with them about how they recalibrated and modernized Mancini, sparking industry-wide change.
- Infusing Technology into all Facets of the Design Process
- The Creation of their software, The Toolbelt, and its impact on the industry
- AND the Future of Workplace Design
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Christian Giordano and Jessica Mann-Amato.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with interior designer, writer, and TV personality, Kimberley Seldon.
Based in Los Angeles and Toronto, she founded Kimberley Seldon Design Group in 1991. Kimberley is also the Founder of Business of Design - an online learning platform for independent designers, as well as a recurring on-air design expert for Cityline, previous Host on the HGTV series Design for Living with Kimberley Seldon.
As you may well be aware, a new trend emerged in 2020 amidst the pandemic - RV travel. #Vanlife on Instagram passed 7 million in 2020, and has continued to rise to over 10 million in 2021. What's more, an October 2020 survey reported that total RV shipments increased 21.4% year-over-year.
And we’re going to talk with Kimberley about her new interest in designing for #vanlife… I mean, I’d really like one myself…
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Kimberley Seldon.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with the founders of modern home furnishings and design brand, Blu Dot: John Christakos & Maurice Blanks.
Based in Minneapolis, Blu Dot has 12 locations across the US (with new stores in Miami, San Francisco, and more on the way). You may know Blu Dot from their gorgeous mod pieces that are all over Instagram, or if you’re like me and don’t have a Blu Dot location in your backyard, Blu Dot may occasionally grace your mailbox with a catalog.
In 2020 and 2021 their focus became updating the home office for continued work from home and the need for flexible indoor/outdoor social spaces. Today we’re going to be chatting with John & Maurice about how they’ve continued to innovate and push their design forward in the last two years, meeting these new demands without sacrificing the integrity of their products, so without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with John Christakos & Maurice Blanks.
Today on Obsessed Show, we’re continuing an unexpected trend of interviewing another lead singer. Today I’m chatting with A/J Jackson; songwriter, director, and perhaps best known as the lead singer of the international platinum-selling rock band Saint Motel… they’ve played Coachella and toured with Imagine Dragons, but imagine my surprise that their song “just my type” has nothing to do with typography.
A/J is also the founder of AVIEW, a new sunglasses brand, and the role color theory plays in his product line.
I’m excited to explore the thread from film to songwriting, to launching a product.
So without further ado, here’s my conversation with A/J Jackson.
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Today’s episode is brought to you by The Perfect Match—a game where designers submit mood boards created with Adobe Stock assets and earn the chance to play on a live game show to win big.
As designers, we pitch great ideas through visuals, all day, every day. But how well does our design communicate? Do clients and higher-ups really understand the work we put in front of them?
Well, let's find out.
Test your skills by assembling a brand-inspired mood board with Adobe Stock images to The Perfect Match, and if your skillful project is chosen, you could be featured on Adobe's monthly live streaming game show with other groovy designers, art directors, and creatives, where the winner goes home with $750.
It's free to participate in The Perfect Match, and just submitting an entry gets you a coffee for your time. Visit https://theperfectmatch.co/obsessed to learn more, and get ready to bring your design skills to win.
Thanks Again to The Perfect Match for sponsoring today’s episode.
Today on Obsessed Show I’m honored to be chatting with John Flansburgh, ½ of the dynamic duo that is They Might Be Giants. As you can only imagine my response when I received the email… “Hey, this is John F. from TMBG, and we’d like to share our Book with you in hopes that we can figure out a chat on your podcast.” Well spoiler alert, I was pretty excited to make that happen. Of course I said yes! Like I, many of you may know them from songs such as Istanbul (Not Constantinople), I Palindrome I, Particle Man, Birdhouse in your Soul, or even the theme song to Malcolm in the Middle… but today we’re talking to John about their latest project. Their new book & album, which is fittingly entitled, “BOOK,” is a collaboration between the band, past Obsessed Show guest and Designer Paul Sahre, and photographer Brian Karlsson. I was lucky enough to get a preview copy a few days ago, and as I understand, this is only one of two copies of this gorgeous book that exists… so far! I’m excited to learn more about John, the book, and They Might be Giants. So without further ado, here’s my conversation with John Flansburgh.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with industrial designer, Vikkal Parikh.
Influenced by his unique background in architecture, Vikkal has spearheaded breathtaking, mixed media narratives for some of the world's top-tier brands. These include the likes of Facebook, Adidas, HBO, Microsoft, White Castle, and more.
With the increasing surge in animation due to the limitations and inaccessibility of live-action filming, he predicts that COVID may have signaled the end of what he calls "hipster content" -- expensively produced imagery designed with an ironically bad or archaic aesthetic -- and the return of more character and storytelling-driven compositions. He's most excited about the potential for the tight integration of real-time CG with live-action.
In his free time, Vikkal can be found playing for the Hoboken Cricket Club, goofing around with his three kids, and listening to some high-energy Bollywood music.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Vikkal Parikh.
We’re back with Vigor Branding principal, host of the Forktales podcast, and author of the new book, The Bullhearted Brand, Joseph Szala. If you’re a long-time listener, you may recall Joseph from all the way back in season one.
Today we talk about his latest evolutions, including how the Grits & Grids podcast led to his new show, Forktales, and what led his to launch his latest book, The Bullhearted Brand on Kickstarter.
So without further ado, please enjoy the latest conversation with Joseph Szala.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with greeting card designer and founder of the Kate Smith Company… you guessed it, Kate Smith.
According to her website, Kate and her husband Ryan launched their first company, From Frank, together in 2012. We quickly grew the line of 50 greeting cards into a full-fledged character brand — which we won’t spoil all the details in the introduction.
In 2018, they decided to expand their repertoire of fart jokes and created Kate Smith Company — making From Frank the official animal arm, or paw if you will, of the brand.
But that’s not all… Kate was the very first intern candidate I ever met with in my first business, so we’ve got some catching up to do.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Kate Smith.
Today on Obsessed Show, we’ve got a special treat. This episode is supported by Wireframe, a podcast all about creativity and design.
I checked out an episode of Wireframe, and today I get to share this episode with you in its entirety. Like our show, Wireframe is a show made for creative professionals: graphic designers, UX designers, illustrators, and typographers.
Wireframe is hosted by Khoi Vinh, Principal Designer at Adobe and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business.
Today’s episode touches on the small world of design, through the lens of package design. We’ll go from Adobe, to Twitter, to iPhone boxes, to olive oil, and our old friend Stefan Ango, who joined us for season One of Obsessed Show.
So without further ado, please enjoy this full season 4, episode four, of Wireframe.
Search for Wireframe in your podcast app (like the one you’re using right now). We’ll also include a link in the show notes. My thanks again to Wireframe for their support.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with industrial designer, Neil Ferrier.
Neil Ferrier (who previously worked in advanced product development at Oakley) is a mechanical engineer by degree and the owner of industrial design firm DISCOMMON, which specializes in left of center bespoke goods. Aside from reinventing classic accessories like impact protectant watch wallets made with space-grade foam that hardens upon impact, to fully machined aluminum whisky tumblers, Neil's company was responsible for securing a Boeing cargo plane to land in Hong Kong, pick up millions of PPE masks and deliver them to the healthcare system in South Carolina.
His portfolio of projects ranges in both scale and industry; he's designing custom Air Jordans in collaboration with BOA and The Shoe Surgeon one day, and building portable iPhone-powered ultrasound carrying cases + accessories the next. Dynamic is an understatement.
As a fan of Jordan 1, I’m curious to hear more about these and other projects, and of course, to get to know Neil better.
Okay kids, all the way from Greenville, SC, please welcome, Neil Ferrier.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with the founders of Artifox, Dan and Sarah Mirth.
You may know Artifox from their Instagram drool-worthy workspace furniture and clever artifacts, perfect for a world where so many of us are struggling to find inspiration, while working from home.
According to their website, Artifox was born from their founders’ needs for a desk that was both aesthetically pleasing and provided a more functional and efficient work environment. And it turns out, they weren’t alone.
If you aren’t familiar with their products, you should definitely check them out, because they are gorgeous.
I’m curious to hear more about their company and what’s next for them, so without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Dan and Sarah Mirth.
Theron Skees—Designer’s Creative Studio
Nate Naversen—Themedattraction.com
Jason Surrell—Author
Josh Polk
Lecturer, Department of Computer Information & Graphics Technology
Chris Rogers, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Computer Information & Graphics Technology
No, not that Snowden… also, we’ve had a ton of snowfall at Obsessed Show HQ this week… coincidentally, not that “snowed-in” either. #dadjoke
Eric Snowden is driving the future of mobile creativity by leading a global team of designers to bring to life powerful new tools like Illustrator on the iPad. I’m curious to hear why he believes mobility is the key to the future of design, as well as his perspective on where mobile is headed for professional and amateur creatives alike.
I’m very curious about this topic of bringing our core design tools to our mobile devices, so without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Eric Snowden.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with co-founder of Handsome, John Roescher.
John Roescher is a former military vet who started the company because of a passion for the potential of the internet to explore new ideas and make connections - a similar urge that originally led him to join the military right out of high school. Once COVID hit, though they had worked with major global brands, they had somewhat lost that love.
Looking down the barrel of the pandemic and on the verge of closing, he made the hard choice to tear Handsome down and rebuild from scratch, culminating in a complete rebrand and restructuring, embracing the weirdness he loves about the web. He brought on R/GA veteran Jennifer Allen as COO to help lead the change. The resulting success was reflected not only in his renewed love for the digital but growth even during the pandemic:
We’re going to dig into John’s story of 2020, and more, so without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with John Roescher.
Okay kids, all the way from Austin, Texas, please welcome John Roescher.
Today on Obsessed Show we've got our first ever (I mean, I think it's the first-ever... once you're past 150 episodes, you have the right to forget stuff) - so I THINK it's the first-ever letterpress designer and printer, and his name is James Lewis Tucker.
You guys may not know this, but I got my start with very print-oriented design roles, and I've had the pleasure of producing a few letterpress projects, and it's just one of my favorite design touches.
Today we're gonna nerd out with James about all things letterpress, and why we might still be thinking about letterpress going into 2021.
Side note: I was (strangely) about to lose my voice during this recording, so apologies in advance for when my voice gets all wonky.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with James Lewis Tucker.
Prescott Perez-Fox is an art director, brand strategist, speaker, podcaster, and teacher, recently transplanted to Phoenix, AZ. Now a Lecturer at Arizona State University, he brings his knowledge, passion, and a few hard-fought lessons to the next generation of multidisciplinary designers.
In addition to his brand-focused design work, Prescott is the founder and host of The Busy Creator Podcast, a popular discussion show dedicated to creative productivity, workflow, culture, and technology. He speaks at workshops and conferences on topics relating to creativity and workplace dynamics, and regularly consults with agencies and teams on improving their practice and work systems.
Prescott completed his BS in Mechanical Engineering at Drexel University before heading to England's University for the Creative Arts for an MA in Graphic Communication. Prescott is also the founder of the NYC Podcast Meetup, an avid swing dancer, and veteran rugby player.
Without further ado, please welcome our third conversation with Prescott Perez-Fox.
Valerie Aurilio, General Manager, and Phyllis Murphy, Executive Creative Director
Today on Obsessed Show it's a two for one sale... I'm chatting with Valerie Aurilio, General Manager at Landor & Fitch, and Phyllis Murphy, Executive Creative Director, at Landor & Fitch.
If you're doing any design work in the branding space, there's very little chance you haven't heard of Landor, and as we record today on the evening of November 3... spoiler alert, we didn't know who won yet.
But Valerie and Phyllis are literally branding America’s future. Together, they are leading a partnership with the America 250 Foundation to execute a multi-year campaign that builds Americans’ awareness and understanding of the nation’s 250thanniversary in 2026.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Valerie Aurilio and Phyllis Murphy.
Throughout his career, Gomez has regularly shifted between live-action, animation and graphic design, cross-pollinating between the mediums to inform his design aesthetic with outside influences. While it may be common practice in the design space to stick to one lane and perfect a given discipline, Jose has found the most growth as an artist by switching it up.
He's worked for some impressive clients such Gatorade, HBO, Mountain Dew, Ford, Adidas, Slack, Mercedes, Cleveland Cavaliers and AT&T.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Jose Gomez.
Howard has a unique design point of view. Over the past 25 years, he has served scores of Fortune 500 companies, including Pfizer, CVS/Caremark, Hewlett Packard, Motorola, and SAP, by leveraging the concept of simplicity to activate customers and employees. He challenges design teams across the world to bring humanity to brands.
You could say Howard was born to design. Maybe we'll dig into that story in a moment. After founding a NYC-based design company at the age of 28, which was purchased by Omnicom in 2001, Howard joined Siegel+Gale in 2004. Since then he’s brought simplicity, a global perspective and systems thinking to designing brand programs for some of the largest companies on the planet.
As many of you may know, I'm a total branding geek at heart, so I'm incredibly excited to chat with Howard about the future of branding, and to learn more about Siegel+Gale.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with Illustrator & Package Designer, Abraham Lule.
Born and raised in Mexico, Abraham Lule describes his body of illustration, typography and packaging work as design with a human touch. His spectrum of skills is flexible and ever-changing, bringing a truly unique crafted flair that is undeniable in his work. He has worked for clients such as Facebook, Capitol Records, Jose Cuervo, and Diageo. He is also a Typography Excellence Medallist and the Type Directors Club recently chose him to be an Ascender.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Abraham Lule.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with Ben Solomon, Creative Director of Conran Design Group U.S.
Ben brings over a decade of brand-building experience to the Conran team. From full identity development, socialization, and activation, Ben has helped brands develop their own unique, impactful expressions. Prior to joining Conran, Ben was a Creative Director with Interbrand Health in New York and a Design Director with Interbrand in Shanghai. Ben holds a BA from Lehigh University and an MS from Pratt Institute.
Ben and I are going to dig into his story and talk about branding in the healthcare and wellness branding space.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Ben Solomon.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with Pinar Guvenc Managing Partner of SOUR studio, which stands for Social + Urban.
She and her company have helped companies like Twitter, Google, P&G, Lego, Mercedes-Benz, the UN and many others solve problems through the power of workshops.
SOUR is the recently rebranded name of the former Eray/Carbajo, an international award-winning architecture and design firm.
We talk to lots of graphic designers and creative directors in the commercial design and ad world, so I'm excited to chat with someone on the architectural side today.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Pinar Guvenc.
Show I'm chatting with Jonathan Courtney, the CEO & Founder of one of the most well-known innovation agencies in the world, AJ&Smart, and author of the Workshopper Playbook.
He and his company have helped companies like Twitter, Google, P&G, Lego, Mercedes-Benz, the UN and many others solve problems through the power of workshops.
So here to tell us about his secret to better design projects, and his journey from the classical agency to AJ& Smart, please enjoy this conversation with Jonathan Courtney.
Today on Obsessed Show we have a bit of a part two, with just one of the co-hosts of the Biz Buds podcast, Michael Janda
Mike Janda on the line, who is not only the co-host of the Biz Buds Podcast, but is also a coach, and the author of Burn Your Portfolio and The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing.
So without further ado, please enjoy this part two conversation with Mike Janda:
Thank you to Yellow Images for sponsoring today’s episode: https://bit.ly/obsessed30 More on Yellow Images:
Hey guys, I’m really excited to share with you our latest sponsor, Yellow images.
There are a ton of places on the web right now to find ready-to-use solutions, but let me tell you why I’m excited to be the first to introduce you to Yellow Images:
It's the number-one marketplace with more than 40 thousand premium mockups, fonts, 360 images, and a ton of other graphic assets to make your job EASIER. Not to mention all of the textures, patterns, presets, and UX/UI kits…
But there are two things I’m REALLY excited about.
#1 are their mockups… you know how some clients are “I’ll believe it when I see it?” Well, Yellow Images mockups are high resolution with great lighting and shadows that will really help you sell your latest design or branding pitch, by helping your clients really see what it’s going to look like.
#2 is, Yellow isn’t just here to provide you with amazing assets... They want to help you out too. If you are seeking to create some passive income, become an Author, put your work up for sale at Yellow Images, and start getting paid for your own mockups, Images 360, and fonts!
Lastly, like any good podcast sponsor, Yellow Images has come through with a great offer.
Get the discount now, https://bit.ly/obsessed30, use my promo OBSESSED to get a 30% discount on your purchase. Don’t miss out! These coupons are limited, so first come, first served.
Become an Author! Make your artistic talent work for you. Do what you love, put up your work for sale at Yellow Images, and convert your skills and connections into a monetary value https://bit.ly/osauthors
So head over to yellow images.com today and show them some love. I think you’re gonna dig what they’re up to.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with the co-hosts of the Biz Buds podcast, Tom Ross and Mike Janda
For those of you long time listeners, Tom Ross may sound familiar, because he's amongst the small number of guests who have been on the show more than once, and today is #3 for Mr. Ross, who is a coach & cheerleader for creative entrepreneurs and the CEO of Design Cuts, and incredibly popular Design Inspiration site with digital resources for designers. And he's also one of the hosts of the Honest Designer's Podcast who we featured two years ago on our list of the best design podcasts.
And we also have Mike Janda on the line, who is not only the co-host of the Biz Buds Podcast, but is also a coach, and the author of Burn Your Portfolio and The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Tom Ross and Mike Janda:
::::: This episode is sponsored by the new season of Wireframe, from Adobe XD. :::::
If you’re listening to Obsessed Show, there’s a pretty great chance that you love design and technology too, so I think you’re really going to dig Wireframe. It’s a show about how UX can help technology fit our lives.
You may remember when I interviewed Khoi Vinh, Senior Director of Design at Adobe a few years back. Well, Khoi is one smart dude, and he’s the host of Wireframe.
This season, Wireframe digs into how the pandemic has changed our habits and lives, and how design intersects with these changes.
I got a sneak preview into a few upcoming episodes, and I loved how they were digging into real-life design issues, like why can’t dad unmute himself on Zoom, and how COVID-19 is changing how designers think and solve problems.
Also, they’re going to be featuring design leaders who have built UX and UI experiences for companies like Headspace, Patreon, Kickstarter, and more...
So check it out! Search for Wireframe in your favorite podcast app.
Subscribe here: https://link.chtbl.com/wireframe?sid=podcast.obsessedshow
Thanks again to Wireframe from Adobe XD for sponsoring today’s episode.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Subscribe to Wireframe here: https://link.chtbl.com/wireframe?sid=podcast.obsessedshow
Tom’s first episode of Obsessed Show: https://www.obsessedshow.com/episodes/tom-ross-part-one
Part II: https://www.obsessedshow.com/episodes/tom-ross-design-cuts-episode2
https://www.instagram.com/tomrossmedia/
https://mailchi.mp/842e03392c0a/ultimateguidetoniching
https://www.designcuts.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/biz-buds/id1496156524
https://www.instagram.com/morejanda/
http://michaeljanda.com/
Today on Obsessed Show, we're chatting with Brett Zucker.
::::: This episode is brought to you by Yellow Images. :::::
Brett Zucker, CMO of Monotype shares how brands can best champion creativity to navigate and succeed during and coming out of a crisis. Specializing in design, tech and expertise, Monotype has helped strategize branding for Southwest Airlines, Alibaba, Google, Dominos and many others.
• How a creative identity will better equip brands for the shift from shareholder value to social value
• Why investing in branding and advertising is needed now—especially for those brands deemed outside of “essential goods” categories like auto and beauty
• The power of design and visual communication in authentically building brand trust as we look at what comes next
Today's episode is brought to you by the new season of Wireframe, from Adobe XD.
Be sure to subscribe to Wireframe here:
https://link.chtbl.com/wireframe?sid=podcast.obsessedshow
Today on Obsessed Show we’re chatting with Carlos Musquez.
::::: This episode is brought to you by Yellow Images. :::::
Carlos Musquez, Executive Creative Director of ELA, is the creative lead for the agency. His deep agency roots at Omnicom under Alcone Marketing, saw him developing and designing best-in-class campaigns for major brands such as The California Lottery, Warner Music Group, Nestle, Logitech, LG Mobile, eBay, Sony, Diageo, and Coca-Cola to name a few. Carlos lives by the philosophy that an idea is only as good as its execution, and passion and craft are what turn good ideas into award-winning ideas.
His work has been recognized by the Addy’s, Creativity, Effie’s, New York Festivals, Communication Arts, Art Director’s Club, and the Clio’s. In his free time, Carlos extends his love of craft to the world of homebrewing, crafting ales, and designing labels.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Carlos Musquez.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with Daniel Scrivner, CEO at Flow. Investor at Blackletter. Creative Director at Made by Scrivner.
Daniel was previously the Head of Design at Digit and Square. He's worked for some of the most respected brands in the world including Apple, Nike, Disney, and Target.
Daniel advises world-class teams at companies like LendingHome, Empower, TrustToken, Designer Fund, and Notation Capital. He’s an early-stage investor in businesses like Superhuman, MixMax, Notion, Good Eggs, Burrow, Madison Reed, Stance, Almanac Brewing, and many more.
He's a designer turned CEO, investor, and creative director... and I can't wait to dig into all of those roles. So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Daniel Scrivner.
Not sponsored, but…
Daniel offered 25% off their first year with Flow – on any plan (monthly or annual). Sign up for free at https://www.getflow.com/ObsessedShow and use promo code OBSESSED to get 25% off when you subscribe.
Join the Obsessed Show Community here: https://apple.co/3d3rr5x
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with Steffen Christiansen, creative director at design and experience agency, Jam3.
Steffen was born and raised in Denmark and is currently based in Toronto. He specializes in Digital Products & Experiences, as well as Branding & Illustration across all platforms.
Steffen strongly believes Great work should always be well made, have that human touch, and hopefully, make you smile.
So without further ado, please enjoy my conversation with Steffen Christiansen.
Today on Obsessed Show I’m chatting with Jessie McGuire.
Jessie McGuire is the Managing Director at brand design studio ThoughtMatter, leading a team of artists, writers and strategists to create daring designs and identities for everything from art museums, communities and brands to a range of institutions and organizations. She has been integral in shaping the purpose and creative vision of ThoughtMatter, spearheading projects and campaigns that reflect the agency’s culture and mission, including protest posters for the 2017 Women’s March, a modern redesign of the U.S. Constitution and the recently launched For The People docuseries. Jessie has also worked to raise awareness and support for socially progressive causes such as March for Our Lives, Girls Write Now and The Joyful Heart Foundation as well as on community-minded projects for The New-York Historical Society, Downtown Staten Island and The Center for Arts Education.
Jessie holds a BFA in Communications Design and Advertising Art Direction from Pratt Institute and a MPS in Branding from The School of Visual Arts. Before joining ThoughtMatter, she managed and worked on projects for billion-dollar brands owned by Kimberly-Clark, P&G and Colgate Palmolive. In addition, Jessie formerly served as the Advocacy Chair on the board of directors of the New York chapter of AIGA, and is a regular speaker at conferences across NYC.
When Jessie is not designing, she can be found running in Brooklyn—alone, in a race or after her two kids.
Eric Thoelke, President, TOKY
Eric Thoelke (pronounced “toky”) brings more than 30 years of real-world experience in brand strategy and design of complex projects. Eric is responsible for leading a team of designers and brand strategists who create new names and visual brand identities, design print and online experiences, and solve branding challenges. His work has been recognized by Communication Arts magazine, won platinum and gold awards in Graphis, has been featured in design annuals from the AIGA, the Type Directors Club, Print magazine, HOW magazine, Brand New, and many others.
Eric has served as a judge for design competitions across the country, including the Communication Arts Design Annual, and has presented ideas on design and culture at conferences from San Diego to Pittsburgh. Eric was selected as one of St. Louis Magazine’s “Great Minds” of St. Louis, and a “Buzz List” recipient from ALIVE magazine for co-founding the Midtown Alley Design District. Eric is a co-founder of St. Louis Design Week and co-led it for its first two years.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with principal consultant at Illig, Ed Illig.
Ed is a Marketing & Brand Design Strategist + Outsourced Fractional Marketing Lead | Problem solver, revenue driver, creative leader, experience creator, strategist, marketer, integrator, designer, inventor, thinker, writer, director, illustrator, producteer, adventurer. Dreamer.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, Please enjoy my conversation with Ed Illig.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with co-founder and creative partner of Oh Hello Design Co., Sara Seal.
Sara has over a decade of experience creating and cultivating both boutique and large-scale brands. She’s passionate about making strong, authentic voices heard above the crowd and wants her work to empower others to pursue their biggest dreams.
According to their website, Oh, Hello Design Co.’s purpose is to reverse the negativity in this world, and help to encourage you that you matter and what you have to contribute to this world is valuable.
We're going to talk about Oh Hello Design Co's focus on their purpose, and how they help woman-owned small businesses.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, Please enjoy my conversation with Sara Seal.
Designer & tinkerer-in-chief at Humphreys Studio John rebuilt the South African camping chair using argentine leather and pecan, featured in GQ and sold at Neiman Marcus. John also does custom projects and helped in the building of intelligentsia coffee in Austin and the newest shop from the Intelligentsia legacy called The Meteor. John grew up in a small town in Texas and learned woodwork in design while traveling through the US and South America.
So without further ado, please enjoy my conversation with John Humphreys.
Anna Brozek was recently named CEO of Big Cartel, the leading independent platform that's helped enable more than 1 million artists and makers sell over $3 billion of their work directly to consumers via easy to open online shops. Since its inception in 2005, the independently run company has been instrumental in empowering talented artisans to do what they love.
Anna and I discuss her roots of owning an indie record shop with her husband, and her rise to the C-suite.
This is an inspiring conversation for anyone who’s dreamed of working their way to the top with an amazing company.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Anna Brozek.
On today’s episode, I chat with John Benzick, who has provided innovation expertise to Procter & Gamble, McDonald's, Best Buy, The Hershey Company, Arm & Hammer, LensCrafters, Chase Manhattan Bank, Kimberly Clark, S.C. Johnson, Water Pik, Philip Morris International, Outback Steakhouse and other companies.
Today he uses his powers to coach would-be entrepreneurs through the launch of their own products. If you’ve ever dreamed of joining the ranks of Shepard Fairey and Aaron Draplin in the quest to launch your own product, this episode is for you.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with John Benzick.
Heidi Luerra is the Founder & CEO of RAW Artists, the world’s largest independent arts organization. Over the past decade, Heidi has grown RAW to a worldwide operation in over 80 cities with almost 200k artists in the RAW community.
She's publishing her first book "The Work of Art" this September. "The Work of Art" covers topics from personal branding, budgeting, and mental health, to guidance on clearing the hurdles that come forth as you rise to steady success.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Heidi Luerra.
David is a high-functioning eccentric who thinks in stories, speaks in aphorisms and wields a passion for storytelling that’s unorthodox approaching idiosyncratic. Hired at Google as a 22-year old, David held an objectively unjustifiable amount of power. He built a content team at Google Maps and established a global production strategy that covered the Canadian Arctic, Taj Mahal, and Pyramids at Giza. Then he left to turn his side project, a wedding video company named Bokeh, into a marketing agency. David now develops campaign strategies and content for brands like Google, Instagram, Airbnb, WeWork, DoorDash, Visa and more. David is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and currently lives in San Francisco.
So without further ado, please enjoy this interview with David Bates.
99designs may be a controversial guest to some listeners, but we connected with their CEO, Patrick Llewellyn, all the way from Australia to talk about their latest research report, Design Without Borders.
You can learn more about the report here: https://99designs.com/design-without-borders
And without further ado, please enjoy my conversation with Patrick Llewellyn.
Today on Obsessed Show we're finally airing a conversation for last fall with Abby Downing, Partner & Creative Director at The Superfan Company. The Superfan Company works with top entertainers, musicians, and brands to create programs and products to engage their superfans. From VIP packages at concerts, to limited edition products, to collectible album packages. Their clients span from Mumford & Sons and Ace Comic Con to Jimmy Buffett.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Abby Downing.
Aaron's specialty is communications and visual experimentation — he brings a shot of humanity to otherwise cold tech experiences, and helps folks get to know and love tech a little more. Aaron's work has been featured at the Saatchi&Saatchi New Directors Showcase and the MoMA’s archive for The Art and Technique of the American Commercial. He was named a top 10 director by CreativityOnline, featured in the Adweek Creative 100 and was named number one in Business Insider’s 30 most creative in advertising under 30.
Although he went to school to be an industrial designer, Aaron fell in love with photography, and later founded PHLEARN, an online photoshop, lightroom, and photography platform to bring free, creative education to anyone around the world. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, Please enjoy my conversation with Aaron Nace.
Today on Obsessed Show I'm chatting with photographer, video producer, and author, Marc Silber, of Silber Studios. His new best selling book is one that I wish I would have already written, called Create: Tools from Seriously Talented People to Unleash Your Creative Life SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, Please enjoy my conversation with Marc Silber.
Special thanks to Wacom for sponsoring this episode of Obsessed Show. Wacom is pronounced “Wah,” like the Japanese word for harmony and “come” for computer, the Wacom Cintiq 16 creative pen display and accompanying Pro Pen 2 work in perfect harmony to give you the best in precision, control and ergonomic comfort. Use the code OBSESSED for 10% off the Cintiq 16 until November 30 at Wacom.com.
If you'd like to help support the show, you can check out our new page on Patreon over at https://patreon.com/joshmiles - even a few bucks an episode would make a huge difference. Thank you for checking that out!
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, Please enjoy my conversation with Gina DeDomenico Flanagan.
Today on the Obsessed Show Podcast, I'm chatting with the co-founders of O'Kelly + Kasprack Architecture, Belinda O'Kelly & David Kasprack
From tacos to motorcycles, to the proper pronunciation of Versailles, this is a widely-ranging conversation from two architecture firm principals.
If you'd like to help support the show, you can check out our new page on Patreon over at https://patreon.com/joshmiles - even a few bucks an episode would make a huge difference. Thank you for checking that out!
Today on the Obsessed Show Podcast, I'm chatting with fellow podcaster, Andy J. Miller, AKA Andy J. Pizza.
Andy hosts the Creative Pep Talk Podcast, and has authored multiple books on creativity. We had a blast recording this one, so I hope you enjoy this conversation!
If you'd like to help support the show, you can check out our new page on Patreon over at https://patreon.com/joshmiles - even a few bucks an episode would make a huge difference. Thank you for checking that out!
Today on Obsessed with Design I'm chatting with Hrag Nassanian. Hrag Nassanian is a Portland, Oregon based product designer / design director of performance-based soft goods (bags) and accessories.
Hrag cut his teeth with a little brand called Nike, and just weeks ago launched his own brand called Wayfinder. We were connected on Instagram... I was intrigued by the story of his brand launch, and reached out to have him on the show. So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Hrag Nassanian.
Today on Obsessed Show we're chatting with Conor Brady. According to their website, "Conor Brady is a passionate believer in the power of great storytelling and experience design, no matter the channel or medium. In his role as Chief Creative Officer at Critical Mass, he oversees the agency’s work and drives creative excellence on a global scale. Prior to joining Critical Mass, he worked at digital agencies Huge and Organic, holding the title of Chief Creative Officer at each. Throughout his career, he has played a decisive role in shaping the digital experiences of BMW, Apple, Marriott, Nike, Hilton, Audi, RevoltTV, Samsung, and Pepsi. His work has won awards across the globe from Cannes to London to Asia, and he is a regular member of some of the industry’s most respected award juries, having served as a judge on the Design Jury at Cannes (twice), The Andy’s, the D&AD awards, and the Webby’s. Originally from Belfast, Conor began his career in publishing, designing the first 100 book covers for Vintage Paperbacks in London. He then moved into the music industry as a creative director at Universal Music/Polygram, designing record covers."
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, Please enjoy my conversation with Conor Brady.
Today on Obsessed Show I have the unique opportunity to interview YouTuber, storyteller, and founder of the #nosmallcreator movement, Cody Wanner.
Cody and I chat about what it's like to get fired from your own company, daily vlogging for a year, and why his mission is to inspire the makers and the doers.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, Please enjoy my conversation with Cody Wanner.
Byron Elliott is a UI designer at Element Three. He's also an illustrator and runs his own apparel company, Blacksheep Collective, alongside his wife. He's worked with clients ranging from the NCAA, Eli Lilly and Company, and Rolls Royce, and is an active member of the Indianapolis design and fashion communities.
Byron and I unpack the origins of Blacksheep Collective, the role of faith in his apparel company, why the design industry still struggles with diversity, and his passion for UI design.
As Byron and I live relatively close to one another, we were able to chat in person at my home studio.
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Byron Elliott.
Today we have an interesting topic to explore as we chat with Johnathan Grzybowski, is the Chief Marketing Officer and co-founder of Penji, an on-demand graphic design service that delivers fast turnaround, simple, and affordable. Some of you listening might have shivered a little when I said that, and some of you might have been energized... and it's that contrast that I'm hoping to explore further today... Penji has been named as “top startup to watch” according to Philadelphia Magazine and mentioned in major publications like Success Magazine, Huffington Post, Forbes, and Inc. Prior to Penji, Johnathan founded multiple marketing related startups and worked for Apple. You may notice in the audio that I call this "118." Originally this was 118, and I didn't circle back to re-record the audio saying 119, or a different MilesHerndon credit at the end. Sorry about that. We'll do better next time.
Today on Obsessed Show we're chatting with Christian Beck, leader of the UX design team at Innovatemap, and host of the Better Product Podcast.
The Innovatemap team in Indy was my connection to Anna Saraceno at Trello, and Art Viger at Peak Design, so I'd like to say a big thank you to Innovatemap for making those initial connections!
This week on Obsessed Show, we've got architect and Vice President at PGAV Destinations, John Kasman.
As John describes in his bio, Artist plus Engineer equals Architect; John Always knew he loved art and math, and he began studying architecture at Notre Dame - which is about 5 minutes from where I grew up... John is currently overseeing the redesign of the guest experience at The Alamo in San Antonio, Discovery Cove, Georgia Aquarium, Table Rock Welcome Centre at Niagara Falls, Aquatica waterparks, Biltmore Estate attractions, numerous attractions at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, such as Cheetah Hunt, and many Anheuser Busch bars and attractions across the country, such as the St. Louis Biergarten. Without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with John Kasman.
Today on Obsessed with Design I'm chatting with Art Viger, According to his personal website, Art is a designer of things and is especially proud of and impressed by design that blends seamlessly into our lives and enables us to move around the world in simple and elegant ways. Today, Art is the lead design engineer for Peak Design, who makes some amazing travel, tech, and everyday carry bags for film and photo professionals... Today we'll talk about Art's background, Peak's love of Kickstarter, and what he's most obsessed with right now. Today's show is not sponsored by Peak, but I personally purchased a Peak design bag about two years ago to the day, specifically for my laptop and design gear, and I've transitioned over the past few months to regularly packing my DSL for photography and video... I get compliments on it all the time, and I absolutely love this bag. And check out obsessedshow.com for all of today's show notes.
On April 9th, Museum of Arts and Design will open Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die: Punk Graphics, 1976–1986. This will be the first exhibit under the new museum director. Adapted to showcase New York City's storied punk history, much of the exhibit originates from a massive collection Andrew Krevine from the Cranbrook Art Museum in Michigan, “Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die charts punk’s explosive impact on design and examines its complex relationship with art, history, and culture.” More than 400 pieces of punk's most iconic graphic design, including flyers, zines, posters, and album covers will be on display. During a members only event on April 15th, Johnny Rotten will kick off a full series of public programs that will feature several of punk's architects and revolutionaries. So today on Obsessed show, we're speaking with Andrew Blauvelt, director of the Cranbrook Museum, about his origins, punk design, and this exciting collection that is soon to be featured in the Museum of Art and Design... And check out obsessedshow.com for all of today's show notes.
Nick Ace from branding agency, Collins, talks about his ghostly origins and doing time for posting stickers... and of course, a few of his latest obsessions. Be sure to subscribe here, but also check out ObsessedShow.com to subscribe anywhere you listen to audio podcasts.
This week on Obsessed Show we've got more video over at youtube.com/joshmiles
And check out obsessedshow.com for all of today's show notes.
Mark and I got to chat on his show a few weeks back, and with any luck, these two episodes might go live at similar times... fingers crossed. For the past few recordings, I've been experimenting with different ways to record these interviews... I'm loving Zoom for the video side, but not loving the audio... so I'm not sure I have this quite nailed yet. But if you'd like to check out the video, that's available over at YouTube.com/joshmiles, and the audio isn't amazing, but sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm video chatting live with a guy in the UK, five time zones away... and that still blows my mind. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, Please enjoy my conversation with Mark Hirons...
Halli Thorleifsson is the founder and CEO of Ueno. A creative director and designer, Halli founded the agency as a one-man operation out of his Reykjavik apartment in 2014. Four short years later, Ueno has more than 60 full-time employees and offices in Reykjavik, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. Ueno's clients include Airbnb, Apple, Chubb, Cisco, Dropbox, Facebook, Fitbit, Google, Lonely Planet, Red Bull, Reuters, Samsung, Uber, Verizon, and Visa. Halli has won several industry accolades, including numerous Webby's, IWA’s Best Web Design of the Year, Communication Arts’ Site of the Week and multiple AWWWARDS and FWA Site of the Day. He has been nominated as designer of the year as well as developer of the year by AWWWARDS. And lastly, if you're into what I'm doing here, you might also want to check out my personal branding and marketing tips called, :59 Second Friday - that's at youtube.com/joshmiles
Okay guys, today we have Blair Enns of Win Without Pitching. First off, if you wondered what the heck happened to me, sorry for the long hiatus. I'm happy to report that as of today, including this show we have seven episodes in the can as they say, and three more scheduled. So it's not so much that I haven't been working on the show, and I haven't been finishing any episodes... sorry about that. So this seemed like a great time to declare, welcome to season four of Obsessed Show. This season we'll still be chatting with designers from branding, illustration, architecture, and design thinking... but we'll also be talking to other makers and creatives along the way. In fact, when we started this show, the plan all along was to broaden out our guests eventually, which was in part why our website, twitter, and instagram are all obsessedshow... ANNNND... if you'd like to hear more about my personal story, episodes 11 & 12 of the know indy show feature yours truly... I actually recorded that about a year ago, so it's kind of a walk down memory lane for me to hear what I was thinking on a year ago. And I describe my favorite way to cook the perfect steak. And lastly, if you're into what I'm doing here, you might also want to check out my personal branding and marketing tips called, :59 Second Friday - that's at youtube.com/joshmiles
Today, from the know Indy podcast, we've finally got part two of Aaron Scamihorn. First off, if you wondered what the heck happened to me, sorry for the long hiatus. I'm happy to report that as of today, including this show we have seven episodes in the can as they say, and three more scheduled. So it's not so much that I haven't been working on the show, and I haven't been finishing any episodes... sorry about that. So this seemed like a great time to declare, welcome to season four of Obsessed Show. This season we'll still be chatting with designers from branding, illustration, architecture, and design thinking... but we'll also be talking to other makers and creatives along the way. In fact, when we started this show, the plan all along was to broaden out our guests eventually, which was in part why our website, twitter, and instagram are all obsessedshow... Enough about season four. Let's talk about today's episode. If you haven't already listened to episode 109, you might want to go back and do that first, but I think you'll catch up alright if you start here as well... So if you missed 109, this is part two of an interview by Steven Tyler (probably not the steven tyler you're thinking of) from the Know Indy podcast... make sure and subscribe to his show over at KnowIndy.com ANNNND... if you'd like to hear more about my personal story, episodes 11 & 12 of the know indy show feature yours truly... I actually recorded that about a year ago, so it's kind of a walk down memory lane for me to hear what I was thinking on a year ago. And I describe my favorite way to cook the perfect steak. And lastly, if you're into what I'm doing here, you might also want to check out my personal branding and marketing tips called, :59 Second Friday - that's at youtube.com/joshmiles
Today we're featuring my friend Steven Tyler's new show... no, different Steven Tyler... anyhow, it's called, "Know Indy." I think you're gonna dig it.
Aaron Scamihorn (AKA: Ronlewhorn) is an Indianapolis based artist. He has created artwork for musicians including Cake, Mayor Hawthorn and Bayside, and is known for his unique style of screen print portraits. In this episode, Aaron talks about what it was like to be raised by two artist parents, how he found his way to screen printing, and what drives him to create.
Check out Aaron’s work at http://www.ronlewhorn.com/
And be sure to subscribe to Know Indy over at: https://www.knowindy.com/
Today on Obsessed with Design I'm chatting with three special guests all from the Indianapolis creative community: Jenny Tod, Nate Heck, and Andy Keller, who you'll learn more about in the intro.
We also have a full video version of this episode over at youtube.com/joshmiles - check it out! Also, I'm starting a new :59 Second Friday series on YouTube, and I'm currently building out new episodes all about personal branding. So if that sounds like something you'd like to check out, you can subscribe over at YouTube.com/joshmiles - I really appreciate every single subscriber, so thanks for hitting up youtube.com/joshmiles and hitting subscribe.
Today on Obsessed with Design I'm chatting with Anna Saraceno, Product Designer at Trello. Anna is well versed in leading UX and product teams to effectively frame and prioritize problems, as well as explore, test, and scale user-centered solutions. I'm also curious to discuss how Anna brings soft skills to the table, including directed empathy, curiosity, diplomatic leadership, communication and presentation skills. You can see a little of the behind the scenes process of this podcast at youtube.com/joshmiles - check it out! Also, I'm starting a new :59 Second Friday series on YouTube, and I'm currently building out new episodes all about personal branding. So if that sounds like something you'd like to check out, you can subscribe over at YouTube.com/joshmiles - I really appreciate every single subscriber, so thanks for hitting up youtube.com/joshmiles and hitting subscribe.
Today on Obsessed With Design I'm chatting with Michael Seum, vice president of design for Grohe. Regardless of the design challenge, Michael is driven to create meaningful experiences for end users.
Subscribe on iTunes // Stitcher // iheartradio // SoundCloud // Google Play // Spotify
Today on Obsessed With Design I'm chatting with Andrea Orrego, Architect, founder, and CEO of Atelier. Her mission is to expand the horizon of Design and make it reachable in every community in the world.
Subscribe on iTunes // Stitcher // iheartradio // SoundCloud // Google Play // Spotify
Today on Obsessed With Design I'm chatting with Ryan Waring, creative director and partner of Revolt... Today we talk about burnout, buyouts, and motorcycles. And the heart attack that brought us to today's story... I chatted with Ryan via Skype from his agency home in Denmark. Subscribe on iTunes // Stitcher // iheartradio // SoundCloud // Google Play // Spotify
Today on Obsessed with Design I'm chatting with Kelly Ellis, interior designer, professional speaker, and star of shows on HGTV, TLC, and Bravo.
Subscribe on iTunes // Stitcher // iheartradio // SoundCloud // Google Play // Spotify
One of our all-time most popular guests, Kristian Andersen, from venture studio, High Alpha, returns for a follow-up conversation. Kristian and I talk about the role of design in powering the most crucial decisions about how to make and launch new companies.
Subscribe on iTunes // Stitcher // iheartradio // SoundCloud // Google Play // Spotify
Josh catches up with 1/2 of the Brand New team, Armin Vit, to discuss the process of putting on a conference like Brand New, weighing the benefits of New York City, Austin, TX, and Bloomington, IN... and how the Hoosier state ultimately lured he and Bryony to relocate the Under Consideration world headquarters to Indiana.
Subscribe on iTunes // Stitcher // iheartradio // SoundCloud // Google Play // Spotify
An interaction designer and recent graduate of University of Washington, Natalie Lew is passionate about the intersections of design and philosophy. Her interdisciplinary background in design has been the inspiration behind her Adobe Creative Residency project.
Subscribe on iTunes // Stitcher // iheartradio // SoundCloud // Spotify
Scott Fuller - Studio Temporary
Episode 98 / Season Three
Today on Obsessed with Design I'm with designer, illustrator, Southern modernist and owner of The Studio Temporary, Scott Fuller. And just as an aside, if you hear something on Scott’s audio that sounds like a small woodland creature... don’t be alarmed, it’s just his giant beard saying hello. Subscribe to Obsessed With Design:
iTunes // Stitcher // iheartradio // SoundCloud // Spotify
Eric Kass - Funnel
I was fortunate enough to catch up with Eric at his home in Indianapolis. We're trying out some new audio gear for these in-person chats, so let us know what you think.
According to Eric's website, Funnel provides bespoke branding, identity & package design for artisanal food/beverage, boutique products, emerging technologies & artistic services from start-ups to large corporations & in-house design departments around the globe.
Subscribe on iTunes
From Design Matters to 99% Invisible, and a few you may have never heard of, these are some of the design podcasts I'm most obsessed with right now.
If you're trying to connect with the best designers, architects, thinkers, and speakers in the design industry, there's no better way to get inside these professionals' heads than to catch them on tape. And while the guest can certainly make for a great episode, each of these hosts offer a unique take on the podcast format. So in the end, no matter your personal tastes, you're bound to love one of my favorite design podcasts.
Subscribe on iTunes.
Jason and I discuss his former role at the NEA, the role of creative placemaking, and how he is embarking on a journey to redesign the largest design school in the world.
Subscribe on iTunes.
As I say goodbye to my time at MilesHerndon and embark on a new adventure, it's fun to think back to how it all began. It’s always been easier for me to see ten years down the road than to know for sure what’s next.
This is the story of where it all began. You can also find the print version on Medium.
A special part two conversation with the author of “Creative Strategy and the Business of Design” Today on Obsessed with Design we have a special second conversation with one of our most popular past guests, Douglas Davis. Douglas is the author of “Creative Strategy and the Business of Design”, Digital Marketer, Freelance Art and Creative Director, and Advertising & Design Educator. Douglas and I talk about his new video series, and the role fear plays in the creative process. Subscribe on iTunes
Welcome Alex Wier and Daniel Stewart, Creative Director and Studio Director (respectively) and founders of Wier Stewart, an advertising agency located in Augusta Georgia.
Subscribe on iTunes
Join our email list at ObsessedShow.com
91 - Andrew Shorten, Adobe
Andrew Shorten is Senior Director of Product Management for Adobe XD at Adobe. He is passionate about improving the quality, richness, and value of digital experiences. Andrew previously developed user interfaces for government and enterprise customers while working at Fujitsu. He has since worked for Macromedia, Microsoft, and Adobe, where he has engaged with designers, developers, digital agencies, and organizations to help them deliver engaging web, mobile and desktop experiences.
Andrew and I unpack his origin story, the importance of prototyping in UX design, and his role in Adobe XD.
Subscribe via iTunes and visit ObsessedShow.com for show notes.
Natalie and I discuss how she sold her interior design practice and became CEO of A Design Partnership, she works with a large distributed agency team to help with marketing, branding, and design.
89 - Best of Design Podcasters, Part I
Tips from Chris Do, Stephan Ango, Prescott Perez-Fox, and Matt Hunckler
Subscribe via iTunes and visit ObsessedShow.com for show notes.
Josh’s passion for design began as a kid doodling logos and brainstorming jingles on the piano for different brands. He didn’t realize graphic design was a career path until high school, when he took a class that taught him about 2D v. 3D design. After working for IBM and running his own business for eighteen years he would eventually become the first design producer in product at Twitter.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Origin story
- Startnership
- Best professional moments
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Randy attended Indiana University (I won’t hold it against him) and began the first decade of his career in Chicago. Eventually, he was led back to Indy and began working as a design partner for DeveloperTown. For lack of a better way of saying it, he’s completely obsessed with design.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Origin story
- DeveloperTown
- What makes great designers and clients
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Paula has worn many hats throughout her career. Today, she's working on some incredibly cool projects. Get a sneak peek in this interview!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Paula's Wikipedia Page
- Pentagram
- Paula's TED Talk
- Shake Shack Rebrand
- Snap Kitchen
- BQX
- High Line
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Stacey Dyer is currently the Creative Strategist for iZotope, where audio software products are developed to enable and inspire creativity. While managing a new brand landscape, Stacey pushes the team to go beyond their usual boundaries through lean practices, as well as process discovery and customer validation.
In this episode, we discuss:
Her journey to publishing her first book, AstroWed.
Her favorite parts working for Loctite.
Her brief stint owning a cake bake shop.
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Kelly always enjoyed creating artwork. However, growing up in Iowa there weren’t too many opportunities to pursue it, that’s what led him to the Art Center College of Design. After earning his degree in Advertising Illustration he began working at print shop as he built-up his freelance clients. Now he works solely freelance, and in his free time you can catch him jamming out in his “one man band,” Hume and the Humanoids.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got into design
- Lettering for MLB
- Advice to designers
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
During Karen's childhood she would sit at the kitchen table and hear discussions swirl around her about business. These conversations placed an entrepreneurial spirit in her. After 15 years in the banking industry she changed her focus to home staging. Her purpose is simple, help bring people’s “vision to reality.”
In this episode, we discuss:
- Origin story
- Her purpose
- Designing Spaces
- Her Book
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
After college Betsy Helmuth packed up her bags and “angry cat” to pursue a career in painting and acting in the Big Apple. Later she would discover that her true calling was interior design on a budget. Her mission is simple, to change lives through the dynamic of a household, and she does just that with her business, Affordable Interior Design.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Origin story
- What her days look like
- What makes a great client
- Ins and outs of interior design
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
In middle school Mackey Saturday’s mother told him he should pursue graphic design, but at the time he thought the art form was reserved for artistic “cheaters.” Later he would go onto to earn a degree in fine arts with a concentration in metalsmithing. After school he realized he could take art and turn it into something valuable and objective, which led him into design where he became the design principal at Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Origin story
- Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv
- The best clients
- Design heroes
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Paul Sahre started his path in design at Kent State University. After working in a few different agencies he realized as a lone wolf he should begin his own independent practice, Office of Paul Sahre.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Office of Paul Sahre
- Being married to a designer
- Designing book covers
- What he’s most obsessed with today
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Ian Paget landed into design, oddly, through a warehouse job. After being recognized by the owner as “good at drawing” he began creating promotional posters for their sales team. From there he self-taught himself Adobe Indesign and his career took off. Now he works as the lead creative designer at Advansys Ecommerce Solutions and a freelancer for Logo Geek.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Origin story
- Logo Geek
- His podcast
- Freelancing and agency
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Born and raised a southerner, Christian discovered design during his final years at University of North Carolina. Following his design epiphany he headed to the Portfolio Center in Atlanta to brush up on the skills he needed to become an expert designer. After taking a brief stint for an internship with Pentagram in New York City, he headed down to Austin, fell in love with the city, and began his own agency, Helms Workshop.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Origin story
- Work in the beer industry
- Internship with Michael Bierut
- Helms Workshop
- Proudest moment as a designer
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
It started over a burrito, and now here they are...
This week, Josh sits down with Alex Wier and Daniel Stewart, Creative Director and Studio Director of Wier/Stewart in Augusta, Georgia to catch up.
You can follow them on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why they decided to open an agency together.
- What they love about design and branding.
- Where Wier/Stewart is today.
- Good and bad clients.
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Joseph Kalinowski, better known as JK, began his career in Cleveland by cutting his teeth in production and printing. Later in life, at a PTA bowling event, he struck up a conversation with the owner of Content Marketing Institute, Joe Pulizzi, which led to his role as creative director for CM. When he’s not searching for the latest Star Wars action figures he’s busy at work planning for the next Content Marketing World.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His background
- Content Marketing Institute
- His design hero
- His favorite action figures
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
By the time Tom was twelve he had already begun to dabble in the realm of graphic design. He entered his designs into online contest where he began to make a name for himself. After what he calls his “right of passage,” he found an amazing community of designers from all different backgrounds and formed his company, Design Cuts.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His story
- Starting Design Cuts
- Honest Designers Show
- What he most obsessed with today
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Today we’ll hear from Paula Scher, Debbie Millman, Amy & Jennifer Hood, Robynne Raye, and Danielle Evans. Let me know if you like these kinds of episodes, and if so, we might do more of them.
Val Head launched into design when her rock band was in need of a website. Quickly, she realized how much she liked web design and that it paid the bills. From there she put her rocker past behind her and began her career in design.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Her origin story
- Adobe
- What makes a good client
- Being an author
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Maurice began coding at an early age, and with every new technology he refined his skill. Captain of the math team turned designer, his passion for design grew in college when he began freelancing web design for miscellaneous clients. After working for the State of Georgia and a few start-ups he decided it was time to create his own company, Lunch.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His story
- Lunch
- What makes a great client
- Revision Path
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
In high school Chris was known as, "the guy that can draw anything." In the 80s he worked at a silkscreen shop where he was introduced to graphic design. From there, he found his "calling" and entered into a four year art program. He would later start his agency in 1995, Blind.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The Futur
- Blind
- What makes great clients and bad clients
- What he's most obsessed with
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
By the time Tom was twelve he had already begun to dabble in the realm of graphic design. He entered his designs into online contest where he began to make a name for himself. After what he calls his “right of passage,” he found an amazing community of designers from all different backgrounds and formed his company, Design Cuts.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His story
- Starting Design Cuts
- Honest Designers Show
- What he most obsessed with today
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Before Brad discovered branding he discovered the power of reading. As a teenager he became an avid reader which led to his degree in literature. From there, he went to manage a bicycle shop where his love for bikes grew into the formation of an agency, Bullhorn.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he became a writer
- Starting Bullhorn
- What makes a great client
- What he most obsessed with
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Long-time listeners know that I interview designers of all types: architects, graphic designers, product designers, interior designers, process designers, and anyone with designer in their title, who are a little obsessed with their craft and industry. Our show explores the common threads that tie designers together, how they got started in the design world, and what makes them tick. I've had the honor of interviewing some of the best in the business: Debbie Millman, Michael Bierut, David Carson, Paula Scher, and Armin Vit just to name a few. Tweet to @obsessedshow or @joshmiles and let us know who you'd like to hear on season two. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time!
Michael found his love for design as a curious kid, being interested in making things and taking things apart, and photography. To quote Michael, he has an "engineering mindset without the math skills." Find out more about Michael and view his work on his website: www.earthtomj.com.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What does "service design" really mean?
- His favorite client challenges
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Chase Turberville is a brand designer at Focus Lab in Savannah, Georgia. Check out his work on Dribble and Instagram.
Chase discovered his love of design and branding as a teenager playing in a grunge cover band. From there, he began his official design career at Realtree, where he learned that anything can be wrapped in camo. He then spent time interning at Hatch Show Print and credits those three months as being some of the most transformative in his career.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got his start in the design world
- What makes a great client
- What he's most obsessed with today
You can download this episode and subscribe on iTunes.
Matt Stevens is a designer, illustrator, speaker, and creative tinkerer from North Carolina. His work has been featured by the biggest names in sports, tech, and even fast food. Matt's biggest goal is always to do thoughtful and unforgettable work for amazing brands and make the whole process a pleasure. You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got his start in a middle school logo design contest.
- His experience working with big brands, and advice he'd give to young designers starting with big brands.
- The importance of "side gigs" and how they have spurred his professional development.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
In this episode, I sat down with Amy and Jennifer Hood. These two are not only brilliant creatives and founders of a branding firm, they're also twins. You can follow their agency on Twitter here. In this episode, we discuss:
- How they collaborate with their team.
- The importance of producing their own products.
- How their team opens up recurring revenue opportunities.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
Von Glitschka (or "Vonster" on Twitter) is revered by brand designers around the country as one of the brightest in the industry. He has worked with everyone from some of the largest brands in the world to small tech startups in the Pacific Northwest. In our chat, we discussed:
- What it's like working with such a diverse client base.
- How he does brand research, allowing him to "learn a new industry every 30 days."
- Where he finds his design inspiration.
- How he utilizes process to get the best results for his clients.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
James Biber is an architect and partner in the firm Biber Architects, based in New York. James is responsible many of his firms most notable projects.
Biber's most recent project is the USA Pavilion for Expo Milano 2015. Biber’s career has also included the design of the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, 2008; oceanfront houses in Montauk, NY; a restoration of the 1934 Sten-Frenke house in Santa Monica, by Richard Neutra; along with projects at Celebration, Florida; store, suites and lounges in the Arizona Cardinals Football Stadium (by Peter Eisenman) in Phoenix, Arizona; Headquarters for the Muzak corporation in Fort Mill, SC.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His background
- How he got into the world of architecture with a background in art in science
- What he's most obsessed with today
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Karen Kurycki is a designer/illustrator in Jacksonville, FL. Design is her passion and she loves to combine illustration with design in her commercial work. You can follow her on Twitter here. In this episode, we discuss: * Her attraction to water color * Why she loves water color as a medium * Some of her recent projects in the social activism space
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
James has worked as a production designer, art director, and set decorator since moving to Los Angeles from New Jersey after he graduated college in the early 2000's. He founded the creative design company JPConnelly at the age of 30, where he serves as the principal creative force and production designer. JPConnelly boasts an eclectic resume that includes 48 TV shows, 10 live awards events, nine feature films and 50+ digital integrations. In addition to work in the entertainment industry, JPConnelly also produces events and activations for companies like Twitter, Snapchat, and Dubsmash, where the company uses experiential production design and storytelling concepts and techniques to creative innovative environments. Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Todd Berger & Lucian Föhr are the Founders of Berger & Föhr, a graphic design agency based out of Boulder, Colorado. They also recently started Ello, a social network designed to be censor-free.
Ello is the only network designed for creators, by creators. A robust and growing community of artists, designers, musicians, illustrators, photographers, architects, GIF makers - creators, who understand that our process, practice, values and passions can push the world forward in a better direction.
Unlike the status quo advertising platforms that masquerade as social networks, Ello is not in business to harvest as much of your personal data and sell you as many ads as possible. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Ello has a legal mandate to never sell ads or personal data to third parties.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Their social network, Ello.
- Why they have their agency on pause.
- All of the challenges and joys of creating a product in the startup environment.
Rick Valicenti is the founder and design director of Thirst, a communication design practice providing design and immersive environments for high profile clients in the architectural, performing arts, and education communities.
His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), resides in the permanent collections of the Yale and Columbia University libraries, Denver Art Museum, and the Art Institute of Chicago, and has been published in The New York Times.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got started in design.
- Connecting the dots from seemingly unconnected details about his career, to where he his today.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Guy Geier is the Managing Partner of FXFOWLE Architects and was recently elected President of the American Institute of Architects in New York.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His views on the architecture industry.
- How architects can create more value for themselves in the marketplace.
- Architects' responsibilities in the industry.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
If you've paid attention to the world of design and advertising over the past 20 years, you have certainly seen Michael's work. You have undoubtedly read articles from him. You may have even watched a documentary that he was interviewed on. On this special episode of Obsessed With Design, Josh sits down with Michael to learn more about his life, his career, and his inspiration.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got his start in the world of design.
- The founding of Pentagram, and what the world of Pentagram is like today.
- His favorite projects and stories from the last 30 years.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
David Carson is an American graphic designer, art director and surfer. He is best known for his innovative magazine design, and use of experimental typography.
After you've listened to our interview, check out his Ted Talk.
In this episode, we:
- Talk about his view on design today.
- Unpack misconceptions around his career.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Ken's journey has been as interesting as it is eclectic. His career started in a restaurant, but soon ventured into design. Today, he runs Little Jacket, a brand consultancy that focuses on helping high-growth startups leverage great design to take their business to the next level.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How he got started as a snowboarding, screen printing designer.
- Taking a business from printing band posters to doing more profitable design work.
- Pivoting to a world of working with high-profile startups and high-growth companies.
You can follow him on Twitter here. Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Kristian is currently a co-founder and partner at High Alpha - a Venture Studio that conceives, launches and scales enterprise technology companies. Prior to High Alpha, he founded Studio Science - a leading design + innovation consultancy that works with high-growth technology companies.
Jonathan Hess is a Principal and the President of Browning Day. Many landmarks in the city of Indianapolis are a testament to his ability to translate clients’ vision into one of a kind innovative design solutions that exceed expectations and stand the test of time. He is recognized for his design work on the International Orangutan Center at the Indianapolis Zoo, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Indianapolis Museum of Art and additions to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His experience becoming a professional architect.
- His work on an amazing orangutan exhibit at the Indianapolis Zoo.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Tim Hickle is an author, marketer, and a singer of very silly songs. For the past two years, he's been leading our digital marketing efforts at MilesHerndon, as well as producing this podcast. After a year's worth of podcasts, we look back at some of our favorite episodes, learn about his new book, and sing some silly songs.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Producing the Obsessed With Designpodcast, including lessons he's learned and his favorite episodes.
- His book, and his best digital marketing advice.
- The MilesHerndon hold music, which he recorded.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
In 2006, Sean and Nicholas set out on a mission. They wanted to create their dream jobs, because no one else had created it for them. That's when they started The Bubble Project, a two-man design and illustration firm built on this foundation: good food, good music, good time.
You can follow them on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How they got their start in design.
- How they develop their ideas and aesthetic.
- Their most recent projects.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Don't call it a rebroadcast. In this episode, I sit down with one of my most popular guests for a second time.
In this episode, I talk to Prescott Perez-Fox. Prescott is well-known for his creative work, especially in the realm of package design. You can follow him on Twitter here and subscribe to his podcast here.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
Matt is the CEO and Founder of Verge, a tech startup community throughout the Midwest. He's also the host of the Powderkeg Podcast, a podcast focused on helping startups learn from established entrepreneurs.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His early beginnings in the Orr Fellowship
- His failed attempts at a startup
- How Verge was never supposed to be a business
- His lessons learned from the inventor of voicemail
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
This episode is a bit different. In the spirit of the holidays, with a new year approaching, Josh sat down with himself to do a little reflection on the year that was. In this episode, he discusses:
-
ObsessedChallenge on Instagram - A side-project he's working on to re-ignite his creativity.
- How he got into design and started his own branding agency.
- His inspiration and influences throughout his early career.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Aaron Draplin is a graphic designer, author, and founder of his own design studio, Draplin Design Co. Because of his incredible, inspiring work with some of the world's best brands, you've probably seen him on a million videos and podcasts already. That's why we went out of our way to find some fresh stories and fresh perspectives on his design career.
You can follow his design studio on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The grind of his speaking schedule and book promotion tour
- What he's learned in the last five years of his career
- Why he's chosen to keep his agency small and nimble when he could easily grow
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Based in Brooklyn, Douglas never intended to go to college. Today, he's the author of Creative Strategy and the Business of Design and he teaches online courses on design and business strategy.
During our interview, we talk about his book, his educational series, and how he went from not intending to go to college to educating college kids himself.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His inspiration for his book.
- How he started a digital department at his first agency.
- What he's most obsessed with now.
You can get show notes at ObsessedShow.com.
James White, the founder of Signalnoise, is a visual artist, designer and speaker living in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. He makes posters, prints and all kinds of cool stuff. He is, among other things, obsessed with the 80's and visual synthwave art.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His origins,
- The importance of drawing,
- His current setup, and
- How he finds some of his best clients.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Khoi Vinh is a graphic designer, blogger, and former Design Director for The New York Times, where he worked from January 2006 until July 2010. Fast Company named Vinh one of "The 50 Most Influential Designers in America" in September 2011. Today, he is the Principal Designer at Adobe, Design Chair of Wildcard, and co-founder of Kidpost.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Julian Stubbs is an international brand strategist and has worked with brand and identity projects for clients such as Stockholm, where he was involved with creating the positioning of the city as The Capital of Scandinavia. His book Wish You Were Heredocuments this work as well as the issues involved in major place branding projects.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His decision to launch a "cloud-based" agency.
- How his agency continues to succeed with zero employees.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Lauren Hom is a California-born, formerly Brooklyn-based designer and letterer who's currently traveling the world. Known for her bright color palettes and playful letterforms, Lauren has created work for clients like Starbucks, Google, AT&T, YouTube and TIME Magazine.
You can follow her on Instagram here.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
After our last discussion with Brian Collins, Chief Creative Officer of COLLINS, we couldn't wait to have him on again. Brian is our first ever repeat guest and this episode is full of fun stories, great advice, and more than a few name drops.
Brian Collins is one of the world's leading voices in branding. He is a former professor and international speaker, and today he runs his own branding shop, COLLINS, which has worked with brands such as Coca Cola, Spotify, and FourSquare.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Joseph Szala is a restaurant brand strategist and the host of the design podcast Grits + Grids. We interviewed Joseph awhile back, and we liked him so much that Josh decided to go on his show and share his scariest client horror stories, just in time for Halloween.
Please, go follow Grits + Grids on Twitter and subscribe to them in iTunes! It's a great podcast for designers of all skill levels.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
We recorded this episode with Samuel a few months ago, but he just released a new line of bags in partnership with the J2 Collection, so we figured we would give him a plug and run back one of our favorite interviews.
You can purchase one of his bags below...
http://thej2collection.com/t/brame
Today, Samuel E Vázquez wears many hats. He is an artist, a designer, and an educator, to name a few. In the early days, however, he was known by a different name - "Brame," his graffiti tag. Today, his art has evolved past the street and into some of the most recognizable spots in the Midwest. His work has lived in the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and the NCAA Hall of Champions.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Samuel's path from Puerto Rico to New York City and, eventually, to Indianapolis.
- His view on "street art," and why he rebels against the word "graffiti."
- How a week-long suspension in high school set him on the path to becoming a widely-respected artist.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Ken and Jenn Visocky O'Grady are designers, educators, speakers, and co-authors of the book The Information Design Handbook.
Jenn is an Associate Professor at Cleveland State University. Her design work has been recognized in numerous international publications, including Print and HOW magazines, and several books.
Ken is an Assistant Professor at Kent State University. He has won numerous awards in international design competitions. His work has also appeared in several books, and was featured in HOW magazine's Business of Design Annual.
You can follow them on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Jenn's work with the AIGA "Get Out The Vote" campaign
- Their work within books.
- Their client work.
- Their best tips and advice for design students.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Brian Collins is one of the world's leading voices in branding. He is a former professor and international speaker, and today he runs his own branding shop, COLLINS, which has worked with brands such as Coca Cola, Spotify, and FourSquare.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His origins.
- How to win every major award.
- One of the original brands to cut through the clutter.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Stephan Ango is the co-founder and Head of Product at Lumi, a Los Angeles-based company that provides packaging for online brands. He also is the host of the Well Made podcast, and has interviewed several of the same guests as our show.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Cardboard
- Logistics
- Charles and Ray Eames
You can get show notes at ObsessedShow.com.
Frontify is the software that all designers have thought about creating. Roger is one of the few who actually followed through on the idea. Frontify is a company that focuses on brand management with a Software-as-a-Service business model. Their software helps you easily create brand style guides, design workflows, and visual collaboration projects.
In his role as founder and CTO, Roger is passionate about the design, code, and UX of the end product. You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The challenges of creating your first startup.
- The benefits of being in Switzerland.
- How FIFA impacts their office culture.
You can get show notes at ObsessedShow.com.
Giorgia Lupi and Stefanie Posavec are both renowned designers with a penchant for visualizing data. This passion turned a pen-pal project into a full-fledged book, Dear Data.
For a year, they exchanged postcards weekly, cataloging their lives using different kinds of data. Some days, they counted the number of doors they walked through. Other days, they recorded their level of indecision. Regardless of the data they collected, they would visualize it differently in each postcard. Dear Data is a collection of these "slow data transmissions," with some color commentary sprinkled in.
You can follow them on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How they got their start in design.
- What inspired their book.
- What aspects of design and data they're most obsessed with.
You can get show notes at ObsessedShow.com.
In anticipation of her presentation at the 2016 MBO Conference in Indianapolis, we're re-releasing our interview with Debbie Millman. And, as a special treat, our listeners have been granted a special discount code to go see Debbie speak!
For a $20 discount to this year's MBO Conference in Indianapolis, use the discount code "MH20"
The host of one of the top iTunes podcasts of 2015 joins me for a look at the personal side of Debbie Millman that you may not have heard before.
Find out what Debbie is most obsessed with. The answer might surprise you.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com
Based in Brooklyn, Douglas never intended to go to college. Today, he's the author of Creative Strategy and the Business of Design and he teaches online courses on design and business strategy.
During our interview, we talk about his book, his educational series, and how he went from not intending to go to college to educating college kids himself.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His inspiration for his book.
- How he started a digital department at his first agency.
- What he's most obsessed with now.
You can get show notes at ObsessedShow.com.
This is Bob. Bob loves buttons.
Bob Ewing is a lettering artist and Art Director based in Indianapolis, but he has a great national presence. Between the popularity of INCH x INCH and posting his work under #HashtagLettering, he's grown a strong following around the country.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Bob got started in design.
- How he found his love for buttons and founded INCH x INCH.
- Where he gets his inspiration when working on lettering projects.
A fun fact about Bob - He actually applied to MilesHerndon way back in the day, when we went by "Miles Design." You can find his old resume and show notes at ObsessedShow.com.
It started over a burrito, and now here they are...
This week, Josh sits down with Alex Wier and Daniel Stewart, Creative Director and Studio Director of Wier/Stewart in Augusta, Georgia.
You can follow them on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why they decided to open an agency together.
- Their approach on design and branding.
- Why they inject their personality so heavily into every video they produce.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Jonathan Hoffman got his start in traditional advertising. He cut his teeth with Leo Burnett, McCann, and Starcom. Over the years, he's evolved into a leader in the branded video space, with a heavy emphasis on creating dynamic and engaging branded video
Today, he's working with Philo Media in Chicago, using modern tools to create authentic, meaningful connections between people and brands.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The state of traditional advertising.
- The promise of augmented reality and video-driven apps.
- The future of consumer-produced content.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Aaron Draplin is a graphic designer, author, and founder of his own design studio, Draplin Design Co. Because of his incredible, inspiring work with some of the world's best brands, you've probably seen him on a million videos and podcasts already. That's why we went out of our way to find some fresh stories and fresh perspectives on his design career.
You can follow his design studio on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The grind of his speaking schedule and book promotion tour
- What he's learned in the last five years of his career
- Why he's chosen to keep his agency small and nimble when he could easily grow
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Victor Yocco is a UX researcher and strategist. His objective is to bring the voice of the user to the table when he makes design and strategy decisions, and he does it quite well.
In addition to his UX work, Victor is an author and speaker. He is the author of the book Design for the Mind, as well as a featured writer for several publications. He enjoys speaking on a wide range of topics, from the psychology behind great design to reducing the abuse of alcohol in the design and tech industry.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- UX
- The joys of parenthood
- Alcohol in the workplace
- What it's like writing a book
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Christopher Stuart is an artist and designer based in Carmel, IN. His personal work explores the area between art and design, challenging the idea of function. He received his BFA in Furniture Design from Herron School of Art & Design. Chris is also the founder and principal of LUUR, a transdisciplinary design studio and brand, and author of DIY Furniture 1 & DIY Furniture 2, published by Laurence King.
You can follow his studio on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His origin story as a designer.
- How he defines "transdisciplinary," and why he chose to build a transdisciplinary design studio.
- His newest obsession, furniture design, and why he loves the DIY furniture movement.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Tad Carpenter is a designer, illustrator, and teacher based in Kansas City. Tad was lucky enough to grow up the son of two artists smack dab in the middle of the midwest. His father is an illustrator and has been a creative director for Hallmark Cards for nearly 40 years.
You merely adopted design. Tad was born in it, molded by it.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His upbringings in the design world.
- How his father influenced him early on.
- How Hallmark influences the design community in Kansas City.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
"Jolby" isn't a celebrity couple, it's a design studio committed to collaboration and solving complex problems. Josh and Colby are the co-founders of Jolby & Friends.
You can follow them on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How they found their way into the design profession.
- The beginnings of Jolby & Friends, and how they went from a t-shirt company to a full-blown design studio.
- Their creative process and how they build a culture of collaboration for both their team and their clients.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Ben designs weapons. Not guns or knives, but high-performance bicycles.
Zipp Speed Weaponry serves a select group of elite companies and athletes, globally located and committed to bicycle & wheelchair competition. As a design engineer for Zipp, Ben has taken the technology from IndyCar and other high-performance racing and applied it to high-end, carbon bicycle wheels.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got his start in engineering.
- His favorite projects that he's working on at Zipp.
- His best advice for young designers.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
If you've paid attention to the world of design and advertising over the past 20 years, you have certainly seen Michael's work. You have undoubtedly read articles from him. You may have even watched a documentary that he was interviewed on. On this special episode of Obsessed With Design, Josh sits down with Michael to learn more about his life, his career, and his inspiration.
You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got his start in the world of design.
- The founding of Pentagram, and what the world of Pentagram is like today.
- His favorite projects and stories from the last 30 years.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
As the founder of Vigor Branding and the blog, Grits and Grids, Joseph has found a home in branding for the food and beverage industry. His passion for great design and great food is evident in his blog, as well as our interview. You can follow them on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How his agency found the food industry and turned it into a specialty.
- The importance of finding your niche.
- The creation of his blog, Grits and Grids.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
You may not know Kris, but you definitely know his work. He has been a storyboard artist for animated movies and TV shows for 20 years. Recently, he captured a lot of attention in the animation business as the Head of Story for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and as a story artist for Open Season. Kris sat down with us recently to talk about his obsessions and what makes a great animated film work.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got his start in animation and story design.
- The background behind Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, a 5-year project that became a Hollywood blockbuster.
- His current obsessions and dream projects.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Danielle's studio, Marmalade Bleue, is nothing like any design studio you've ever seen. Her design vehicle of choice isn't Illustrator or Photoshop. It's food. As a designer and illustrator, she found her passion for creating typographic art with everything from candy corn to coffee cake. You can follow her on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How she initially found her obsession with typography and illustration.
- Graduating during the great recession and surviving as a starving designer.
- Her thoughts on self-promotion and building your business from the ground up.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Jude writes for Slate, Fast Company, Design Observer, and now she's doing some awesome work with the AIGA. Right now, she's working on a project that covers the best podcasts in the design world. This is a unique cast, because Jude actually interviews Josh! You can follow her on Twitter here.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
This week, we have a very special guest from Bologna, Italy. Gianluca Gimini recently published a project on Behance that took the Internet by storm. It's called Velocipedia and it has been featured on Wired, Fast Company, and even hit the front page of Reddit.
In this episode, we talk about the origin of this project, as well as other cool product and graphic design project Gianluca is working on.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Matt Stevens is a designer, illustrator, speaker, and creative tinkerer from North Carolina. His work has been featured by the biggest names in sports, tech, and even fast food. Matt's biggest goal is always to do thoughtful and unforgettable work for amazing brands and make the whole process a pleasure. You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got his start in a middle school logo design contest.
- His experience working with big brands, and advice he'd give to young designers starting with big brands.
- The importance of "side gigs" and how they have spurred his professional development.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Mike Stinson is an expert on great design, but it's his obsession with typography that really sets him apart. As a Partner and Creative Director for Ramp Creative, an L.A.-Based agency, he wears many hats, but the one that excites him most is Founder. He founded TypeEd, an educational initiative designed to teach designers around the world the art of great typography. You can follow him on Twitter here and TypeEd here.
As a listener of Obsessed With Design, you get an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on your first course from TypeEd. To claim this discount, go to http://type-ed.com/obsessed/
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he went from being an aerospace engineer to a graphic designer.
- How he started TypeEd, an online learning platform designed to bridge the widening gap between college programs and the creative industry.
- His biggest obsession... The finer details of typography.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Mikey Burton is a part time designer and a part time illustrator—which adds up to a full time Designy Illustrator. He’s been working professionally for over 12 years now, but claims to be ‘still figuring it out.’ He’s done a lot of work in that time for clients such as Converse, ESPN, Target, The New York Times, Time Magazine, and Esquire, among others.
He has won awards from organizations such as the Art Directors Club, Communication Arts and Print Magazine to name a few, and enjoys bragging about it in the third person. He spent his formative years and earned a masters degree from the great Kent State University in Ohio. Burton now works and lives in Brooklyn, NY where he pays way too much for coffee. You can follow him on Twitter here.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he got started as a designer.
- Why he is obsessed with food.
- All the benefits of living in New York City when you want to visit someone.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Today, Samuel E Vázquez wears many hats. He is an artist, a designer, and an educator, to name a few. In the early days, however, he was known by a different name - "Brame," his graffiti tag. Today, his art has evolved past the street and into some of the most recognizable spots in the Midwest. His work has lived in the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and the NCAA Hall of Champions.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Samuel's path from Puerto Rico to New York City and, eventually, to Indianapolis.
- His view on "street art," and why he rebels against the word "graffiti."
- How a week-long suspension in high school set him on the path to becoming a widely-respected artist.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Stacey Dyer is currently the Creative Strategist for iZotope, where audio software products are developed to enable and inspire creativity. While managing a new brand landscape, Stacey pushes the team to go beyond their usual boundaries through lean practices, as well as process discovery and customer validation. In this episode, we discuss:
- Her journey to publishing her first book, AstroWed.
- Her favorite parts working for Loctite.
- Her brief stint owning a cake bake shop.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Lars Lawson is the owner of Timber Design Company, an Indianapolis-based design studio. They specialize in print, brand identity, advertising, video animation and retail packaging.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How Lars got started working for the print shop across the street from his University.
- His work, ranging from Coca-Cola to breweries.
- An email he once received from a famous hip-hop artist.
Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Ken's journey has been as interesting as it is eclectic. His career started in a restaurant, but soon ventured into design. Today, he runs Little Jacket, a brand consultancy that focuses on helping high-growth startups leverage great design to take their business to the next level.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How he got started as a snowboarding, screen printing designer.
- Taking a business from printing band posters to doing more profitable design work.
- Pivoting to a world of working with high-profile startups and high-growth companies.
You can follow him on Twitter here. Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
As a co-founder of Modern Dog Design Co, Robynne Raye has a lot of familiarity designing for big brands. Modern Dog is an internationally acclaimed design studio that creates imaginative, bold and playful design in interactive and print medias. Current and past clients include the Seattle Aquarium, Swatch, Coca-Cola, K2 Snowboards, HarperCollins, and Nordstrom. In this episode, we talk about:
- How Robynne got started in design (and starting her own company).
- How Robynne and her partner landed K2 as one of their first clients.
- Her career teaching design.
You can follow them on Twitter here. Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Armin Vit has become an icon in the design community through his critiques on his blog, but he is also an incredible graphic designer in his own right. In this episode, Armin and I discuss:
- How Illustrator 88 led him to a career in design.
- How he and his wife run their blogs and international design conferences.
- How he manages to STILL do client work.
You can follow him on Twitter here. Show notes are available at ObsessedShow.com.
Justine is one of the world's brightest minds on email marketing. As the VP of marketing at Litmus, she has advanced the entire industry with an eye on design. In this episode, we discussed:
- How she became the face of email marketing.
- How she got her start as a designer.
- What she's most excited about tackling next.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
In this episode, I sat down with Paula Scher. Paula has worn many hats throughout her career. Today, she's working on some incredibly cool projects. Get a sneak peek in this interview! We discussed:
- How she got started
- Her thoughts on design criticism
- An exclusive sneak peek at new projects she's working on
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
In this episode, I sat down with Eric Kass, a self-proclaimed "Fine Commercial Artisan." You can follow him on Twitter here. We discussed:
- His career path and how he discovered his passion for branding.
- Why he calls his business a "practice" instead of an agency or firm.
- How he finds, collects, and catalogs ephemera to spur his creativity.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
In this episode, I talk to Prescott Perez-Fox. Prescott is well-known for his creative work, especially in the realm of package design. You can follow him on Twitter here and subscribe to his podcast here. We talked about:
- Growing up as an artistic kid and a science nerd.
- The challenges associated with freelancing.
- How to integrate great brand design within a holistic identity system.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
Von Glitschka (or "Vonster" on Twitter) is revered by brand designers around the country as one of the brightest in the industry. He has worked with everyone from some of the largest brands in the world to small tech startups in the Pacific Northwest. In our chat, we discussed:
- What it's like working with such a diverse client base.
- How he does brand research, allowing him to "learn a new industry every 30 days."
- Where he finds his design inspiration.
- How he utilizes process to get the best results for his clients.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
Andy Chen has a very interesting role. He works in the medical industry for a large, publicly-traded company. This company is so big, we're not even allowed to mention their name in the cast. Within this company, however, Andy is running a small, autonomous design team focused on building great user experiences through design. In this cast, we talked about:
- How he fell in love with design while working in the software space.
- What it's like to run a small design practice within a large, publicly-traded enterprise.
- How he designs processes and designed experiences that resonate with his base.
You can follow Andy on Twitter here and find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
In this episode, I sat down with Amy and Jennifer Hood. These two are not only brilliant creatives and founders of a branding firm, they're also twins. You can follow their agency on Twitter here. In this episode, we discuss:
- How they collaborate with their team.
- The importance of producing their own products.
- How their team opens up recurring revenue opportunities.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
In this episode, I sat down with Mark Palmer. Mark is an architect who has helped design dozens of buildings and public places, but more impressively, he's created multiple side projects designed to better society. We talked about:
- How he uses design to affect good in society.
- His side projects and their societal impact.
- What it's like to see people inhabiting something that you designed.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.
In this episode, I sat down with Debbie Millman, a world-renowned writer, speaker, and brand consultant. She is also the host of the hit podcast "Design Matters." You can follow her on Twitter here and subscribe to her podcast here. We talked about:
- How she brands herself and grows her business.
- Her career path and early struggles in the magazine industry.
- What she's most obsessed with today.
- How she stays focused, efficient, and effective in her day-to-day work.
You can find show notes on our website at ObsessedShow.com.