Design Speaks

By Brandi Sea Heft-KniffinBusiness Education Arts How To Marketing Design

Design Speaks episodes

April 13, 2017 Be Inspired and Design without Copying – Episode 010

This week Michelle wants to know how to create something without accidentally plagiarizing someone else’s work.

1:00 Fun and ExCiTiNg things with Michelle this week!
1. An out of the ordinary playlist on Apple Music… the Breakup playlist. (Adele, Lauryn Hill, One Republic…GOOD music!) 2. The color palette of Target for 2017 springtime! It’s so pwitty!
4:46 Stay tuned next episode for whatever the heck Michelle is going to do with all of this color inspiration! D:
5:00 Michelle’s song for this week is Sia, Elastic Heart. Go watch her music video, featuring Maddie Ziegler and Shia Lebeouf. Such a great video!
8:05 BREAKING NEWS: Brandi has actually heard this song! *standing ovation*
10:00 Things that Brandi was super into this week: She’s been planning a cool project/awareness campaign for women involving makeup and their faces as canvases. Keep listening for new updates on this great idea!
13:28 Brandi’s song for this week: Knox Hamilton, Rightfully So
14:58 Brandi is always looking for the better way. We’ll talk about our “whys” in a future episode. Side note: we’re both really intrigued by personality tests and what they say about us. Anyway…
15:31 She hates having songs on repeat because she’s afraid of missing a better song.
17:47 People relate to you better when you show your progress. It helps them realize that great things take time!
18:00 Except for haircuts. Don’t show us our haircut in progress, unless you want a minor meltdown in your chair.
18:45 Check out some of Brandi’s beginners work on her Instagram!
19:28 Sean Wes says to iterate in public. Show them where you came from!
20:00 Question of the week: How do you use someone else’s work as inspiration without ripping them off?
20:53 “There is nothing new under the sun.” – The oh-so-wise King Solomon.
21:48 There’s always going to be something you do that looks like something else.
22:50 You need to inform your client that copying other people outright is not okay
23:10 A good practice to have is to research!
23:25 Find a style reference (Something that feels like you want your project to feel like)
24:03 Jam your brain with information!
24:18 DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING! No designing allowed!
25:31 Sleep on it! Close your eyes. S L E E P.
25:48 Your brain helps your solve problems when you’re sleeping. (that’s why dreams are so cool.)
26:25 When you wake up (or when you can after you’ve slept), start sketching.
27:00 Refer back to the research you’ve made and combine ideas.
27:49 When you’ve designed something, research again! Search your image. Double check your work and make sure you’re not accidentally plagiarizing.
37 min
April 06, 2017 Designers, Collaboration, Selfishness, and Ego – Episode 009
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This week Michelle asks, “What are some things to keep in mind when working with others?” Brandi shares two key thoughts on how to collaborate with other creatives. :53 On this episode we’ll be talking about Designers, Collaboration, and Ego. 2:11 Michelle threw caution to the wind and auditioned for a musical! 4:13 Would you […]
The post Designers, Collaboration, Selfishness, and Ego – Episode 009 appeared first on BrandiSea Design Co..
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Visit BrandiSea.com for more content and resources!
34 min
April 06, 2017 Designers, Collaboration, Selfishness, and Ego – Episode 009
This week Michelle asks, “What are some things to keep in mind when working with others?” Brandi shares two key thoughts on how to collaborate with other creatives.

:53 On this episode we’ll be talking about Designers, Collaboration, and Ego.
2:11 Michelle threw caution to the wind and auditioned for a musical!
4:13 Would you consider baking shows reality tv? We need to know!
4:52 Michelle has been watching random documentaries. On this weeks list: Chef’s table, Iris, and The Great British Baking Show. SO. GOOD. Also, she called it The Great British Cooking Show. She’s so American. *rolls eyes*
7:02 Kooky. The Great British Baking Show is kooky.
7:44 Brandi went to California, and the beach was nice but cold. (ohhhh, pobrecita….)
9:23 Vida: a company that pairs with artists and the makers. Legit. Check them out! They’ve asked Brandi to be an artist that they collaborate with!!!!
10:45 They also “give back”. read up on how! shopvida.com
11:43 @pokraslampas on Instagram… He’s a “calligraphity artist”. GENIUS!
12:32 WE HAVE SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE! Be proud of me! (please?)
13:15 Song of the week: Thank God For Girls, Weezer <3
15:16 An all around fun album (Their White Album).
15:37 We have a Spotify playlist! Go follow it!
16:17 Question time.
16:30 What are some things to keep in mind when we are working with others.
16:50 ONE: Have the same direction.
17:18 It’s important to have a leader. It’s like having too many cooks in the kitchen. If we all put our ideas into a specific “recipe” it’s going to come out terrible.
18:15 TWO: Know each others strengths and weaknesses.
19:00 You can’t do everything, and it’s ok to not be the best.
19:20 Know your own strengths! Check out some of Brandi’s earliest work on her instagram! She has worked to improve! However, she still admits that she is not an illustrator.
34 min
March 30, 2017 Some Tips for Creative Focus – Episode 008
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There’s a ton of value packed into this one, so you may want to listen to it a few times. This week we talk about ways to stay motivated to keep up the work required to be creative. 1:30 We are coconuts. Brown on the outside, white on the inside. 😀 2:25 On todays episode […]
The post Some Tips for Creative Focus – Episode 008 appeared first on BrandiSea Design Co..
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Visit BrandiSea.com for more content and resources!
46 min
March 30, 2017 Some Tips for Creative Focus – Episode 008

There’s a ton of value packed into this one, so you may want to listen to it a few times. This week we talk about ways to stay motivated to keep up the work required to be creative.

1:30 We are coconuts. Brown on the outside, white on the inside.
45 min
March 23, 2017 Never Trust Your First Idea – Episode 007
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This week we will talk about why your first idea usually sucks. Nope, every idea that comes to you is not gold, so buckle up. :48 We have almost 300 downloads! Gah!! Thank you to everyone who’s listening, spreading the word, etc… THANK YOU! 1:04 We also do live instagram videos, so go follow […]
The post Never Trust Your First Idea – Episode 007 appeared first on BrandiSea Design Co..
Support the show
Visit BrandiSea.com for more content and resources!
34 min
March 23, 2017 Never Trust Your First Idea – Episode 007

This week we will talk about why your first idea usually sucks. Nope, every idea that comes to you is not gold, so buckle up.

:48 We have almost 300 downloads! Gah!! Thank you to everyone who’s listening, spreading the word, etc… THANK YOU!
1:04 We also do live instagram videos, so go follow @Brandisea and catch us when we’re live!
On today’s episode we’ll be talking about why your first episode usually sucks.
2:15 Michelle went to a class on essential oils and got sucked into the essential oil hype. Are you guilty of this? Anyway, she’s been slightly obsessed. A great source has been The Essential Oil Revolution. Go check it out if you’re interested!
4:00 The story of Thieves essential: here!
6:09 Michelle gives an update on how much she cried during This is Us, and BREAKING NEWS: Brandi has watched the entire show! Miracles do happen!
6:40 She didn’t cry once. Heartless? Maybe.
7:05 Mind blowing revelation: “We live our present in light of our past.” -Brandi
8:22 Brandi Sea has started her process on her new addition to her Literary Art Portrait Series! Next up: Lewis Carroll. Check out her process and crazy mind map on Instagram!
10:34 Have you listened to Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin? He interviews other celebrities. Celebrities interviewing Celebrities is always fun to listen to. They ask all of the right questions!
11:00 Alec Baldwin interviewed Grace Cottington on his show, With some research, Brandi came across this super fun editorial with the Alice in Wonderland theme. Check it out!
12:26 Wanna be a part of the BrandiSea newsletter? Sign up at www.brandisea.com.
13:00 Aesthetic Apparatus: Gig poster design company. They have a surrealistic/collage type of gig posters.
14:00 Bolth= New Mexican slang for “Both”
15:02 Nick Drake. A 70’s artist. Good times. Check out his music here. Nick Drakes music sounds whimsical, ethereal, thoughtful, genuine, and is good straight chill/focus music.
19:20 QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Is it a good idea to go with your gut feeling?
19:58 Brandi says initially, it’s not a good idea. From experience, and encounters with people… No. Your idea might be ok, and it might work, but it’s not the BEST.
21:33 It’s always possible that your first idea will work best, but you’ll never know that until you take the time to flesh out other possible ideas.
22:01 Educated Intuition: Going with your gut because you already know that it’s going to be a good choice based on your previous experience.
22:30 This can be related so many choices within life. Not just graphic design. Some examples are cooking and music.
23:18 There’s something to say about going with your gut when you actually have educated your “gut”.
24:00 The Power of “Why”
25:00 treat yourself like a toddler would treat you and always ask yourself “why”. Ask yourself why you’re doing something 3-5. If you can’t answer yourself… Figure it out.
25:45 This will help you know WHY you’re doing something, and even answer a client with any questions about your design.
26:24 “Your intuition is educated based on those why’s you’ve asked over the years.” -Brandi
34 min
March 16, 2017 Designing and Staying True to You – Episode 006
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Brandi: “Are we teaching our students to be accolade minded. Is that what we design for: a pat on the back? Is that what we’re here for, or are we supposed to be doing something better than that?”
The post Designing and Staying True to You – Episode 006 appeared first on BrandiSea Design Co..
Support the show
Visit BrandiSea.com for more content and resources!
34 min
March 16, 2017 Designing and Staying True to You – Episode 006

On todays episode we’ll be talking about staying true to yourself as a designer and what that looks like.

1:35 Have you seen Moana yet? No? Why not? Go watch it.
2:15 Brandi has been “binging” Penny Dreadful on Netflix. This is for all of you victorian literature junkies. It’s bloody, gory, and apparently great acting.
3:55 BREAKING NEWS: Josh Hartnett is still around and doing great things! (He’s in Penny Dreadful)
5:14 You don’t have to read the books to understand the show. This is an important show note.
6:18 Another show: A Series of Unfortunate Events. Go watch. Between the narrator & NPH… Yes, please. 100%.
8:12 This is us. Drink water. Stay hydrated while watching this show.
8:47 Milo Ventimiglia. That is all.
9:40 Advice from Michelle: Everyone needs a good cry every now and then.
10:15 WHAT happened in the middle of Lost? No one knows. Seriously. Not even the writers no what happened. The polar bears. WHAT is it with the polar bears???
11:14 Brandi has promised to watch This is Us this week. Will she come through???
11:57 Brandi won some awards through the American Advertising Federation. A pretty huge honor!
17:00 Michelle ask’s brandi if the possibility of winning an award affects the way she designs.
17:27 Brandi answers… In short…. No, but then she expounds upon her answer.
18:02 Brandi: “Are we teaching our students to be accolade minded. Is that what we design for: a pat on the back? Is that what we’re here for, or are we supposed to be doing something better than that?”
20:16 Michelle asks, How would a design work with an award-winning mindset look as opposed to what you would come up with with the client in mind? Brandi says it would be more corporate looking… Clean, logos, not a lot of personality, things with a double meeting.
23:15 Staying true to yourself within your work isn’t always easy, but it’s definitely important to keep yourself grounded.
23:40 The James Victore philosophy
24:55 Brandi’s brain is more formal than her mouth. Also… She uses a typewriter??? What year is it?
28:26 Song of the week… Goo Goo Dolls, Name. An oldie, but a goodie. <3
30:16 “..and did you lose yourself somewhere out there? Did you get to be a star?” Inspo for the week! Don’t forget your ambitions and the dreams that you have!
30:56 As creatives, our self esteem is a roller coaster. We put a piece of ourselves into the work that we do, and then we put it out into the world to accept or reject, which in turn turns into feeling like the world is accepting or rejecting us personally.
31:40 What do you do to stay true to who you are? Give us your feed back brandisea.com and @brandisea on Instagram & Twitter. Check out Vesperteen – Thanks to him for letting us use his song, Shatter in The Night, for our show. Wouldn’t be the same without some Vesperteen in our lives.

Please email us your feedback to brandi@brandisea.
34 min
March 09, 2017 Do Places Impact Our Designs & Creative Mindset? – Episode 005
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On today’s episode we’re going to be talking about places and the effect that they have on the creative mindset and how we design. 1:45 The Oscars. Did you see that craziness? Check it here. 3:21 We’re not superstitious. We’re tinystitious. 4:33 Does anyone else just choose C on tests if they don’t […]
The post Do Places Impact Our Designs & Creative Mindset? – Episode 005 appeared first on BrandiSea Design Co..
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Visit BrandiSea.com for more content and resources!
33 min

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