Revision Path

When I first asked De Nichols what title she would give herself, she said "I'm a curator of creative connections. A civic matchmaker. A creator." Pretty nice, right? De is more than just a title though -- her work helps changemakers nationwide actualize creative solutions to issues that matter most to them and their communities. We started off talking about her current work, including her activism work in Ferguson. We also talked about her organization Civic Creatives, and she gave some great advice on what designers can do to get involved in their communities to make change. De is such an upbeat and powerful force, and her enthusiasm for making the world a better place is infectious! De Nichols' Website De Nichols on Facebook De Nichols on Twitter De Nichols on YouTube De Nichols' Vlog Channel Civic Creatives === The Revision Path Store is now open! Buy specially branded t-shirts, mugs, and buttons and help support the show! http://revisionpath.com/store === Come join the Revision Path comm

Our Slack community is filled with talented designers and technologists, and that's where I first met Amélie Lamont. Amélie is a product designer in New York City who is one-third of the team behind Good for PoC, a directory of tech companies which are inclusive and safe for people of color. Our conversation began with Amélie talking about the inspiration behind Good for PoC, and how the site has been received by the community. From there we talked about "Not a Black Chair", her account of discrimination, sexism and racism at Squarespace. We also discussed Amélie's past work as a certified health and wellness coach, and she shared what she does for self care, what attracts her to mentorship, and how she's pursuing her career goal of being a design anthropologist. I love that Amélie is so outspoken, so I hope her work inspires you to speak up as well! Amélie Lamont's Website Amélie Lamont on Twitter Amélie Lamont on Instagram === The Revision Path Store is now open! Buy specially branded t-shirt

It's Independence Day here in the U.S., and what better way to celebrate that than by talking with a self-made business owner? Meet Jon Lewis: designer, co-founder and chief product officer of Circa Victor, a political technology firm currently based in Washington D.C. Jon and his team infuse design thinking and technology into our nation's political system by empowering journalists, the public, and decision makers at every level of government. We started off talking about how Circa Victor got started, and Jon shed some light on what tech can learn from the government (and vice versa). From there, we talked about his upbringing overseas, his time spent in Hawai'i honing his craft, and what he feels it means to be a designer today. Jon's unique style and outlook on the design world are what sets him apart, and I'm glad for the opportunity to have him tell his story. Aloha! Circa Victor Jon Lewis' Website Jon Lewis on Twitter Jon Lewis on Medium === The Revision Path Store is now open! Buy specially b

Andrea Pippins claims many titles -- educator, designer, author -- but above all, she's an artist first. Andrea just finished her latest book Becoming Me, so this interview came right on time! We began by talking about Andrea's journey as an author from her first book I ♥ My Hair to today. Andrea also shared what first got her involved in design, spoke about her time at art school at Temple University, touched on her work as a design educator (including her current position at MICA), and a whole lot more. This is an interview you'll definitely want to listen to again and again! Andrea Pippins on Instagram Andrea Pippins on Twitter Andrea Pippins' Website Fly

Comic book fans, you're in for a treat this week! I'm talking with Sanford Greene, illustrator for Marvel Comics and half of the team behind the new Power Man and Iron Fist. Sanford's style is unmistakeable, and his work has also graced other Marvel titles like Deadpool and Spider-Man. We talked about how he got his start with Marvel, his feelings on the new Luke Cage series on Netflix (and his rising popularity), as well as his own title Rotten Apple on Dark Horse Comics. Sanford's motto of creating from life is one I think we can all get behind! Sanford Greene on Facebook Sanford Greene on Instagram Sanford Greene on Twitter

It's not often that you meet someone like Amy Lee Walton. As a cartographer, Amy Lee helps Mapbox create maps that combine technology and aesthetics. I started off by asking her what makes a good map, and from there we went more into how she got first interested in technology, using design for social good, and her advice for designers and developers alike. Our world is changing every day, and it's talented people like Amy Lee that are helping to navigate it one map at a time! Amy Lee Walton's Website Amy Lee Walton on Twitter

If you've been listening to the show for the past few months, you've heard me doing short interviews with designers at Facebook. This week, I'm really glad to have the chance to interview one at length -- Kingsley Harris. Our conversation started off with Kingsley talking about what he does at Facebook, and then we spoke about how he got into design, his early days at social networking pioneer BlackPlanet, and talked about how we can get the next generation interested in design. Kingsley might not be the typical product designer, but it's his mix of experiences and perspectives that make him stand out! Kingsley Harris on Facebook Kingsley Harris on Instagram Kingsley Harris on Twitter Kingsley Harris on Dribbble

Denise Jacobs is a woman who needs no introduction. Her work as a speaker, author, and creativity evangelist has her spreading the gospel of creativity at conferences and tech companies around the world, and has definitely made her a household name in the industry. We started off talking about how Denise first got started in the industry and later broke into the speaker circuit, as well as her career transition from CSS to creativity. Denise also shared some great information about how to find your strengths, as well as what gives her purpose to continue doing this important work. According to Denise, everyone is creative; they just need to figure out how. That's the kind of wisdom that's made her such a sought after expert! Denise Jacobs' Website Denise Jacobs on Twitter Denise Jacobs on Facebook Banish Your Inner Critic

Rich Hollant's body of work is just...amazing. As the principal, strategist, and design director at CO:LAB (a firm he started in 1988), he has done work with everyone from Fortune 500 corporations to cities and municipalities with enriching social value projects. He's won awards from AIGA, CADC, Print, HOW, and many other organizations. Rich is also going to be a new national board member for AIGA...and there's even more! While we did spend a good bit of time on the work that Rich and his firm does, our conversation touched on a lot of other points. Listen as Rich shares the secret to his business' success and longevity, his philosophy on work and life, and learn how he says designers can get involved in social value projects. You'll definitely want to take notes for this interview! Enjoy! Rich Hollant on Facebook CO:LAB CO:LAB on Facebook CO:LAB on Twitter

"Regardless of your dreams, don't let anyone stop you." When Harrison Wheeler, told me this before our interview, I knew that we were going to have a good conversation on our hands. Harrison is the design manager at Base, a customer relationship management tool used by entrepreneurs to help track clients and set up a sales process so your business runs more efficiently. We started off by going through a typical day for Harrison, and he shared what he thinks makes someone a good design manager. From there, he talked about how he first got involved in design, his entrepreneurial days at the University of Iowa, and we talked a bit about diversity in design as it relates to hiring. (And he is hiring!) Harrison really had a lot of great information to share, and I think anyone interested in more about product design or design management should definitely give this episode a listen. Thanks to Ron Bronson for the introduction! Harrison Wheeler's Website Harrison Wheeler on Twitter Harrison Wheeler on I

When Asia and I spoke before recording, she told me that one thing she wanted people to take away from our talk was that it doesn't matter what your path is, there's a way into technology. I think that's super important for people to hear, especially when there's so much talk about college programs, hackathons, and the like. There's more than one way to be a part of this industry, and Asia's story definitely illustrates that. We started off talking about the work she's currently doing as a product designer at 2U, including learning how she approaches new projects and the tools she uses. From there, we talked about how she got into design, how her college experiences shaped her, and her love for mentoring and volunteering. We also spend some time going into game design and Asia shared the game she's most interested in and the one she most wants to design. Thank you Asia for such a thoughtful interview! Asia Hoe's Website Asia Hoe on Twitter Asia Hoe's Gaming Twitter

It's May, and we're beginning the month by talking with Dr. Vukosi Marivate. Dr. Marivate is a data scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa. His work primarily deals with machine learning, so I had to ask one question -- how do machines learn? From there, Dr. Marivate walked me through a typical day, answered some great questions from our Slack community, and shared what people who are interested in data science should learn. We also talked about his early days growing up in South Africa and going to college there, as well as his time here in the United States at Rutgers studying for his Ph.D. Dr. Marivate shared a lot of really great advice that he's used to help him succeed, and I'm glad to get the opportunity to have him share it with you all! Dr. Vukosi Marivate's Website Dr. Vukosi Marivate on Twitter ====== Join our Slack AMA with WordPress consultant and developer Kronda Adair on Wednesday, May 4! Sign up for our Slack community here: http://revisionpa

We're back to New York City this week -- Brooklyn, to be exact -- and talking with Digital Ocean product designer Earl Carlson. Earl is proof that you can move around and try different things as long as you have the drive to succeed. We started off talking about Earl's college days at the University of Michigan, and then Earl guided me through where his design skills have taken him -- New Orleans and San Francisco. We also talked about some of the work he's doing at Digital Ocean, his great posts on design on Medium, as well as some of the people who keep him motivated and inspired to succeed. Earl is really about helping the next generation of designers, so make sure you keep an eye out for him in a city near you! Earl Carlson on Twitter Earl Carlson on Medium

We have a lot of students that listen to Revision Path, but I haven't actually had a student on as a guest in a long time! Enter Eniola Odetunde: a visual designer and current grad student at the Savannah College Art of Design. She shared some great insights into the life of a student designer that I think you'll enjoy. Eniola's specialty as a designer deals with movement, so we talked about how she got into dynamic typography and stop motion work. She also shared why hand lettering is so popular right now, and shared how she gets inspired and works on new projects. We even went into the Atlanta design scene a bit and talked about diversity in the design industry. According to Eniola, "you might not be the best, but you have to figure out your style." Excellent advice! Eniola Odetunde's Website

Designer and web video producer Satchell Drakes is someone I've wanted to have on the show for quite a while. Satchell is probably best known for his YouTube channel Satchbag's Goods -- a collection of gorgeously produced and insightful videos on gaming, movies, music, and culture. We started off talking about the independent Internet space and how he got started with design and video and he walked me through his workflow and what a typical day is like for him as a designer. Satchell also shared the biggest compromise he's made that has attributed to his success. And of course, we talked about video games too! I think you'll really get a lot out of this interview, so press play and enjoy! Satchbag's Goods Satchell Drakes on Twitter Satchell Drakes on Instagram

"If there's one thing I want people to know, it's that computer science is accessible by everyone." When Dr. James H. Hill told me that, I had a feeling this was going to be a pretty interesting interview. Dr. Hill is currently an associate professor of computer science at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and serves as co-director of their Software Engineering and Distributed Systems research group. We started off with Dr. Hill's backstory and how he got into computer science, and from there he walks us through his work at IUPUI and some of the current projects he's overseeing and researching. Dr. Hill and I also spoke about the current government administration's focus on computer science curriculum and what that means for educators and students. It's a great interview, and I'm always glad to get the chance to talk with a fellow Morehouse alum. Enjoy! Dr. James H. Hill's Website Dr. James H. Hill on Twitter Dr. James

March is ending with a great interview with product designer Kat Vellos. Kat's unique approach to user experience design comes from her past work in visual design, education, and facilitation. Very cool! We talked about some of her current projects, including #EndSmallTalk and the popular Bay Area Black Designers meetup. We also discussed mentorship and how people can use design in their communities. Kat's curious and inquisitive nature, combined with her background, makes her a really thoughtful designer. I'm interested in seeing what else she does in the future! Kat Vellos' Website Kat Vellos on Twitter Kat Vellos on LinkedIn Bay Area Black Designers #EndSmallTalk Take our audience survey for a chance to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card! Survey ends on April 30, 2016!

Bemnet Yemesgen wears a lot of different hats -- creative director, photographer, strategist -- but if you're looking for a title that describes his work, "creator" is the one. We talked about his early years growing up in Addis Ababa, moving to the U.S. for college, and his current work in our nation's capital. We also spent some time talking about how his faith impacts his design work, along with why he loves learning by going to conferences. Bemnet's main goals are to inspire, educate, and connect, and I think you'll find yourself relating to him on all three points. Thanks to Dian Holton for the introduction! Bem&Co. Design Agency Bemnet Yemesgen's Website Bemnet Yemesgen on LinkedIn Bemnet Yemesgen on Twitter

We've talked about coding bootcamps several times here on Revision Path, so I thought it would be a fantastic idea to talk with someone who teaches them! Meet Antoinette Smith, an instructor and software engineer with Prime Digital Academy. We started off with an overview of Prime Digital Academy and what Antoinette teaches, and from there we talked about the effectiveness of coding bootcamps for employers and Antoinette's love for databases. We also spent some time talking about the local Twin Cities tech scene, her journey as a software engineer, and the one dream project she would love to build. Thank you Antoinette for helping teach the next generation of programmers! Antoinette Smith's Website Antoinette Smith on LinkedIn Antoinette Smith on Twitter

It's Revision Path's 3rd anniversary, and this week I'm the one in the hot seat! You've heard me interview dozens of Black designers and developers from around the world, and now you can learn more about me, how Revision Path got started, and how Revision Path has allowed me to make a bigger impact in the design community. You'll even learn about the one idea I'm most passionate about that I haven't released to the public! A huge thanks to comedian and programmer Brandi Brown for interviewing me for this special episode! Maurice Cherry on Twitter Maurice Cherry's Website Maurice Cherry on Tumblr Lunch The Year of Tea