The Quickie - Conversations with Designers
Print Design Academy
Looking for a podcast that’s all about graphic design, creativity, and the people who make it happen? On The Quickie, host Dave Hopkins has candid, inspiring conversations with graphic designers, illustrators, creative directors, and other creative pros. From freelancers to in-house designers at top agencies, they share their career journeys, creative processes, biggest wins, and lessons learned.
Whether you’re into branding, packaging, print design, or just need a fresh dose of inspiration, each short episode delivers stories, design tips, and real-world advice. Subscribe now to get inspired, learn something new, and hear the stories behind the work. Because, honestly, who doesn’t love a good quickie?
Whether you’re into branding, packaging, print design, or just need a fresh dose of inspiration, each short episode delivers stories, design tips, and real-world advice. Subscribe now to get inspired, learn something new, and hear the stories behind the work. Because, honestly, who doesn’t love a good quickie?
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 29, 2019 • 30min
Episode 043 - Skylar Aieta
Today's guest is Skylar Aieta, Designer at Shore in Seattle WA. Skylar is a designer that appreciates and is fascinated by type so naturally, we talk about what you can learn from or see in a typeface. Skylar also shares two unique influential designs or design systems with us. He tells us about the first time he realized graphic design actually exists outside of the classroom. I like his answer to the ask-it-forward question from episode 042 as well! Plus, that lightning round is swell!
Jun 28, 2019 • 39min
Episode 042 - Sheldon Popiel
Today's guest is Sheldon Popiel, Creative Director at District Ventures Accelerator in Calgary AB. District Ventures is a sister company to Venture Communications. Sheldon has an incredible career of being designer, creative director, and co-founder at a number of stock photo and stock video sites. He shares with us that the move to District Ventures which focuses primarily on consumer packaged goods was a big career change for him and what that was like. Sheldon also shares one of the most memorable projects he has worked on, a summer activity book for designers. Oh, and we talk about breakfast cereal.
Jun 27, 2019 • 41min
Episode 041 - Ben Osheyack
Today's guest is Ben Osheyack, a freelance designer focusing on brand experience from New York. Ben shares with us how he used to draw dinosaurs as a child and how he originally wanted to be a paleontologist. Ben talks about his amazing experience being the Brand Design Director at Sock Club where he was able to be a part of the design process from the sock manufacturer, to the delivery experience for their customers, and everything in between. He also shares some of the challenges he has expereicened in his design career so far. You should know that Ben prefers waffles over pancakes, and doesn't say the word dapper, but we do have fun with the lightning round!
Jun 26, 2019 • 33min
Episode 040 - Andrew Zo
Today's guest is Andrew Zo, an independent packaging designer in Vancouver BC. Andrew was born in Tawaiin and moved to Canada when he was about 12 years old. He graduated with an industrial design degree from Emily Carr University. Early in his packaging design career, Andrew created the Clifton Ring Box. This piece was picked up by The Dieline, Fast Company, Packaging of the World, Gizmondo and others. Since then he has gone on to design packaging for MEC, Lululemon, Amazon and more. I really like Andrews explanation of packaging design, so listen for that. Andrew also gives the answer for our first ever ask-it-forward question from Episode 39. Enjoy!
Jun 25, 2019 • 34min
Episode 039 - Chelsea McKenzie
Today's guest is Chelsea McKenzie. She is an in-house designer currently working in real estate development design. Chelsea has an incredible personality, her love of design, her passion for non-profits and charitable causes, and her excitement for life all shine through in this episode. She shares how she was taught to appreciate the beauty out in the world. From the lines of a nice car to nature itself. Chelsea's father was also a foster parent, so she also shares the unique dynamic of living in a busy household. This episode was lots of fun and includes the first-ever Quickie lightning round questions, as well as the pay-it-forward question!
Jun 24, 2019 • 37min
Episode 038 - Yuri Shvets
Today's guest is Yuri Shvets, Principal and Creative Director at Yurika Creative in Seattle WA. Prior to starting his own business, Yuri was at Hornall Anderson for over 10 years. He was born in the former Soviet Union and shares with us what it was like growing up in a rough neighborhood. He also tells us a wild story about how he used to paint heavy metal band logo's on the back of gangsters leather jackets in the area he grew up. Yuri shares with us the moment when he decided to go in the Graphic Design direction instead of the fine artist route, and what caused this change. Unique stories for sure!
Jun 23, 2019 • 29min
Episode 037 - Marga Lopez
Today's guest is Marga Lopez, a communications designer in Vancouver BC. Marga was born in Mexico but has been in Vancouver for the last 15 years. She is currently the Project Manager for the Exhibit Design department at the world renown Vancouver Aquarium. Marga is very involved with the design community as a former president of the GDC BC chapter and now a Partnership Coordinator for Creative Mornings Vancouver. She is very talented and I'm really excited to share her story with you!
Jun 22, 2019 • 31min
Episode 036 - Zoey Gay
Today's guest is Zoey Gay, Art Director and Designer at Gyro in Denver CO. This interview was a riot! Right from the start, you can tell we were laughing. We talk about Cannabis packaging since she was a designer in CO when legalization happened. Zoey loves to express herself creatively through fashion as well as her design work. Also, listen for when she describes her free and fun childhood, and the story about the hilarious thing she and her mom would do in the park when people walked past. Talented and fun person, fun interview, enjoy!
Jun 21, 2019 • 38min
Episode 035 - Nancy Wu
Today's guest is Nancy Wu, Owner and Designer at Nancy Wu Design in Vancouver BC. Nancy shares with us how she originally wanted to be newspaper comic strip artist but was told they didn't make any money so pick a regular career. After her first job pitting plums at White Spot, she started taking fine art classes but it didn't feel right. She toured a school that had a more Graphic Design focus, got instantly hooked, found her voice, and hasn't looked back.
Jun 20, 2019 • 28min
Episode 034 - Nova Hopkins
Today's guest is my friend Nova Hopkins, Principal and Designer at Nova Hopkins Studio in Abbotsford, BC. She is also an Assistant Professor for Branding and Communication Design at UFV in the Fraser Valley in BC. Nova shares with us how she was born into a family of designers and artists and always had creative in her. She gets personal and tells us about the very difficult decision she had to make in her creative career in order to focus on her young family. Nova shares the importance of going with your gut, even if it's hard to do.
