Revision Path

I'll never forget what Ian Davis told me when I first spoke with him: "I'm here to serve the creative community." As a results-oriented creative problem solver, Ian heads up the consulting firm Age of the Creative and helps creatives of all kinds with handling their business affairs and get more opportunities. Ian and I talked about his background working with some of the world's top ad agencies birthed the idea to start his own business, walked me through a typical day, and shared how the power of community has transformed his life. If you're a creative looking to take your presence to the next level, then Ian Davis is the man! Age of the Creative Age of the Creative on Instagram Age of the Creative on Twitter Ian Davis on Facebook Ian Davis on Instagram Ian Davis on Twitter 28 Days of the Web is back for its fifth installment! 28 days, 28 Black designers, developers, and creatives. Check them out! http://28daysoftheweb.com Also, we've got something special -- a video with one of th

Rafael Smith proves that being curious and being open to new experiences can take you pretty far in life. As the current design lead at IDEO.org, he uses his skills in product design and industrial design to improve the lives of people in poor and vulnerable communities worldwide. We talked about how Rafael almost became a horse trainer instead of a designer, and the one experience that set him on his current path. He also shared a really good piece of advice that has stayed with him over the years, spoke about his new focus on approaching design and bias, and also talked about the importance of carving out time to be creative. Thank you Rafael for sharing your knowledge with all of us! Rafael Smith on Instagram Rafael Smith on Twitter We want to hear from you for our 5th anniversary episode! Got any questions about the show? How about questions for any of our past guests? Send them to revisionpath@gmail.com and we'll answer them on our anniversary episode on February 26! Check out our blog post for more

Regine Gilbert is such a positive presence in our Slack community, so when we finally met at last year's Black in Design Conference, I knew I had to have her on the show. As a UX design consultant, Regine uses her skills of observation and exploration to help make the world a more accessible place. We talked about how Regine transitioned into UX from the world of fashion design, the advice that's stuck with her the most over the years, and she shared how more designers can become aware of using accessibility in their work. We definitely need more people like Regine in the design world, and I'm so glad that she's part of our community! Regine Gilbert's Website Regine Gilbert on Linkedin Regine Gilbert on Twitter We want to hear from you for our 5th anniversary episode! Got any questions about the show? How about questions for any of our past guests? Send them to revisionpath@gmail.com and we'll answer them on our special 5th anniversary episode on February 26! Help support Revision Path by becoming a mo

When Jomo Tariku reached out to me to tell me about his work, I knew I had to have him come on the podcast and tell his story. His furniture designs draw heavily from his Ethiopian background, and has been exhibited in Accra, Dubai, Lagos, Venice, New York, Montreal, and in other spaces around the world. Our conversation began with Jomo describing growing up in Ethiopia and how that led him into industrial design. He also talked about the importance of building a support network to ensure your work is sustainable, why he took a seven year break from his work, and he explained his signature piece, The Birth Chair II. Jomo really uses his heritage as a source of inspiration, and I'm excited to see what else he'll create in the future! Jomo Furniture <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jomofurniture/">Jomo Tariku on Instagram</a></li> Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revi

We've had design educators and researchers on Revision Path before, but never a design scholar! Audrey Bennett studies cross-cultural and trans-disciplinary communication that makes use of images that not only impact the way we think and behave, but that also permeate global culture. For the past 20 years, she has done her research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where she currently serves as associate professor of graphics for the Department of Communication and Media. Audrey and I talked about her journey to becoming a design scholar, and we discussed the notion of a Black design aesthetic, as well as how her work and the design industry has changed with the rapid adoption of technology. Audrey has done a ton of research in the field of graphic design, so if you're looking for a deep dive, make sure you check out the interview, read her papers, and learn more about her work! Audrey Bennett's Website Audrey Bennett on Academia.edu Audrey Bennett on Google Scholar Help support Revision Path by becom

I couldn't think of a better person to start 2018 with here on Revision Path than Jermaine Bell. The Baltimore-based visual designer, photographer, and social designer embodies what it means to work within a supportive creative community. Jermaine started off by talking about his childhood growing up in Baltimore, and we followed his design journey through high school and college. He also gave us the lowdown on the ups and downs of fellowships, his first foray into retail, and discussed what it means to him to "make it" as a designer. Keep an eye out for Jermaine -- he's doing big things! Jermaine Bell's Website Jermaine Bell's Etsy Store Jermaine Bell on Instagram Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future episodes, and a lot more! Join today! We're on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher as well! Visit http://revisionpath.com/iTunes or h

We're closing out 2017 by talking with the one and only John Jennings. As a storyteller, editor and artist, John's body of work spans several media: comics, graphic novels, books, and countless panels and talks. He's even the co-founder and organizer of two comics conventions! Currently he's a professor of media and cultural studies at UC Riverside, and he is exploring the connections between design, identity politics and popular media. John starts off by giving us a primer on afrofuturism and talks about some of his current projects, such as illustrating Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation and finishing the art book Black Comix Returns. From there, we go into topics around art and design as indicators of culture, speculative design, and more. John is really helping advance the conversation around comics and culture, and I couldn't think of a better way to wrap up the year. 2018, here we come! John Jennings on Twitter John Jennings on Tumblr John Jennings' Amazon Author Page Email John Jennings Help su

When you think of design and Rhode Island, what comes to mind? Well hopefully after this episode, you'll think of web and print designer Danikqwa Rambert! She may be new to the design industry, but she's quickly making a name for herself. I had to learn more, so Danikqwa talked with me about her time at Johnson and Wales University along with how important networking and internships have been to her career so far. She also shared her thoughts on what can be done to keep more women in the design industry, and we even geeked out a bit talking about tea. Danikqwa Rambert is definitely a rising star, so keep your eye on her! Danikqwa Rambert's Website Danikqwa Rambert on Twitter Danikqwa Rambert on Instagram Heart and Soul PVD Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future episodes, and a lot more! Join today! Check out this week's episode spon

Gail Anderson is a titan in the design community. As an educator, designer, author, and creative director, her output of work has helped shape and propel the design community worldwide for the past 30 years. Her enthusiasm for design has not abated, and she's now helping teach the next generation of designers at SVA in New York City. Our conversation touched on some of her most prolific work, including stamps for the U.S. Postal Service and art direction for Rolling Stone magazine. We also talked about her time growing up in the Bronx, discussed how the design community has changed over the years, and she shared her secrets for collaborating that have kept her creating. If you're looking to get inspired, this interview is for you! Gail Anderson's Website Anderson Newton Design Gail Anderson on Instagram Gail Anderson on Facebook Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-on

We're ending out MailChimp Month on Revision Path with a conversation with Jon Bell. Jon has worn many hats in his career -- design leader, product leader, entrepreneur -- and now he beings his experience to MailChimp as their newest design manager. Jon and I talked about his philosophy to design, as well as his vision for what he wants to accomplish in his new position. We also talked about how his background in politics helps his current work, the importance of mentors, and what the best things are that he owes his parents. I'm excited to see what Jon will help bring to MailChimp! Thank you MailChimp for being a sponsor and for allowing me to interview these great designers and developers! Jon Bell on LinkedIn Jon Bell on Facebook Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future episodes, and a lot more! Join today! Shop our store on Threadless

Cyrus Henderson may be new to MailChimp, but he's no stranger to the product design game, As a product designer on the ads team, he's also helped work on some of their latest campaigns. We talked a lot about learning and inspiration, and he shared some of his influences and gave advice for anyone wanting to get into product design. Cyrus is a great example of someone that's really taken advantage of both social media and the immense amount of design knowledge out there on the Internet to carve out his own place in the design community and make a name for himself. From here, the sky's the limit! Cyrus Henderson on Twitter Cyrus Henderson on Instagram Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future episodes, and a lot more! Join today! Shop our store on Threadless! Get t-shirts, tanks, mugs, and more! http://revisionpath.com/store We're on Appl

As a software engineer at MailChimp, Raven works in the background to help make sure all of the platform's features run smoothly. It sounds like a big job, but Raven's strong problem solving skills makes it look easy. Raven has followed quite a nontraditional path before coming to MailChimp, and we talked about how her previous work in politics and as a tech recruiter helped her discover a love for technology and coding. She also shared her advice for anyone who wants to follow in her footsteps, and mentioned what she hopes to accomplish for the rest of 2017. Raven proves that you can be a success in tech if you put your mind to it! Raven Covington on Twitter Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future episodes, and a lot more! Join today! Shop our store on Threadless! Get t-shirts, tanks, mugs, and more! http://revisionpath.com/store We're

Eric Muntz has been with MailChimp since 2010, and he has really seen it grow into the hugely popular email service provider and marketing automation platform it is today. He also has a lot of perspective on the tech industry as a whole as a long time consultant and software developer. We talked about how a Blackberry app got his foot in the door at MailChimp, and he shared what he does on a day-to-day basis as the company's VP of development. We also talked about compromise and balance, and Eric spoke on one of the biggest mistakes he sees happening in the tech community. I really appreciate Eric's thoughtful approach to the work he does at MailChimp, and how those values help make him a great leader. Enjoy! Eric Muntz on Twitter Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future episodes, and a lot more! Join today! Shop our store on Threadless!

Timothy Bardlavens has accomplished a lot since he started designing professionally five years ago. His design journey has taken him from coast to coast, and now he’s at Microsoft helping lead product innovation and UX while also heading up the culture team to foster greater inclusion throughout the company. And he is just getting started! We talked about how Microsoft has changed over the years, and he shared how he started with humble beginnings in South Carolina and worked his way up to one of the largest tech companies in the world. We also discussed the role of design organizations for designers of color, and we talked about Timothy’s Medium article on leaving AIGA. Timothy’s big goal is to impact the culture, and at the rate he’s going, he’s well on his way to making that happen! "Dear AIGA, Goodbye." Timothy Bardlavens' Website Timothy Bardlavens on Twitter Timothy Barldavens on Instagram We are having our first live event! Revision Path: Live with Facebook Design is taking place on November 7 at

Sibyl Edwards is a true advocate for tech inclusion and women in technology. She's the chief creative inclusion officer for strategy agency Wetogethr, serves as president of DC Web Women, and is a co-founder of Black Female Founders, an organization and platform for Black women entrepreneurs. And that's not even everything she does! Sibyl talked to me about how she started out as a front-end web developer and the journey she went through to get to her current success. We also chatted about the ongoing conversations around diversity and inclusion in the tech and design industries, and she shared her latest venture -- wellness in tech. Make no mistake, y'all -- Sibyl is the real deal! Sibyl Edwards on LinkedIn Wetogethr DC Web Women Black Female Founders We are having our first live event! Revision Path: Live with Facebook Design is taking place on November 7 at 6:30pm in Atlanta! This is a special event, so if you want to attend, send us an email at revisionpathlive@fb.com! Help support Revision Path by be

Diversity in design for Black people is an important issue, but a lot of its focus tends to go towards employment rather than education. Design researcher Omari Souza has approached the topic from a different angle, and his thesis reveals some startling insights. Omari shared how he first got into design and how his education at Cleveland Institute of Art and Kent State University inspired his push into design research. Omari is also a new full-time professor at La Roche College in Pittsburgh, so we talked about the importance of representation in design education and even about the design community's silence around political issues concerning Black Americans. We do cover a lot in this interview, and I'm glad we have design researchers like Omari to examine and document this kind of work! "Chasing Vertical: Diversity & Recognition in the field of Graphic Design" (PDF) Omari Souza at La Roche College's Design Division We are having our first live event! Revision Path: Live with Facebook Design is taki

When it comes to his work, Mattieau St. Cyr's philosophy as a creator is to always stay open. The multi-talented Torontonian has his hands in a lot of projects and wields a number of skills. As a visual storyteller, Mattieau created Mannik Realm, a vehicle for all his creative projects which includes film, apparel, design, and more. We talked about the inspirations behind Mannik Realm, and Mattieau talked about how his time in Japan helped change him as a designer. He also shared the processes behind some of his work, as well as his influences and some of his goals for the rest of the year. According to Mattieau, anything is attainable, and I think Mannik Realm is a great example of creating the world where you want to live! Mattieau St. Cyr's Portfolio Mattieau St. Cyr's Video Reel Mattieau St. Cyr on Twitter Mattieau St. Cyr on Instagram Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including specia

If you're ever down in Miami for Art Basel (or otherwise), then there's a good chance you've experienced Mikhaile Solomon's influence. As the director of Prizm Art Fair, she's helped curate and exhibit cultural activities from the African diaspora for the past five years. Listen as Mikhaile talks about how she began with Prizm Art Fair and shares what makes the Miami art and design scene so unique. We also talk about her recent travels throughout Africa, the beauty of Ghana, the controversy behind the Whitney Biennial, and more. I love that we can have these kinds of conversations here, and thanks to Mikhaile for helping bring this culture to the masses! Mikhaile Solomon on Twitter Mikhaile Solomon on Instagram Mikhaile Solomon on LinkedIn Prizm Art Fair Prizm Art Fair on Instagram Prizm Art Fair on Twitter Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early ac

We're closing out HBCU Month this year on Revision Path by talking with award-winning creative director Derrick Rivers. With over fourteen years of experience, Derrick specializes in using strategy and business tactics along with design and art direction to reach customers across some of the world's most well-known brands. I caught up with Derrick fresh off his short stint in Chicago, and we talked about the difference between the two cities when it comes to creative community. We also touched on entrepreneurship, the difference between agency and client-side work, and the turning point in his career that set him on a path to success. I'm excited to see what Derrick is going to bring here to Atlanta in the future! Derrick Rivers' Website Derrick Rivers on Instagram Derrick Rivers on Twitter Revision Path is proud to sponsor the 2017 Black in Design Conference! This event takes place at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design October 6-8. This event will sell out, so get your tickets today! https

We're back in the Bay Area this week, and we're talking to illustrator and senior UI/UX designer Frances Liddell! She comes from an illustrious legacy through Jackson State University, but as you'll hear in the interview, that doesn't mean that she hasn't had to work hard to obtain success. We talked about her "aha moment" as a designer, and we spent a lot of time dissecting and discussing HBCUs, "the pipeline", and the design community. Frances also shared her experiences in San Francisco, including going to design school there and transitioning into her current role. Shout out to Cornelius Toole in our Slack community for the introduction! Frances Liddell's Website Frances Liddell on Twitter Revision Path is proud to sponsor the 2017 Black in Design Conference! This event takes place at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design October 6-8. This event will sell out, so get your tickets today! https://ticketbud.com/events/b314eb1c-7635-11e7-bcd8-4fe2a306c1ad Help support Revis