Creative Voyage Podcast

In this episode, I talk to Myesha Evon Gardner, a New York-based photographer and art director originally from Cleveland, Ohio. We cover topics such as Myesha’s approach to photography, including influences, gear, experimentation, shooting analog and working in the darkroom, her mindsets about growth and finances, lessons she learned from her father, who is a musician, the importance of patience and passion, risk-taking, her most essential rituals, and much more.BiographyMyesha Evon Gardner is a New York-based photographer and art director originally from Cleveland, Ohio. She holds a BFA degree in photography and graphic design from the Parsons School of Design in New York City.As a photographer and storyteller, Myesha examines truth by documenting and redefining themes of legacy, labor, the perception of beauty, and familial love in underrepresented communities. Through the subjects of vanity, body image, and self-care, she studies the profoundly complex role of the Black woman, who, she observes, as people and individuals, are often stripped down to singular value. Gardner investigates the socioeconomic structure and negotiation of power between these visual embodiments and what it means to exist in and move up into the ranks of American society.Her commercial work is inspired by the materiality of cultural influences as expressed through music, history, sports, and fashion. Myesha’s clients include Nike, Jordan, Beats by Dre, Nordstrom, Beyoncé, Parkwood Entertainment, Saint Heron, HBO, RCA Records, Sony Music, The New Yorker, and The New York Times, to name a few.Over the years, she participated in several group exhibitions, and her work has been published in publications such as HYPEBAE, WIRED, Cosmopolitan, The Brooklyn Circus, Vouge, V Man and TIME.Selected Links From the EpisodeMyesha’s WebsiteMyesha’s InstagramGordon ParksHelmut NewtonIrving PennDarkroomJamaica, Montego BayAlbumen PrintSusan MeiselasPrince Street Girls by Susan MeiselasMagnum PhotographersA Choice of Weapons by Gordon ParksLife MagazineHand-Printing (Photographic Process)Pinhole CameraMedium FormatPhotogravureShow NotesIntroduction [00:00:00]The Mindful Creative Year [00:01:02]Episode Introduction [00:05:06]On Becoming a Creative Professional [00:07:26]Advice for Young Creatives [00:21:05]Work Routines of a Professional Freelance Photographer [00:30:05]Short Episode Break – Support the Podcast [00:45:43]Financial Mindsets for Creative Professionals [00:46:25]Importance of Personal and Professional Growth [00:49:53]Myesha’s Approach to Photography and Direction [01:01:13]Challenges on Myesha’s Creative Journey [01:21:11]How to Be a Better Creative Professional [01:26:35]Episode Outro [01:30:13]Full transcript and more at https://creative.voyage/

In this episode, I talk to Colin King, an interior stylist, product designer and creative director. We cover topics such as his work/life balance, the source of his motivation, how he approaches interior styling, his work routines, his thoughts on professional growth and relevancy, the power of asking for help and of helping others, his challenges along the journey, including encounters with addiction and his path to sobriety, and much more.BiographyAs the go-to interiors stylist for the world’s leading brands and publications, Colin King has defined the style of modern American design. After studying dance in New York City, King transitioned his creative background into the realm of interiors through Colin King Studio.Colin King is a regular contributing stylist to publications including Architectural Digest, T Magazine, ELLE DECOR, and Ark Journal. King additionally has his own celebrated product lines with the Morocco-based Beni Rugs – where he was recently named Artistic Director-at-Large – and the Scandinavian design shop MENU, with more in the works. In March of 2023, King will release Arranging Things (Rizzoli), a book sharing his intuitive and deeply personal process of elevating spaces through a series of anecdotes and visual essays written with Sam Cochran.King continues to expand his studio practice to include creative direction, product development and installation design, imparting his signature aesthetic across the industry.Selected Links From the EpisodeColin King’s WebsiteColin King’s InstagramMENUBeni RugsTracy AndersonBilly Clark Creative ManagementRoman and WilliamsTom DelavanColin King’s Home/Office on Architectural DigestShow NotesIntroduction [00:00:00]The Mindful Creative Year [00:01:02]Episode Introduction [00:03:20]On Becoming a Creative Professional  [00:05:16]Advice for Young Creatives  [00:13:38]Work Routines of an Interior Stylist and Product Designer  [00:20:27]Managing Your Finances as a Creative Professional  [00:36:13]Short Episode Break – Support the Podcast  [00:41:27]Importance of Personal and Professional Growth [00:42:11]Challenges on Colin King’s Creative Journey [00:51:35]Colin King’s Approach to Styling and Challenges of the Interior Industry [01:08:53]How to Be a Better Creative Professional [01:23:52]Episode Outro [01:29:08]Full transcript and more at https://creative.voyage/

In this episode, I talk to Astrid Stavro, a creative director and graphic designer. We cover topics such as the importance of learning and continually being a student, Astrid’s work routines, advice for young designers, her experience as a Pentagram partner, what makes for a good piece of graphic design, how to orient ourselves during times of change, and much more.BiographyAstrid Stavro is an internationally-renowned graphic designer with a reputation for strong concept-driven design that is to the point, emotionally engaging, and emphasising exquisite typography and craft. Her clients span the cultural and commercial worlds, and her work encompasses brand identity, editorial, exhibition design, wayfinding systems, and packaging.She has worked for Camper, Vitra, Phaidon, McKinsey & Company, Tate Publishing, Fedrigoni, Port magazine, Laurence King, The National Portrait Gallery, and Wallpaper*, amongst many others. Also, she led the celebrated redesign of the London-based arts and culture magazine Elephant, where she was Art Director and Contributing Editor from 2013–2017.Stavro directed her own award-winning studio in Barcelona for ten years, and in 2013 she co-founded the renowned brand and design consultancy Atlas with Pablo Martín. In 2018 she was invited to join Pentagram as a Partner, where she directed her team for three years.Her work has been widely published and has received over 150 international awards, including D&AD and the Type Directors Club of New York. In 2010, she was elected a member of Alliance Graphique Internationale, the world’s most prestigious design association. Currently, she is the President of ISTD, the International Society of Typographic Designers.Selected Links From the EpisodeAstrid Stavro’s InstagramAstrid Stavro’s TwitterAtlas, Design ConsultancyPentagramEtienne DelessertInternational Society of Typographic DesignersAdrian ShaughnessySonya DyakovaDerek BirdsallConsolations by David WhyteYuri Suzuki on the Creative Voyage PodcastBLM Floor MuralColors Magazine by Oliviero Toscani and Tibor KalmanPoint It by Dieter M. GräfPhil BainesWhole Earth CatalogSteve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement AddressShow NotesIntroduction [00:00:00]On Art Direction Workshop [00:01:02]Episode Introduction [00:03:05]The Beginning of Astrid's Creative Journey [00:05:23]Career Advice and Tips for Young Designers [00:18:14]Work Routines of an Independent Creative Director [00:26:12]Short Episode Break – Support the Podcast [00:40:57]Managing Finances as a Designer [00:41:40]On Professional and Personal Growth and Development [00:49:36]How to Navigate Life's Changes and Challenges [00:54:06]Becoming a Pentagram Partner [01:08:26]Elements of Good Graphic Design [01:16:53]How to Be a Better Creative Professional [01:24:44]Episode Outro [01:25:50]Full transcript and more at https://creative.voyage/

In this episode, I talk to Chidy Wayne, an illustrator and an artist. We cover topics such as the importance of knowing ourselves, Chidy’s work routines, managing finances as a freelancer, the importance and challenges of personal growth in the face of modern distractions, advice for young creatives, his views on the craft of illustration, including style and trends, and much more.BiographyChidy Wayne is a Spanish Guinean illustrator and artist based in Barcelona. He works in various media, including painting, design, animation and music. His expression is influenced by the most prominent fashion illustrators of the 20th century, often characterized by his poetic and precise use of pen, ink and watercolors, and more than any medium, it’s distinguished by a sense of groundedness and timelessness.Chidy has worked for clients such as Harvard University, Kinfolk, Nike, Vogue, Mango, Esquire, Kind Surf and New York Magazine, to name a few. He has also published several books describing different technical and conceptual techniques to address and solve some of the challenges specific to fashion illustration.Selected Links From the EpisodeChidy Wayne’s WebsiteChidy Wayne’s InstagramBerto MartinezPugna CollectionRené GruauShow NotesIntroduction [00:00:00]The Mindful Creative Year [00:01:02]Episode Introduction [00:05:57]Career Advice for Young Creative Professionals [00:07:28]Chidy’s Work Routines [00:22:19]Short Episode Break – Support the Podcast [00:32:02]How to Making a Living as a Freelance Illustrator [00:32:50]Personal Growth in the Face of Modern Distractions [00:40:23]Challenges on Chidy’s Professional Journey [00:53:12]How To Develop and Find Your Voice as an Illustrator [00:55:53]How to Be a Better Creative Professional [01:04:48]Episode Outro [01:06:58]Full transcript and more at https://creative.voyage/