The Quickie - Conversations with Designers

Get your FREE ticket to the Design Summit here: summit.davetalksprint.comThe Summit takes place March 23rd to March 27th. There are 30+ design industry experts to help you create a simple and profitable design business. Today on this bonus episode of the show I have three speakers from the Simply Profitable Design Summit. Melanie Lea from MyBillieDesigns and Powerhouse Web Design. Her summit talk is called "How to make getting clients as easy + natural as breathing". @mybilliedesignsAlex Cottles from The Routine Creative and founder of the Brand Mentor Community. His summit talk is called "Stop living client-to-client". @theroutinecreativeBrandi Bernoskie from Alchemy + Aim and her summit talk is called "Building and Running an agency: Set yourself up for success". @alchemyandaimThere are so many more amazing speakers at this online summit event you do not want to miss it. Go get your FREE ticket at summit.davetalksprint.com. @heykristarae

Today's guest is Timba Smits. He is a Graphic Artist, Illustrator, and Curator out of London England. Full disclosure, this is a quickie-ish. One hour...so buckle up cause it's a damn good ride. Timba and I get into the stories...this episode is like a blockbuster movie. We should be charging for this gem, but we won't. During this episode we talk about:-how he wanted to be a fine artist and opened up his own gallery - the Timba Gallery. -the magazine he started with a friend that grew and carried on for over 6 years. -the contest that he won that allowed him to get a taste of London. -what moving to London soon after did for his career and what travel can do for yours. -the canvas competition he won on "borrowed" canvas that flicked the design switch for him. -how the first 10 years of his career went amazing and grew and came to a sudden stop one life-changing night. -the years of struggle and self doubt that he needed to battle through. -the art event that was highly successful that started out as a way to distract him and a friend from a tough time in their lives. -the magazine he was a part of while still struggling with a bit of doubt that ended up being just the thing he needed. -the turnaround moment that got him back on track and out of the funk. Timba is a great guy and we could have kept talking for hours. Maybe we did? Would you know? This interview is packed with incredible stories and lessons. Enjoy. @timbasmits

Today's guest is Santosh Chawla. He is a Senior Designer at Affinity Creative Group out of Oakland CA. During this episode we talk about: -how he got into the wine and spirits packaging design world. -HeMan toys and old toy packaging. -growing up and in India and growing his creative skills there. -his first trip to North America and how that all came about. -the album cover artwork he saw and what about it stuck with him. -the watch brand that he looks up to because of their design and minimalism. -using unique print techniques to help wine and spirits stand out and how one of them was inspired by his honeymoon in Italy. -the struggle to find balance between digital and real-world inspirations. -a press check that went sideways. -the design that he created that was launched at the Detroit Auto Show. With Santosh being a print guy and with 16+ years in the game, we had LOTS to talk about! Enjoy! @affinitycreative

Today's guest is Jess Goldsmith. She is a designer and illustrator working as Chick of all trade out of Brooklyn NY. During this episode we talk about:-how she is inspired by nostalgic design and styles.-her unique path to being a graphic designer. -how her creativity started with magazine collages in her room. -why she got into design. -the art event in Miami that she attended that was very influential to her. -how the path to filling her freelance schedule has been the toughest time in her career. -how and why she uses fakeclients.com. -the bazaar job she had at an IT business that had a Laser Spa in the front, why it was weird, and how it didn't end great. -her @popsnaxx IG account, what it is, why she started it, and why she is so proud of it. I had a lot of fun talking with Jess and hearing her path to design. Also the 90's nostalgia talk was pretty rad...or dope...it was dope. @chickofalltrade @popsnaxx

Part Two: Today's guest is Aaron Draplin. He is the Designer at Draplin Design Co and part of the Field Notes Brand from in Portland OR.During this part of the interview we talk about:-print design and how it is still a relevant medium for communication.-a couple of projects that did not work out and got away from him.-how it feels for him when clients move things around and adjusts his work. -what Aaron is struggling with in his career right now.-a few projects that Aaron is really proud to have been a part of.-stamp design and how it is functional art and within reach for every person. -some of the design and life tools that he uses regularly in his career.Aaron also answers four ask-it-forward questions from past guests and one from Rebecca in Episode 099. More great stories here in part two of my interview with Aaron Draplin. @draplin

Part One: Today's guest is Aaron Draplin. He is the Designer at Draplin Design Co and part of the Field Notes Brand in Portland OR. During part one of this interview we talk about:-his creative childhood that included junking and going to garage sales with his dad.-why he originally moved out to the west coast from Northern Michigan.-the first design job he had even before doing design for snowboard magazines.-the typeface and packaging design that he first noticed as a kid and why it has stuck with him.-how design is oftentimes better when it is kept simple and just functions.-the tough spot he was put in when his client goes into his designs and starts moving things around and changing the DNA of the piece and how he handles that.-building the portfolio you want by just making stuff, real paid projects or not.Aaron is full of great stories to share and he does not hold back in telling them. The story he shares about his very first design job is also one that he doesn't often share but he brought it out for the listeners on the Quickie Podcast. Lots of good stuff in this one. @draplin

Today's guest is Cara Hibbs. She is an illustrator and printmaker at her studio called Oh, Little Rabbit near Portland OR. During this episode we talk about:-the block printing her and her husband started and launched on Etsy that turned into a surprise success.-the teacher that really supported her decision to pursue design, but also the reason she decided to leave art school early. -the two art pieces that really influenced her. -the illustration pieces of her work that are her favourite, and why. -the challenge of becoming a parent and balancing a child while running the business.-the request she had that boosted her confidence and opened up the full potential of her business.-her surprise first wholesale order and who it came from. I really enjoyed hearing about Cara's journey to printmaking and her stories around growing the business. Go check out her awesome apparel and home decor products at Ohlittlerabbit.com. @ohlittlerabbit

Today's guest is Thomas J. Stevens. He is an independent designer based just outside of Birmingham UK. During this episode we talk about: -how he was always into drawing and creating and actually sold homemade comic books to his class.-his excitement for film design work and representing it using different mediums. -his self initiated design work Gary Vee and movies that gets noticed.-the leap that he took that led to the most challenging time in his career.-what he did to start testing and preparing himself before he took that leap. -the full business rebrand project he was a part of and why he is so proud of it. Go check out @tjscreates on IG to see his work, it's pretty damn awesome!

Today's guest is Anoushka Khandwala. She is a designer, writer, and educator based out of London in the UK. During this episode we talk about:-her introduction to art and creativity from her mom. -she wanted to study paint and fine art but changed to graphic design, and what went into that decision. -when she first noticed the lack of women of colour in design and how she was motivated to write a paper on the issue. She talks about where the paper was published and what it did for her. -the panel she ran with Ladies Wine + Design in London. -the festival artwork that she loved and why it stood out to her. -how design is viewed and valued (or not) and why. -the "open dialogue" project she was a part of and why she is so proud of it. I loved hearing her view of the design community and how she is doing her part to increase diversity in the industry. Awesome! @anoushkakhandwala

Today's guest is Paula Scher. She is a Designer, Painter, and a Partner at Pentagram in the New York office. She is also....PAULA SCHER! The little ol' Quickie Podcast is just cruising. What a great time. During part two of this interview we talk about:-the Swatch Watch project she was a part that went great, until three years later when it didn't. It is also the project that made a bit of a stir back then. -joining Pentagram as the first woman partner. -some recent projects she was a part of that got cancelled or pulled for reasons out of her control and how that makes her feel. -the design project that makes her heart sing, and why Swiss Helvetica was the only font choice for it. -the one project that she created that is out in the world that she hates, overtly hates. -the importance of having print design skills, especially at Pentagram. -how she deals with online criticism. This episode is just jam packed with great advice and stories that relate to designers at any stage in their career. You can tell Paula loves design and wants to help others as much as possible. @pentagramdesign