Jess Kelly is a graphic designer, author, educator, and business owner, though she might humbly tell you she’s just a “pretty average designer.” But what Jess does is anything but average.

Through her design studio, The Design Dept, and her weekly blog, which she’s written for over five years, Jess reflects on creativity, parenting, business, and the honest highs and lows of building a life that matters. Most recently, she’s stepped into a new role as a STEM educator at Ballarat Tech School, bringing her empathy, clarity, and creative thinking into classrooms full of future engineers, coders, and designers.

Friendly isn’t enough of a word to describe Jess. When I met her a year ago, I remember her bubbly greeting of KiaOra! and her collection of amazing shirts that we’d see every day of The Design Conference. I saw her confidently meet new people by asking about the best thing that had happened to them that day, rather than the typical “so, what do you do?”. 

In this episode, Jess and I talk about quiet impact, redefining what success looks like, and why there’s dignity (and power) in doing the kind of work that doesn’t always win awards, but makes the world turn more smoothly.

From typesetting school readers to inspiring kids who’ve never used a mouse before, Jess reminds us that creativity can be both gentle and transformational.

As I do with all my guests, I asked Jess what she’d do on day two if she came into $100 million. Please enjoy the ever warm, intelligent, and insightful, Jess Kelly.

Connect with Trish: www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone

Learn about Oath + Stone: www.oathandstone.com.au

Apply to be a guest: www.oathandstone.com.au/creativebones

When you speak with Greg Branson and Carol Mackay, you’re not just talking to seasoned creatives, you’re sitting with two of the most generous minds in the Australian design industry.

I met them a year ago at The Design Conference in Brisbane. What started as an unassuming chat in the sun turned into a discussion that changed my perspective on the way I value my time and skills. Getting the impression that I was with my people, I quickly accepted their invitation to join them for breakfast the next day, where the creative experiences around the table ranged from regional to metro, freelance to agency, and graduate to veteran.

After co-founding and running Mackay Branson Design for decades, Greg and Carol pivoted to build the kind of business they wish they'd had while running a studio. That business is the Design Business Council; a resource, a guide, and a lifeline for creatives learning how to lead, charge, and grow.

Carol’s superpower is translating the hard-to-digest into plain, practical guidance, shaped by her experience designing for courts, ombudsmen, and emergency services. Greg’s fascination lies in systems, structure, and the business sideof creativity. Together, they research, mentor, and reimagine what a sustainable creative practice looks like.

What stood out to me in our chat is how aligned they are in values and vision, not just as collaborators, but as life partners. We spoke about the messy middle between art and commerce, the future of creative education, the soft skills no one teaches, and why generosity and curiosity are their chosen legacy.

Whether you’re just out of design school, in the thick of running your own practice, or navigating what’s next, this conversation will offer insight, clarity, and maybe even a little creative therapy.

So what could two people who have seen it all, possibly do with their time after winning $100 million? Keep listening for my chat with the dream team that is Greg and Carol.

Connect with Trish: www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone

Connect with Greg and Carol: www.designbusinesscouncil.com

Learn about Oath + Stone: www.oathandstone.com.au

Apply to be a guest: www.oathandstone.com.au/creativebones

Chloe Wickham is a designer whose work sits at the intersection of creativity, business and behavioural insight. With a degree in Business and Design from Griffith University, Chloe’s path began with a love of art and a desire to help out with her dad’s business, and quickly grew into a passion for strategic, purposeful design that connects with people and shapes the way we live.

Freshly graduated, Chloe is now building her freelance practice from regional Victoria, and in this episode, we speak aboutwhat it’s really like to move from the structure of university to the ambiguity of creative entrepreneurship.

We speak about routine and rest, black-and-white thinking vs the grey, and how both city streets and bushland walks can shape your creative output. We’ll also dig into the psychology of design, the impact of visual communication on behaviour, and why Chloe believes design should always serve people and the planet.

Want to know how she would spend day two if she had $100 million in the bank? Please enjoy this thoughtful and energisingconversation with Chloe Wickham.

> Connect with Trish: https://www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone/

> Learn more about Oath + Stone: https://www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone/

> Apply to be a guest: https://www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone/

Rach Viski is the founder of Minta Viski, a graphic design studio based in Wagga Wagga. She’s part artist, part graphic designer, known for creating site-specific envirographics and bold visual identities that feel deeply rooted in place. She’s a storyteller, a collaborator, and a forager of meaningful connections. If there’s a conversation to be had in a country show line or over a cup of tea at the school hall, Rach is in it, gathering insight, listening deeply, and transforming it into design that whirrs and hums with the heart of human experience.

I met Rach at a client launch event in the first year of my business, and soon realised she lived down the road from my Mum. Before long she was pouring me a cuppa in her kitchen, and for years we’ve talked freely about being small business owners, our love for design, and how we balance the demands of creative work and school pickup. When she speaks, shereminds me of the simple beauties of the world, and to take a breath of crisp country air.

In this episode, we speak about creativity in wide open spaces. What it’s like to live and work as a designer in regional New South Wales. The visibility gap between metro and country creatives. The challenges that come with slow internet and fast deadlines. And the value of creating work that might not go viral, but makes a real difference on the main street, in a hospital lift, or in the eyes of a child who sees themselves represented on the wall.

This conversation is also about belonging. About finding your people, building your own stage, and celebrating the “perfectlyimperfect” creative moments that make regional design unique. Rach is a kindred spirit and a long-time collaborator of mine, and I’m thrilled to finally share her voice with you here, beyond her kitchen table.

As always, I started by asking Rach what she’d do with her days if $100 million suddenly landed in her lap. Please enjoy my conversation with sunshine in a mug, Rach Viski.

Oh...and listen right to the end to fill up your bingo card.

> Connect with Trish

> Learn about Oath + Stone

> Apply to be a guest on Creative Bones

David Whitbread has shaped how design is taught, shared, and understood in Australia. He’s the author and publisher of The Design Manual, now in its revised and encyclopaedic third edition. He’s also held senior roles across government, academia and publishing, including as Head of Graphic Design at the University of Canberra, and as Design Director at the Australian Government Publishing Service.

I first heard of David as a starry eyed undergraduate in 2004, as I purchased my first copy of The Design Manual for my degree. Since then it’s been a resource for best practise in my career, but also settled a few arguments around double spacesafter full stops, or how to indent bullet points. More recently, David and I served on the University of Canberra’s course advisory group, to make sure our students are graduating with industry-ready skills and expectations.

I wanted to speak with David not just because of his expertise, but because of the unique combination of places he’s worked — places known for structure, rules and process. And yet, David is deeply creative. He’s a book designer, a musician, a teacher, and someone who genuinely lights up when he talks about helping people understand design. So, I asked him: what does creativity look like when the rules are already written?

We speak about when to follow the rules and when to break them, why designers need to keep learning, and how creativity shows up not just in the art, but in the process — in problem-solving, in collaboration, and even in public service.

As always, I started by asking David what he’d do with his days if he suddenly had $100 million in the bank. Please enjoy my conversation with the ever-generous David Whitbread.

> Connect with Trish

> Learn about Oath + Stone

> Apply to be a guest on Creative Bones

What started as a few bonus episodes in between seasons turned into something bigger...Bonier. This season, I’ve turned the mic on a group of card-carrying designers to ask a surprisingly layered question: what’s it really like to be creative?

In this five episode collection, you’ll hear from people who live and breathe creativity, not just as a skill, but as a way of making sense of the world. From seasoned studio owners to fresh grads, educators to advocates, these conversations diginto the pressure, the practice, and the purpose of being creative for a living.

And if you don’t consider yourself a “creative” person, don’t worry, this season is still for you. Because whether it’s parenting, planning, teaching or leading, creative thinking touches all of it. These stories are about ideas, resilience,and what it means to carve out meaning in your work, no matter what you do.

So join me as I chat with David Whitbread from The Design Manual, Rach Viski from Minta Viski, graduate Chloe Wickham,Greg and Carol from Design Business Council, and Jess Kelly from The Design Dept.

This is a season about what it means to be creative, and to live like it matters.

Dr Hala El Khoury is a distinguished neuroscientist and counsellor dedicated to empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential through enhanced brain health and resilience. 

With a Bachelor of medical science, neuroscience and immunobiology from the University of Sydney, Dr. Hala specializes in brain rewiring, neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, and holistic wellbeing. 

She recently added to her degree by gaining a doctorate of philosophy - a PhD in Neuroscience looking at the relationship between red light therapy and neurodegenerative diseases.

Hala and her chiropractor husband Justin are a powerhouse duo, complementing each other in every project or business they take on. I met them both when I walked into their clinic in Canberra in 2022, and they’ve become great friends who remind me to keep tabs on my wellness, mindset, and alignment in all areas of my life. 

As with most of the people who were ever meant to have come into my life, Hala is now a bouncy haired ray of sunshine staple in my life, and selfishly, because of her knowledge of the brain, a major target on my podcast hit list. 

She’s the 13th person that I’ve spoken with, and I’ve deliberately left her until last so I can ask her all the questions that have come up throughout this season. Everyone I’ve spoken with so far has had such interesting individual takes on creativity. 

Their lived experiences and their different professions have given us such a well rounded view of what it means to be creative to different people. But today we’re going to dive right into the grey matter. Into the neurones. Into the settings that were programmed by your ancestors before you were even born. And learn more about our brain’s capacity to rewire to be more or less creative. About how creativity helps us meet our hierarchy of needs, and survive.

Join me as we get into the cells of creativity with Hala.

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Connect:

www.oathandstone.com.au

www.instagram.com/oathandstonedesigns

Emma Bickley, better know online as @photobeforeweeat, is a Canberra based food creative who loves telling the stories behind each bite. Whether it’s taking photos, curating social media content or chatting on the airwaves, she’s got a voracious appetite (lol) for new food experiences. You’ll find her swooning over beautiful produce at the markets, developing recipes in the kitchen, sipping gin or slurping noodles while trying to chat at the same time. And if you’ve ever been at her table, you’ll know she always remember to take a Photo Before We Eat.

Emma interviewed me 7 years ago, when the business was a twinkle in my eye. One of my measures for if I know I’m going to be fast friends with someone, is if they smile while they talk. It sounds strange because you think it’s something that’s easy to do, but if you take notice, you’ll realise that it’s not that common. Within minutes of being with Emma, I was hooked by her huge smile from ear to ear and her genuine warmth. Her energy and positivity is infectious, and I can’t even explain how much I’ve learnt from her. She’s the friend that always makes sure your belly and soul are full on her watch. 

Before Emma was leading her current creative life, she went to law school, and I was curious to see how someone could go in one door to consumer law, in  an industry that isn’t considered typically creative - check out episode 2 of the podcast with Louise Morris if you haven’t already - and then come out through the door that leads to edible flowers, and yuzu, and Bahn mi, and plant based chestnut burgers, or how to achieve the perfect chicken soup. 

I started off by asking Emma what she’d do with her time on day two of winning $100m dollars. I’m excited for you to hear how her life experiences have shaped her creativity, and how the food experience has the ability to connect all of us no matter our language, background, budget, and dietary preferences.

Connect

www.instagram.com.au/oathandstone

www.instagram.com/photobeforeweeat

www.emmabickley.com

Have you ever heard, “If you want a problem solved, you just need to give it to two woman on an afternoon fitness walk”? That’s definitely been the story for Katie Puttock and I on more than one occasion over the 12 years that I’ve known her. I first met her when I was introduced to my now-husband’s friendship group at the pub. I’d been given the heads up that as the girl best friend, she was the one I needed the nod from. Needless to say I bought a new dress and treated it the same as meeting Lach’s parents. Since then, Katie and I have grown old together. But who am I kidding. We were swapping recipes and spot remover hacks in our early 30s, and as we inch towards the big 4-0, there’s nothing I love more than comparing notes on the latest slug or bug to make its way into our neighbouring gardens, or hearing about the latest travel deal she’s found and how easy it was to put into the family budget spreadsheet. She’s made me a better Mum, a better communicator, and a better person. 

Green thumb aside, Katie is an experienced communicator who’s worked on social policy issues at the Federal level. Prior to joining First Nations founded and led media and events agency 33 Creative, Katie held senior management and media adviser roles with Federal Government Ministers in Indigenous Affairs. She’s an experienced campaign manager and delivers copywriting, strategy, editing, behaviour change and digital engagement expertise. More recently she’s completed a graduate certificate at UNSW’s Centre for Social Impact.

I was particularly interested to talk to Katie about the role of strategy in creativity, and if it helped enhance the solution or stifle it. I also wanted to ask about her experience in First Nations media and comms, and the behind the scenes work that she and colleagues put in to make sure the message was getting to the right people in the right way. 

There’s no doubt that day one of winning $100M in the lotto would involve a toast of Echuca white chocolate liquor at either of our houses, but I started off by asking her what she’d do with her time on day two. Please enjoy my chat with Katie Puttock.

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Connect with us:

www.oathandstone.com.au

www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone

If you met Jemima on the street, or sat next to her on a plane, your first thought wouldn’t be “small town girl”. You’d be surprised to learn that she was the daughter of the local cop, and she grew up in a community of 100 people in regional Victoria. I first met Jemimah in one of those friend of a friend of a business colleague type of situations, and we got to know each other as I was moonlighting in my lunch breaks before going full time in my business. Our emails started out with “kind regards” but now we just send memes of animals, or average people competing in the olympics. 

After a thirteen year career in law enforcement, Jemimah left the Australian Federal Police and has since gone on to start multiple businesses, release a best-selling book, win multiple awards, and be named one of Australia's top 10 entrepreneurs. She heads up The Visibility Lab, which helps small business owners grow and scale with practical, helpful advice and helps them get noticed for their talents. 

As the one who always sits facing the coffee shop door, and is my valiant protector from cappuccino poisonings, I wanted to ask Jemimah how creativity can even exist in law enforcement. She told me how she used her problem solving methods of over / under / through, and how it helped her see angles in her work that others couldn’t. She also had a different take on creativity that we haven’t had on the podcast yet - that we’re born curious rather than creative - and you’ll definitely see that as a pattern in her own life as she stays open to opportunities that could be magic, especially since she didn’t come from a particularly creative household, and challenged her path from one that could have been a little more agricultural than her current indoor plant collection. 

As with all my guests, I started by asking Jemimah what she’d do with her time on day two of winning $100 million dollars. This episode is full of siding door and aha moments, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it will make you think about your own path too. Please enjoy my chat with Jemimah. 

Connect with us:

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www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone

www.instagram/com/oathandstonedesigns

www.jemimahashleigh.com

www.instagram.com/jemimahashleigh