The Creative Boom Podcast

Harrison Wheeler is a UX Design Manager at LinkedIn in Silicon Valley. For the last 15 years, his diverse career has taken him from freelancing and later scaling a startup to working at one of the largest social media platforms in the world. Here, we talk about how the Internet has changed the world. We discuss Black Lives Matter and inclusivity in design. There’s even a story about how an Apple Watch saved Harrison's life – something that reveals his true strength and resolve.

On a mission to make the world a happier place, Meg Lewis is a designer, comedian, performer and educator who will put a smile on your face. With clients including Google, Dropbox and Barbie, and her own hit podcast that combines mindfulness and comedy, Meg has enjoyed a fantastic career to date. She puts her success down to discovering her superpowers and finding a purpose. Here, we'll get to uncover those secrets on building a personal brand while enjoying a giggle over "wet cheese" and poops.

One of today's most influential designers, Debbie Millman is also the host of Design Matters with previous guests including Milton Glaser and Barbara Kruger. For 20 years, she was president of Sterling Brands and in 2009 she co-founded the world’s first graduate programme in branding at New York's School of Visual Arts. Join us, as we talk about rocky career paths, the beauty (and sadness) of getting older, and why having courage is so empowering. There's even some insight into where Debbie might be heading next.

Simon Dixon is the co-founder of DixonBaxi, one of the world's most respected brand and design consultancies, boasting clients as big as Netflix, AC Milan and the Premier League. The London firm, which has achieved god-like status amongst the design community, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In this episode, we get a fascinating, no-nonsense insight into the brains behind DixonBaxi, and learn more about what it takes to be a great designer.

Dapo Adeola is an award-winning designer and illustrator who creates fun and upbeat characters and images that challenge expectations around gender and race. He's also the co-creator of the best-selling children's picture book, Look Up. Here, we talk about carving a career out of art and design, the importance of representation and why kindness and compassion will keep you sane. We also discover why Dapo had to turn down Disney twice.

Sarah Boris is an award-winning graphic designer, creative director and artist based in London who's worked with some of the world's leading publishing houses and art organisations, including Phaidon Press, The Photographers' Gallery, Tate and Barbican. Here, we chat about the events of 2020, and how the year transformed her perspective and practice. We'll also discover what makes her happy.

Manchester-based multidisciplinary artist Kofi Nelson has just graduated in graphic design from the University of Salford and is also a music producer, collaborating with musicians around the world. Here, we talk about entering the working world under the shadow of Covid-19 and an uncertain economy. We also talk about music and its accessibility, overcoming self-doubt, and finding ways to stay creative during difficult times.

By day, Gavin Strange is a director and designer for Aardman Animations in Bristol, the people behind Wallace and Grommit, and Shaun the Sheep. By night, he's a "passion project pursuer" where he indulges in everything from filmmaking and toy design to illustration and photography. In this episode, we chat about his boundless energy, his love of giving back, why he avoids the "heavy stuff" and why you can only rely on yourself to improve your skills.

Neef Rehman is a web developer and designer, working at ustwo in London, the digital agency famous for its award-winning Monument Valley game. He's also behind the company's new scheme to help first-time founders through mentorship and support. Recorded pre-lockdown, we discuss how he fell in love of design after dealing with data at one of his first jobs, and why he's now proud to be giving back to the industry. He also shares his thoughts on mental health, the danger of facades and why honesty is better for everyone.

Describing herself as a "maker of things", Danielle Rhoda is a freelance illustrator and animator based in Manchester, UK. Originally from Poland and "partly raised" in Nottingham, she calls herself a northerner at heart after graduating from the Manchester School of Art in 2018 and deciding to settle in the city. We talk about how she's finding self-employment so far, especially during lockdown. We also talk about dystopian fiction, zombies, cycling, and surviving a creative career as introverts.