"The ability to give everything away and be generous in passing on knowledge in life has never backfired on me. Knowledge sharing makes the world go around." - Chris Doyle

Sydney-based designer Chris Doyle shares his journey from aspiring artist to graphic designer and studio owner. He discusses his approach to commercial creativity, the importance of generosity in design, and his experience working on high-profile projects like Troye Sivan's homeware brand. 

Chris offers valuable insights on work-life balance, creative leadership, and the evolving nature of the design industry. His thoughtful reflections on the distinction between art and design, coupled with his commitment to maintaining a healthy work culture through initiatives like the four-day workweek, provide a refreshing perspective on sustainable creative practice. 

Having run his studio for over 12 years, Chris's experience demonstrates how embracing constraints, prioritizing clear communication, and fostering genuine collaboration can lead to both professional success and personal fulfillment.

Key Takeaways:

• Design is about solving problems and communicating effectively for clients, not just creating visually appealing work
• Generosity and knowledge-sharing are crucial for both personal growth and industry development
• The best creative work often emerges from embracing discomfort and accepting constraints
• Sustainable success in design requires finding balance and being willing to work at a slower pace
• Creative leadership involves trusting your team and knowing when to step back
• Consistently working overtime is a sign of poor agency management, not dedication
• The distinction between art and design lies in who you're creating for - yourself versus others
• Finding ways to maintain work-life balance, like four-day workweeks, can enhance creativity and satisfaction
• The best client relationships are built on trust, open collaboration, and mutual respect

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Welcome to five-minute magic from Mindful Creative Podcast. A short bonus episode, sharing tips and insights from the book's pages of the same title. 
 
Every week I'll share one or two ideas that can give you an actionable takeaway for your creative process or work/business, or just the food for thought for the weekend ahead. 

These bonus episodes share content from the audio book, and you can find the link to the full version in the show notes.

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

"I try to focus less on the new and more about what's unique for you as a brand - dig into their story, where they came from." - Eleni Beveratou

Dalton Maag creative director shares her journey from discovering graphic design through a Girl Scout poster to becoming a leading voice in typography. The conversation explores the evolution of brand typography, the importance of accessibility in type design, and the process of creating custom typefaces for global brands. 

Eleni Beveratou discusses how her multicultural background influences her work and provides insights into the delicate balance between innovation and functionality in type design. She reveals how her initial dislike of typography during her studies transformed into a deep passion through understanding its impact on accessibility and user experience. 

Her approach emphasizes looking beyond trends to create enduring typefaces that authentically represent brands while meeting their practical needs across different platforms and writing systems.

Key Takeaways:

• Typography is not just about aesthetics - it's about functionality, accessibility, and brand identity
• The best typeface designs often come from understanding a brand's history and unique story rather than chasing trends
• Creating custom typefaces requires extensive research and collaboration with different teams within an organization
• The type design community has evolved to become more approachable and less intimidating
• Successful type design balances precision with creative expression
• Initial resistance to new typefaces often indicates successful challenging of the status quo
• International brands increasingly need custom typefaces to maintain consistency across different writing systems and platforms

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Welcome to five-minute magic from Mindful Creative Podcast. A short bonus episode, sharing tips and insights from the book's pages of the same title. 
 
Every week I'll share one or two ideas that can give you an actionable takeaway for your creative process or work/business, or just the food for thought for the weekend ahead. 

These bonus episodes share content from the audio book, and you can find the link to the full version in the show notes.

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

"Philosophy taught me not to avoid depths and darknesses, but to embrace melancholy. It was important to see how different people in history dealt with life's big questions." - Robert Summerfield

A deeply introspective conversation with Robert Summerfield, exploring his journey from a philosopher's son to a jazz student, songwriter, and documentary filmmaker. The episode reveals how his early exposure to philosophical thinking shaped his approach to music and storytelling, leading to a creative evolution that prioritizes serving others' stories over self-expression. 

Through his experiences in the music industry, writing for other artists, and eventually finding his calling in documentary filmmaking, Summerfield demonstrates how creative fulfillment can come from putting one's craft in service of amplifying other voices.

Key Takeaways

• Early philosophical influences can shape creative expression in unexpected ways
• The transition from self-expression to serving others' stories can lead to creative fulfillment
• Creative evolution often involves embracing different formats and mediums
• Technical knowledge (like jazz theory) can enhance creative freedom rather than constrain it
• Writing for others can be a valuable phase in artistic development
• The importance of maintaining both cerebral and intuitive approaches to creativity
• Documentary filmmaking can be a powerful tool for amplifying underrepresented voices
• Success can come from shifting focus from self-promotion to serving others
• Creative growth often involves periods of feeling like a beginner again
• Balance between structure (journalism) and creative freedom (music) can enhance both

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Welcome to five-minute magic from Mindful Creative Podcast. A short bonus episode, sharing tips and insights from the book's pages of the same title. 
 
Every week I'll share one or two ideas that can give you an actionable takeaway for your creative process or work/business, or just the food for thought for the weekend ahead. 

These bonus episodes share content from the audio book, and you can find the link to the full version in the show notes.

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

"If we don't define success for ourselves, others - society, capitalism, all the things - will define it for us." 

Diana Varma, a design educator at Toronto Metropolitan University, shares her journey from print production to teaching, discussing her innovative approach to education through "ungrading" and fostering creative confidence. 

She emphasizes the importance of curiosity-driven learning and redefining success beyond traditional metrics. Through her experiences in print production, health and safety training, and ultimately university teaching, she demonstrates how nonlinear career paths can lead to meaningful work. Her teaching philosophy combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of how to nurture creativity and resilience in students.

Key Takeaways:

• Traditional grading systems can hinder creative learning and intrinsic motivation
• Success should be measured by personal growth rather than comparison to others
• Confidence in creativity comes from embracing the process over final outcomes
• "Creative cousins" can serve as inspiration without becoming comparison targets
• Teaching should focus on sparking curiosity rather than just transferring information
• Vulnerability and periods of retreat (like lobsters) are essential parts of growth
• The journey and learning process are more valuable than the final creative product

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Welcome to five-minute magic from Mindful Creative Podcast. A short bonus episode, sharing tips and insights from the book's pages of the same title. 
 
Every week I'll share one or two ideas that can give you an actionable takeaway for your creative process or work/business, or just the food for thought for the weekend ahead. 

These bonus episodes share content from the audio book, and you can find the link to the full version in the show notes.

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

"Stress is the opposite end of the spectrum of creativity. It's a very narrow, restricted state and creativity is an open and expansive state." 

Luke Lucas, a Sydney-based designer and meditation teacher since the mid-90s, discusses his journey from workaholic substance use to discovering meditation through his father. He explores how mindfulness transformed his creative practice, personal life, and approach to parenting. The conversation weaves between creative practice, the challenges of modern distractions, and finding authentic inspiration through stillness. His unique perspective as both a successful designer and meditation teacher offers valuable insights into sustainable creative practice in today's fast-paced industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Meditation helps develop creative intuition and inspiration by clearing mental clutter
• Digital distractions and constant connectivity make it harder to access our true creative potential
• Regular meditation practice improves work efficiency and focus while reducing reactivity to stress
• Breath work provides immediate tools for managing anxiety and creative challenges
• Being present and finding stillness is crucial for both personal wellbeing and creative success
• Balancing freelance design work with meditation teaching creates a more sustainable creative practice
• Parenthood can be a catalyst for positive lifestyle changes and career decisions

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Welcome to five-minute magic from Mindful Creative Podcast. A short bonus episode, sharing tips and insights from the book's pages of the same title. 
 
Every week I'll share one or two ideas that can give you an actionable takeaway for your creative process or work/business, or just the food for thought for the weekend ahead. 

These bonus episodes share content from the audio book, and you can find the link to the full version in the show notes.

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)