The Creative Boom Podcast

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to carry you through the week. Whether you need motivation or insights, we've got you covered! This week, we welcomed Joseph Parsons to the podcast. By day, Joseph is a freelance graphic designer, and by night, he takes to the stage as a stand-up comedian. His dual career path sparked a fascinating discussion about balancing two passions: navigating the challenges of freelancing and the unexpected parallels between pitching design ideas and performing stand-up comedy. This episode is for you if you've ever juggled different roles in your creative journey. Joseph shared his thoughts on how the industry is changing, including the impact of the Government's IR35 legislation on freelancers and small businesses. We also explored how comedy has evolved, with platforms like social media offering new opportunities for comedians to find success outside traditional routes. Joseph's upcoming tour, Re-Designed, is a brilliant blend of his experiences in comedy and design—be sure to check it out for a good laugh and some relatable industry insights. This week's creative news takes us on a journey of nostalgia and innovation. In Finland, Aalto University is unveiling Nokia's design archive on 15 January, celebrating the brand that defined the mobile world in the '90s. From the iconic 8110 "banana phone" to the customisable 3210, the archive is a treasure trove of design sketches, marketing materials, and audio recordings, offering a rich blend of inspiration and history. Meanwhile, Cornish landscape artist Dianne Griffiths has won the 2024 People's Choice Award for her atmospheric painting Driving Home. This evocative depiction of a Texaco petrol station under a starry sky captivated voters and has even been purchased by the petrol station itself. In tech news, Apple is rumoured to be working on its thinnest phone yet, the iPhone 17 Air. Combining sleek design with advanced technology, it's shaping up to be a bold step forward in minimalist tech. Our Spotlight segment this week celebrates the 25 most admired graphic designers of 2024, as voted for by the design community. From bold innovators like Jessica Walsh to typographic legends like Astrid Stavro, these creatives are shaping the future of visual culture and leaving a lasting impact on the industry. The full list is a testament to the diversity and brilliance of today's graphic design scene. Our Book of the Week is Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949–1990 by Katja Hoyer. It offers a fresh look at life behind the Iron Curtain. This detailed history reveals the complexities of the GDR, from its Marxist roots to its collapse, blending personal stories with political insights. A must-read for history buffs! For our Tip of the Week, we look at networking and why it should be your priority in 2025. Networking is about building real connections. Start small—ask simple questions like, "What brought you here?" Follow up afterwards to keep the relationship alive. Authenticity is key. Networking isn't about selling yourself—it's about making new friends. On Monday, our guest will be Jessi Brattengeier, creative director at The New York Times. She will share her inspirations, processes, and aspirations and give us a really interesting look behind the scenes at one of the world's most prestigious publications. And then, instead of The Spark on Thursday, we've got a Christmas Special for you, featuring ten former guests of The Creative Boom Podcast, all helping us get into the festive spirit. Until then!

This week on The Creative Boom Podcast, our host Katy Cowan welcomes Joseph Parsons, a graphic designer by day and stand-up comedian by night. In this lively and candid conversation, they explore Joseph's unconventional journey from the structured design world to the unpredictable comedy stage. Joseph opens up about how his dual careers have shaped his creative path, shedding light on the challenges of juggling freelance graphic design with the demands of stand-up. They discuss the resilience needed to thrive in live performance, the analytical process behind crafting comedy, and the lessons both fields offer about embracing failure and personal growth. The discussion also dives deeper into modern dating pressures, the influence of social media on comedy, and how humour can be a surprising ally in tackling serious topics. Joseph shares a glimpse into his upcoming stand-up tour, Redesigned, which combines his experiences in design and comedy into a relatable and hilarious narrative. Along the way, they reflect on themes of identity, family dynamics, and the importance of finding joy in every step of the creative process. For any discerning creative navigating the highs and lows of a career in design or anyone curious about balancing two professions, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and plenty of laughs.

Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to carry you through the week. Whether you need motivation or insights, we've got you covered! This week on the podcast, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting Christopher Doyle, who brightened up the winter gloom with his Aussie warmth and charm. He opened up about something we don't talk about enough in the creative industry: The Great Unknown. What is it, exactly? If you haven't tuned in yet, make sure you do. But to give you a taste—it's that constant barrage of brilliant design work online. You're having a great day, feeling good about your work, and then bam, you see something that's so good it stops you in your tracks. Sometimes, it inspires, but other times, it chips away at your confidence. In our chat, Chris offers some great advice to help combat that common feeling. Now, let's move on to this week's creative news. First up, Oxford University Press has announced its Word of the Year for 2024: brain rot. It captures the collective unease over endless scrolling and its impact on mental well-being. Defined as the decline of intellectual sharpness due to an overconsumption of trivial online content, it struck a chord, particularly with younger generations navigating the highs and lows of digital life. In tech news, wearable devices like smartwatches and health rings are making waves in personal health tracking, with proposals for integrating them into NHS care. While they've been praised for encouraging healthier habits, doctors caution against overreliance on these gadgets, reminding us that no device can replace professional diagnostics. Still, the shift towards at-home care keeps the debate alive. Over on LinkedIn, AI-generated writing has quietly become the norm, with more than half of long-form English posts now likely written by AI. While these tools make polished posts a breeze, critics worry about the loss of authenticity. On a platform often dominated by corporate speak, though, it seems the line between human and machine-generated content is getting blurrier—and perhaps, for some, that's okay. In our Spotlight segment, Creative Boom celebrates the resilience and growth of its community in 2024. Illustrator Marloes Devries shared how saying no to misaligned projects led to her best financial year yet while also helping other artists by passing on opportunities. It's a reminder that success isn't just about output; it's about making thoughtful choices and leaning into the support of your community. For our Book of the Week, we're recommending How Life Works by Philip Ball. This fascinating read explores the cutting-edge world of modern biology, from reprogramming cells to redesigning living systems in ways evolution never imagined. It's an inspiring look at how these scientific leaps are reshaping what we know about life—and hinting at what might be possible in the future. Now for our Tip of the Week: as the festive season approaches, managing the end-of-year chaos is key. Ruthless prioritisation is your best friend—focus on what must get done, communicate clear boundaries to clients, and let go of the rest. A little self-care doesn't hurt either. Wrap up strong, and you'll be set to start 2025 on the right foot. Looking ahead, we've got Joseph Parsons joining us on Monday. By day, he's a graphic designer; by night, he's a stand-up comedian about to go on tour with his new gig, Re-designed. Don't miss it—it's bound to be a riot. After Joe, we'll chat with Jessi Brattengeier from The New York Times, and then we'll round off the season with our festive Christmas Special featuring some familiar faces. Until Monday!

This week, The Creative Boom Podcast brings a ray of sunshine with Christopher Doyle, the award-winning founder and creative director of Christopher Doyle & Co., based in Sydney, Australia. Over nearly two decades, Christopher has built an impressive career filled with accolades, global talks, and a reputation for bringing a candid and refreshing perspective to the creative industry. In this episode, Christopher shares his reflections on what he calls "The Great Unknown", an honest exploration of the pressures and challenges facing modern designers today. He speaks openly about the overwhelming nature of constantly being exposed to others' work and the struggle to remain relevant in a fast-paced, youth-driven industry. Christopher sheds light on how social media serves as both a source of inspiration and an anxiety-inducing force, creating a delicate balance between its benefits and drawbacks. Christopher's approach to design is rooted in honesty and transparency, rejecting performative processes in favor of genuine client relationships and adaptable workflows. He explains why staying lean and agile as a small studio can often be more effective, particularly in today's challenging economic climate. Reflecting on his years of experience, he highlights the importance of embracing nostalgia, finding balance in creative work, and fostering a collaborative, open environment that prioritises authenticity over appearances. A key theme in this conversation is the personal growth that comes with experience. While Christopher acknowledges that confidence grows with age, insecurities about one's work never fully disappear. Instead, they fuel the pursuit of excellence and help maintain a balance between anxiety and complacency. Christopher also reflects on his superpower—follow-through—a skill that ensures he delivers on his ideas and brings creative visions to life. Throughout the episode, Christopher shares practical insights, including recent revelations as he approaches his fifth decade. His perspective is an inspiring reminder that honesty and transparency in creativity resonate far more than a polished facade. This episode offers a refreshing and candid take on navigating the complexities of the creative industry while holding onto passion and purpose. Whether you're a designer, a studio leader, or simply curious about the realities of modern creativity, Christopher Doyle's insights are bound to resonate.