Creative Voyage Podcast

Join Detour, an online workshop with Frédéric Forest, exploring creative practice, curiosity, constraints and new ways of working. Learn more and join: creative.voyage/detour

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Frédéric Forest studied industrial design before working with leading contemporary designers including Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance and Jean-Marie Massaud. He later cofounded Forest & Giaconia with Clémentine Giaconia, a studio working across furniture and interior design.

Drawing has been central to Forest’s practice since childhood. He explores line, absence and visual memory through a language that is minimal, sensitive and precise. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Centre d’Art Contemporain de Briançon and during Art Basel Miami. He has collaborated with brands and cultural figures including Chanel, Bang & Olufsen, Vogue, Lancôme and Polène.

Followed by more than 225,000 people on Instagram, his drawings have inspired more than 6,000 tattoos worldwide. Since 2017, Grammatical, the publishing imprint he co-founded, has released his art prints, books and objects.

Explore more https://creative.voyage/

Dr. James Hollis is a Jungian analyst, trained in Zurich, Switzerland, and based in Washington, D.C. He is the author of twenty-two books, including The Middle Passage, Swamplands of the Soul, The Eden Project, Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, Living an Examined Life and his latest book, co-written with L.A.-based artist Enrique Martínez Celaya, Tending the Fire: Creativity, Purpose, and the Unfolding Self.

Hollis taught humanities for twenty-six years in various colleges and universities before retraining as a Jungian analyst at the Jung Institute of Zurich. He served for many years as Executive Director of the Jung Educational Center in Houston, Texas and was Executive Director of the Jung Society of Washington until 2019, where he now serves on the Board of Directors. He is a retired Senior Training Analyst for the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, was the first Director of Training of the Philadelphia Jung Institute, is Vice-President Emeritus of the Philemon Foundation and serves as Professor of Jungian Studies at Saybrook University.

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Verónica Fuerte is a designer, speaker and lecturer based in Barcelona, and the founder and creative directress of Hey, an independent design studio established in 2007. For over 18 years, she has been building bold, vibrant and strategic design systems that help brands, institutions and cultural organizations connect with people.

Alongside her studio work, Verónica serves as a Board Member at Canva, is a member of AGI (Alliance Graphique Internationale), and a Board Member of the Art Directors Club in New York. Beyond client work, Hey functions as a platform to share design with the world—from Women at Work, the podcast and community Verónica founded to amplify women’s voices in creativity, to Hey Shop, a curated space for objects, prints and ideas that reflect their distinctive approach to design.

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This episode features Yeohee Kim—known artistically as machìna—a Korean artist based in Tokyo and Berlin. We cover her journey from K-pop to independent artistry, the creative mindset needed to sustain a career in music, the role of solitude in creativity, her approach to music-making, the financial realities of the industry and what it takes to be a thriving independent musician today.

Yeohee Kim, known artistically as machìna, is a Korean artist based in Tokyo and Berlin. Her music is a fusion of personal introspection and collective energy, best experienced in the immersive setting of a nightclub dance floor. With a background that spans from K-pop training to experimental electronic improvisation, she blends jazz-inspired modular synthesis with commanding precise vocals.

Her career has taken her from performing at MUTEK Montreal and Berghain’s Halle stage to being part of Richie Hawtin’s From Our Minds tour, playing her newly developed live techno set. Her independently released series Action gained traction in 2023 with tracks featured in campaigns for Miu Miu and Nike. Her ability to bridge music and fashion has led to collaborations with Prada, Red Bull Music and Vans among others.

Full transcript and more at https://creative.voyage/

This episode features Perniclas Bedow, the founder and creative director behind Bedow, a Stockholm-based design and branding studio. We cover topics such as Bedow’s approach to crafting visual identities, their studio culture and growth, work routines and organization of the studio, career advice for young creatives, lessons that Perniclas got from the “Grafisk Design,” a podcast which he hosted, and much more.

Perniclas Bedow is the founder and creative director behind Bedow, a Stockholm-based design and branding studio. Founded in 2005 and currently run by Perniclas and his partner Anders Bollman, Bedow transcends the stereotypical Scandinavian style, blending handcrafted elements with innovative design techniques. The British magazine “It’s Nice That” dubbed their work as “simple, thoughtful, practical design that’s easy to engage with and comfortable to have around.”

Renowned for its progressive approach, Bedow’s portfolio boasts an impressive array of Swedish and international clients, including Aller Media, Coop, Neko Health, Unesco and Unicef. Their work has been featured in esteemed publications such as Fantastic Man, Monocle, and The Washington Post. And, over the years, they’ve also won many prestigious design awards from the Art Directors Club, Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, Type Directors Club and more.

In addition to their design work, Bedow has also made a mark in the world of podcasting, with Perniclas hosting the acclaimed series Grafisk Design. During its run, Grafisk Design featured interviews with fifteen prominent designers in the Swedish graphic design community, further solidifying Bedow’s reputation as a leader in the field.

Full transcript and more at https://creative.voyage/

This special insight-packed 30th episode is dedicated to episodes 14 to 29 highlights, featuring the best strategic, tactical and inspirational advice all 16 of the most recent guests gave at the end of their interviews. You can think of it as a perennial creative career advice resource that you can easily return to whenever you feel stuck, lack motivation or want to get inspired. If you are a creative professional in any industry and at any stage of your career, it will offer various guidance and wisdom to support you on your journey.

Learn more at https://creative.voyage/

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.

Biography

Myesha 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 Episode

• Myesha’s Website
• Myesha’s Instagram
• Gordon Parks
• Helmut Newton
• Irving Penn
• Darkroom
• Jamaica, Montego Bay
• Albumen Print
• Susan Meiselas
• Prince Street Girls by Susan Meiselas
• Magnum Photographers
• A Choice of Weapons by Gordon Parks
• Life Magazine
• Hand-Printing (Photographic Process)
• Pinhole Camera
• Medium Format
• Photogravure

Show Notes

• Introduction [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.

Biography

As 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 Episode

• Colin King’s Website
• Colin King’s Instagram
• MENU
• Beni Rugs
• Tracy Anderson
• Billy Clark Creative Management
• Roman and Williams
• Tom Delavan
• Colin King’s Home/Office on Architectural Digest

Show Notes

• Introduction [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.

Biography

Astrid 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 Episode

• Astrid Stavro’s Instagram
• Astrid Stavro’s Twitter
• Atlas, Design Consultancy
• Pentagram
• Etienne Delessert
• International Society of Typographic Designers
• Adrian Shaughnessy
• Sonya Dyakova
• Derek Birdsall
• Consolations by David Whyte
• Yuri Suzuki on the Creative Voyage Podcast
• BLM Floor Mural
• Colors Magazine by Oliviero Toscani and Tibor Kalman
• Point It by Dieter M. Gräf
• Phil Baines
• Whole Earth Catalog
• Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Show Notes

• Introduction [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.

Biography

Chidy 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 Episode

• Chidy Wayne’s Website
• Chidy Wayne’s Instagram
• Berto Martinez
• Pugna Collection
• René Gruau

Show Notes

• Introduction [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/