The Creative Boom Podcast

This bonus episode brings Chris Wilson of Stckmn back for a lighter, looser conversation to round off the season. After a deep, emotional main interview, Katy and Chris shift gears into something playful, candid, and full of spark. Chris answers quick-fire questions about his quirks, his guilty pleasures, the creative advice he ignores, and what really happens behind the scenes when he's out of his depth. They discuss parenting, music, creative identity, and the inner critic he has named Steve. There are seaside amusements, mosh pits, broken toes, and a surprising amount of wisdom tucked into the laughter. It's a warm, human conversation about what keeps us going when the work gets tough, and life gets messy—a gentle, joyful way to close the season.

This final episode of the season closes on a note that feels right for a new year. Honest. Hopeful. A little raw and full of heart. Chris Wilson, the multi-disciplinary force behind Glasgow’s one-man studio Stckmn, joins Katy for a conversation about surviving life's sharpest edges and still choosing to create something good. Chris grew up working class in Clydebank, a kid who took things apart to understand how the world worked. That curiosity shaped everything. So did hardship. He talks openly about trauma he never recognised as trauma until therapy named it: a violent attack at university that left deep physical and emotional scars. The loss of his dad. Years of pushing pain aside and throwing himself into work because survival sometimes looks like graft, not clarity. And yet. Through humour, compassion, and the stubborn belief that he could always graft his way forward, Chris built a career spanning product design, graphics, branding, packaging, and beyond. He tells Katy how he learned to reframe fear into momentum, why being a generalist has kept him afloat in changing times, and how a decade of running Stckmn has been as much about resilience as it has design. They talk about belonging, too. About feeling out of place in creative spaces that can still feel elitist. About the invisible hierarchies that quietly shape the industry. And the joy of realising most of us are just muddling through, hoping no one notices our nerves. It's a candid, funny, deeply human exchange. Chris also shares the burnout that landed him in hospital, the difficult lessons about boundaries he's trying to honour, and the softer tools he's building as a dad. His son, Caleb, pops up as a recurring theme. A reminder of why slowing down is key. Why healing matters. And why showing up as the gentler version of ourselves is important. This is a conversation about making peace with your younger self. About the courage to start again, no matter how many times life has knocked you sideways. And about the strange, hopeful power of creativity to stitch us back together. A beautiful way to end the season. A reminder that even in the mess, even in the dark, there's always a way to move forward.

Joy Nazzari of DNCO is back for The Spark, and this time we're keeping things short, sharp and delightfully unhinged. In this bonus episode, she opens up about the creative hill she'll die on, the medium she secretly wishes she could master, and the project that left her thinking, oh god… this is huge. There's talk of graffiti, guilty pleasures, strange compliments in Japan, and the emoji she overuses so much it's basically become her personal brand. We also discover what's sitting at the top of her camera roll this week and why it made her heart burst. Along the way, Joy and Katy veer into fish-and-chip politics, studio nostalgia, and the odd ways creative leaders get themselves into the right headspace before big moments. And to wrap things up, Joy poses a brilliant question for next week's guest, Chris Wilson — one that might reveal how he gets himself fired up, calm, or somewhere in between.

Joy Nazzari, founder of DNCO, shares insights from her journey in place-branding over the last two decades. She talks about the rebellious leap from stable jobs to starting a studio, emphasizing the importance of saying no to low-quality work. Joy delves into post-pandemic realities, advocating for in-person collaboration despite challenges to productivity. She reflects on being a tall, older woman in a female-led role within a male-dominated industry and discusses the drive for belonging and security shaped by her past.

We're back with the wonderful Matt Baxter of Baxter & Bailey for The Spark, our fun bonus episode with each week's guest. We talk about orange hats, forgotten skills, and the power of liking what you do. There's nostalgia, karaoke, and a bit of Play-Doh. Matt shares what he wishes he were good at, how he handles creative jealousy, and a few stories that reveal the lighter side of life. There's even an asteroid question and a brilliant one for our next guest. Light, funny and perfectly human, it's the ideal post-pod companion.

Designer, writer and hat connoisseur Matt Baxter of Baxter & Bailey joins us on The Creative Boom Podcast this week to talk about imperfection, community, and the creative life. Matt's been in the game for three decades – from Trickett & Webb and 300million to co-founding his Brighton studio with Dom Bailey in 2012. Since then, they've built thoughtful, human brands for Oxford University Press, The Body Shop, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Mail and the BBC. But it's his side project, The Design Laundry, that really caught my eye. It's a gloriously honest archive of our industry's mishaps – typos, rogue emails, pitch disasters – and the lessons that come from them. We talk about growing up in Burnley, moving south, why pondering still matters, and how to keep a studio human when speed rules everything. We also get into Brighton's creative scene, building community, and why staying off Instagram helps with creative jealousy. It's warm, funny and refreshingly honest... with bonus seagulls.

In this bonus episode, Pum Lefebure of Design Army opens the studio door and lets us peek at the small rituals that keep her sharp, the mindset that replaces work–life "balance", and the travel habits that refill her creative well. We talk about fear, firsts, and learning new tools the hard way. She shares the single phrase a client used to define Design Army's signature. It's a good one. There's scent, style, and a guilty pleasure that might surprise you. We finish with Pum's question for our next guest. A big what-would-you-do that you'll be answering in your head before the credits roll.

Pum Lefebure is the cofounder and chief creative officer of Design Army, the award-winning Washington DC studio behind bold campaigns for clients like The Washington Ballet, Bloomingdale's, and Hong Kong Ballet. Known for her clarity of vision, Pum set her sights on fashion, performing arts, and culture from the very beginning, building a portfolio that attracted exactly the clients she wanted. In this conversation, Pum shares how she and her husband Jake turned a yard sale poster into their first break, why every project is a calling card, and how choosing clients with intent can shape the future of your career. We talk about the balance between paid work and passion projects, what it really takes to build a studio with grit and perseverance, and why leadership means being a coach, a cheerleader, and sometimes a plumber. Pum also reflects on staying relevant in an industry shifting at lightning speed, how AI and social media are changing client expectations, and why authenticity and craft still matter more than ever. This conversation is about courage, focus, and carving your own path – and it's packed with practical wisdom for anyone dreaming of their own creative career.

Jeff Staple is back for The Spark – our quickfire after-hours chat where we dig beneath the surface and have a little fun. In this shorter episode, Jeff opens up about the small rituals that keep him grounded, how to turn jealousy into fuel, and why getting sunlight on your face at 6 a.m. can change your whole day. We talk about his inner critic (which sounds suspiciously like his mum), the smell of childhood baseball gloves, and why Bruce Lee remains his creative hero. There's talk of UFOs, the perfect typeface, and what he'd say if he ever met an alien. It's curious, funny, and full of unexpected wisdom... the perfect companion to Monday's deeper dive. Tune in, share it with a friend, and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a moment of The Spark.

Jeff Staple, a designer and cultural figure, discusses his journey from an imaginative New Jersey childhood to becoming a sneaker icon. He shares life-changing near-death experiences that reshaped his perspective on risk and creativity. The making of the Nike Pigeon Dunk, which famously sparked a riot, reveals the fine line between success and being pigeonholed. With humor and insight, Jeff explains how he revitalized brands like Brooks and Crocs, blending nostalgia with innovation while embracing resilience in an ever-evolving creative landscape.