Revision Path

It's still pretty early in 2021, so if the year hasn't quite gotten off to a good start, then let this week's conversation with Lafiya Watson Ramirez be the permission you need to turn things around! Lafiya dabbles in several media -- web, photography, augmented reality, mixed reality -- and creates new projects for herself and for her clients through her company, Bad Chick Studios.We talked about how she started her studio, and from there she shared the resources and programs she used to teach herself AR and XR. (Spoiler alert: a lot of these tools are free!) Lafiya also spoke on how her love for photography led her to web design and learning Flash, and how embracing becoming a generalist has changed her work and how she perceives herself as a creative.Get a bit of inspiration from Lafiya and learn what you can!LinksBad Chick StudiosLafiya Watson Ramirez on InstagramLafiya Watson Ramirez on TwitterLike this episode? Then subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you

We're keeping the design educator streak going this week with an interview with Danny Shaw. Along with teaching at NYC College of Technology, Danny is also the director of digital design and branding at Brandshare. He brings a wealth of real world, working knowledge into the classroom, and helps empower the next generation of designers to take over the industry.Danny talked about growing up in New York City, and spoke on how that made an impact on him as he moved throughout his career. He also spoke about his time working at Essence Magazine and offered up some great advice on resources for up and coming designers.Danny, thank you for giving back to the community through education!LinksDanny Shaw's WebsiteDanny Shaw on LinkedInThe Business GrindResourcesCreative Strategy and the Business of Design by Douglas DavisHey, Whipple, Squeeze This: The Classic Guide to Creating Great Advertising by Luke SullivanA Designer's Research Manual, 2nd edition, Updated and Expanded: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients

Let's start off Black History Month with some education, shall we? Meet David Jon Walker, owner of the graphic design studio Rhealistic, and a design professor at Austin Peay State University in Nashville, TN. Our conversation started off with a brief look back at 2020, and from there, David spoke on adapting to teaching design during this socially distant time. He also talked about growing up in Nashville, discovering design during college at Tennessee State University, and shared some of the goals he wants to accomplish this year. I'm really glad there are educators like David out there to help guide the next generation of designers!Links David Jon Walker on Instagram David Jon Walker on TwitterRECOGNIZE, Volume 3RECOGNIZE, an anthology of essays and commentary from indigenous people and people of color, is now accepting submissions! The theme is "reboot", and the submission deadline is May 2. Click here for more details! CreditsLike this episode? Then subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, S

I am absolutely thrilled to share my conversation with Angela Bains with you this week. Along with being the co-founder and strategy director of international branding agency TransformExp, Angela is also a design educator at two prestigious Canadian colleges -- OCAD University in Toronto and BCIT in Vancouver. Wait until you hear her story! We took a trip down memory lane as Angela talked about growing up in the 1970s in London, being exposed to graphic design and typography as a young woman, and starting her own design studio in the 1980s along the advent of the personal computer. Her story continues with emigrating to Canada in the 1990s, starting over and networking as a designer in a new country, and keeping the spark for design alive for then next generation of designers through teaching and decolonizing old design traditions. Angela is truly a design icon! Links Angela Bains on Instagram Angela Bains on LinkedIn TransformExp Like this episode? Then subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast

Design can change your life in unexpected ways, and Kevin Bethune is a testament to that. He is the founder and chief creative officer of dreams • design + life, a think tank that delivers design and innovation services using a human-centered approach. (It sounds lofty, but with over 20 years of experience in mechanical engineering, product creation, strategy, and industrial design, Kevin is a true master of his craft.) We started off talking about how business has shifted over the past year as he's transitioned further into the entrepreneurial life, and he shared a bit about his process when diving into new projects. Kevin also talked about his prior stints at Westinghouse and Nike, and how those experiences informed his later work for some of the nation's top consulting firms. Design has truly helped transform Kevin's life, and it can do the same for you too! Links dreams • design + life Kevin Bethune on Instagram Kevin Bethune on Twitter Like this episode? Then subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Googl

Steven Christian's motto is "create and conquer", and that's exactly what he's managed to do with his career. While he started out as an athlete, a sports injury cause him to discover visual art, and he has reinvented himself as a multitalented cartoonist, podcaster, animator, and AR mobile developer. Oh, and he's studying to apply to medical school. Talk about Black excellence! Steven shared with me how he balances all of this, and talked about how the current times helped kickstart his career. We also talked about some of his projects -- including the popular Pokémon Twerk Team -- and he reminisced on growing up in northern California and detailed how his injury helped open his eyes to the worlds of art, design, and tech. Steven also talked about his Skillshare courses, listed some of his inspirations, and spoke about his dream collab and the hope of building more of a community around his work. Steven is a prime example of turning what could be seen as a tragedy into an amazing triumph! Links S

It's the start of a new year, and I think we could probably all use something to make us feel more resilient and motivated. Well lucky for you, I've got just the thing -- our conversation with the dynamic and talented Nichelle Pace. As the president and founder of Brand Enchanting Media, Nichelle brings over 20 years of experience to the table to help her clients with a variety of creative services. After a brief 2020 recap, Nichelle talked about her process for working with clients, and we spoke about why she started the consultancy and how the market has changed as culture changes. She also spoke on growing up in New Jersey, as well as her previous careers in film and video production and advertising. We even talked about her popular blog Stylemom and how Black bloggers from the early 2000s grew into some of the cultural trendsetters we know today. Kick off the year with some great inspiring talk from Nichelle! Links Nichelle Pace's Website Nichelle Pace on Instagram Nichelle Pace on Twitter Brand Ench

I'm closing out this unprecedented year by talking with the one and only Kristy Tillman. Longtime listeners of the show may remember her first appearance back in 2015, but since then, Kristy has become one of the leading design voices in our community. As for what's next for Kristy? Well, let's just say that tomorrow looks bright.Kristy shared how her year has went so far, including departing from Slack, becoming an investor through indie.vc and The Designer Fund, and creating the Made in the Future Fellowship, a program for helping underrepresented emerging design professionals. Kristy also spoke on what success looks like for her now at this stage in her career, talked about making time for joy, and dove into the hard-won lessons she's learned this year. If there's one thing to take from Kristy's journey and her career, it's the knowledge that there are many opportunities available to grow your design career if you stay patient and chart your course.Quite a fitting way to end off 2020, right?LinksKristy Til

2020 has been one hell of a year. What if you could go into 2021 being superhuman? Then you should meet Donald Burlock, Jr.! By day, he serves as the creative technologist lead for the physical experience design team at Capital One. But by night, he's the author of the brand new book Superhuman by Design: Keys to Unlocking Your Creativity for Life-Changing Results.We started off talking about his work at Capital One, and from there Donald talked about his time working as an entrepreneur, growing up in the Midwest, and his times studying at Kettering and Georgia Tech. He also spoke on the inspiration behind his book, and shared how he's helping to build an equitable future through unlocking people's creativity. If you need a boost, then I hope this interview gets you inspired to take action!Happy Holidays!LinksSuperhuman by Design: Keys to Unlocking Your Creativity for Life-Changing ResultsDonald Burlock, Jr. on FacebookDonald Burlock, Jr. on InstagramDonald Burlock, Jr. on LinkedInDonald Burlock, Jr. on Twitt

If you've seen either the the "Black Girl Magic" video or the Black History Month video this year from Google, then you're already intimately acquainted with the work of Brandon Viney, group creative lead at Google Brand Studio. He heads up the creative agency inside Google that uses data from the search engine to produce powerful ad spots like these (and many more).Brandon gave a peek behind the curtain on his creative process when starting new projects, and talked about the Google Brand Studios Fellowship Program and shared what Google looks for when bringing on new talent. He also shared growing up in the Blue Ridge Appalachian mountains of Virginia, attending VCU's world-renowned Brandcenter, and reflected back on his time working in advertising at Wieden + Kennedy. Brandon is definitely one of the most down-to-earth and humble guests I've had on the show in some time, and I hope his story inspires you to push the boundaries of your creativity!Brandon Viney's WebsiteBrandon Viney on InstagramBrandon Viney

As we slide into the final month of this year, I caught up with the dynamic Malika Reid, art director at Goodby Silverstein & Partners. While her stomping grounds are usually in the Bay Area, Malika was down in Tulum, Mexico for a much-needed respite from the U.S. (I know that's right.)Malika talked about her day-to-day work at GS&P, and shared how her background growing up in south Florida among Caribbean family members and community helped shape her creative approach. She also spoke about how she first became interested in advertising, working with nonprofits, and and growing into her own unique voice. According to Malika, anyone can chart their own path, and her life and career are living proof of that!LinksMalika Reid's WebsiteMalika Reid on InstagramMalika Reid on TwitterBag of LiesNeed some inspiration for shopping this year? Our merch store is back, and just in time for the holidays! Shop our collection over at Mon-Cherry, and use the promo code GIFTGUIDE for 50% off your order of $50 or more!

For our 375th episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Bennie F. Johnson, the new executive director of AIGA, the professional organization for design. As the first Black executive director in AIGA's 100+ year history, Bennie is taking on a huge responsibility. When I asked him how he felt about this, he gave me two words: "boldly hopeful!"Bennie talked about what attracted him to this role, and how he's managed to grow into it during this tumultuous year. We also discussed a number of other topics, including AIGA and today's modern designer, diversity and inclusion, as well as some of this year's recent public exits from members. Bennie is working hard on building (and rebuilding) AIGA, and I'm glad we are having this conversation on Revision Path!LinksBennie F. Johnson on LinkedInBennie F. Johnson on TwitterNeed some inspiration for shopping this year? Our merch store is back, and just in time for the holidays! Shop our collection over at Mon-Cherry, and use the promo code GIFTGUIDE for 50% off your

The journey of a creative is never a straightforward path, and Mark Smith knows this well. As the head of design of Studio Mark Smith, he's went from designing t-shirts and textiles in NYC for urban apparel brands like Avirex to studying design at Auburn University to serving as the head of idea and innovation for iconic luxury brand Swarovski. Whoa!Mark and I talked about his current project -- a collection of jewelry -- and he spoke about his time working in Austria and Denmark. We also discussed his time at Pratt Institute in the 1990s and how that brought him to southern Alabama and the creation of DesignSeed, a project to help leverage local resources to create design-based startups. Mark also spoke about redefining the concept of luxury in our current pandemic times, the challenges of designing for an international audience, and what success looks like for him now at this stage of his career. From the country to Copenhagen, Mark Smith is a true design visionary!LinksStudio Mark SmithMark Smith on Instag

Dana James Mwangi has really helped put Memphis, TN on the map when it comes to design and the creative community. As a web and branding consultant, Dana helps companies and creative entrepreneurs reach the next level of their business through her agency, Cheers Creative. But as you'll hear in our interview, Dana is all about striving for excellence while also knowing your value and taking care of yourself. We talked about how she started Cheers Creative, and walked me through her process for beginning new projects. She also shared some great tips for entrepreneurs on pricing and business, including how she's kept business booming through the pandemic. Dana also reflected on her early career, spoke on how she built up her confidence as a businesswoman, and spoke on what she wants to do in the next five years. Dana James Mwangi -- remember that name, because you'll definitely hear more about her in the future! Links Dana James Mwangi's Website Dana James Mwangi on LinkedIn Dana James Mwangi on Instagram D

Camille Selvon Abrahams is a trailblazer in the animation industry. Not only did she co-found the first outsourcing animation studio in the Caribbean — Full Circle Animation Studio — but she also heads up animation studies at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and is the founding director of the Animae Caribe Animation Festival! And she’s still making history!We had a pretty wide ranging conversation, and talked about her creative process, networking with other Black animators in the industry, the power of the African diaspora, and how she uses of storytelling to help with her work as a digital activist. According to Camille, we don’t need to ask permission to tell our stories, and I couldn’t agree more. Learn more about Camille and tap into your inner creative!LinksCamille Selvon Abrahams’ WebsiteCamille Selvon Abrahams on InstagramAnimae Caribe Animation FestivalFull Circle Animation Studio Like this episode? Then subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you fi

2020 has been a year full of difficult changes for a lot of people, but Darold Pinnock has managed to navigate this difficult time pretty well! Aside from his work as a brand designer for Georgia-based agency M&R Marketing, he's also interviewed creatives and artists from all over the world through his podcast Passion Behind The Art.We talked about the changes and challenges with working in person in the office during COVID-19, and he shared how his love of architecture led him into creating his own studio, as well as how starting his podcast helped him get clients. Darold also discussed how his faith and family help motivate him, spoke about growing up in Jamaica, and gave some great advice on how we can all help build a more equitable future. Take these words of wisdom from Darold and go after your dreams!LinksDarold Pinnock's WebsiteDarold Pinnock on InstagramDarold Pinnock on TwitterPassion Behind The ArtThis episode is sponored by Scissor!Scissor is a small but fruitful graphic design studio based in

If you live in the United States and have read the funny pages any time within the past 30 years, then you already know about the work from this week's guest. Ray Billingsley is the creator of Curtis, the daily comic that follows the life and times of a precocious 11-year-old Black boy, his family, and his classmates. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to share this conversation with a cartoon legend. Ray gave an introduction to the Curtis comic universe, and talked about growing up in North Carolina and New York as a youth, attending SVA and working for Disney, and how he got his first national comic before beginning work on Curtis. Ray also shared his thoughts on new Black comic artists, discussed the value of peer mentorship, and spoke about what's in the future for him and the strip. Ray's diligence and steadfast commitment to his body of work is something every creative should take to heart, and I hope his story inspires you to pick up the baton and keep running that race! Links Curtis (comic strip)

Tech can be a lucrative career, but how many of us think of it as a way to close the wealth gap in the Black community? Nici Kelly does, and I love that her mission is to show people the different pathways into tech and tech entrepreneurship as a way to build a legacy. We started off talking about Nici's company, Care Covr, and her inspiration behind starting it in the midst of a global health pandemic. Our conversation continued when Nici talked about building Black wealth, her early introductions to technology, working in and with the Atlanta tech community, and what motivates her to keep going while also giving back to others. Remember the name Nici Kelly, because I definitely think you'll hear more about her for years to come! Links Nici Kelly's Website Nici Kelly on Instagram Nici Kelly on Twitter Care Covr Care Covr on Instagram Care Covr on Twitter Like this episode? Then subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite shows. Subscribe and l

Britt Lyle II is more than just a designer — he contains multitudes. Currently, he works as a graphics assistant at AMB Sports + Entertainment, where he helps out on visuals used by the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. But outside of work? That’s when you see the different facets of what makes Britt unique.We started our conversation discussing Britt’s work, which led to him talking about growing up in Orlando and attending Florida A&M University and studying through their esteemed design program. He also shared his story about moving to Atlanta and attending SCAD for graduate school, falling in love with motion graphics, and shared some of his other talents, including glitch art and cosplay!Being a designer doesn’t mean having just one skill, and Britt is living proof of that!LinksBritt Lyle II’s WebsiteBritt Lyle II on InstagramBritt Lyle II’s “This is Glitchcraft” Like this episode? Then subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite show

Lately, I have been doing a deep dive into the magazine archives of EBONY and JET. While skimming the masthead of one of the old issues, I stumbled across this week's guest -- Brandi Davis! Brandi served as Johnson Publishing Company's web designer from 2004-2012, and was front and center at the company's shift from print to web. Wait until you hear her anecdotes about working there! While we do spend a good bit of time talking about that portion of her career, we also talked about the importance of Black media online, how she has expanded into doing art therapy, and we dive into Brandi's latest creative project -- her own line of custom apparel inspired by her faith, her life, the culture, and her love for the city of Chicago. Brandi's drive and tenacity are the keys to her success, and I think after this interview, you will be motivated to conquer your own fears as well! Links BDavis Designs BDavis Designs on Facebook BDavis Designs on Twitter BDavis Designs on Instagram Merch by BDavis Designs Like