Revision Path

Danielle Beecham is a great example of someone who is inspired by the different ways you can use design for what you are passionate about in life. As a freelance UX designer in New York City, Danielle's focus is on design for social impact.

We talked about her nontraditional path into design via journalism and international relations, her current MFA studies at Parsons, and how her work with nonprofits has been a benefit to her work in UX. Danielle is here to truly make her impact on the world, so you'll definitely see more of her in the future!

I'll never forget what Ian Davis told me when I first spoke with him: "I'm here to serve the creative community." As a results-oriented creative problem solver, Ian heads up the consulting firm Age of the Creative and helps creatives of all kinds with handling their business affairs and get more opportunities.

Ian and I talked about his background working with some of the world's top ad agencies birthed the idea to start his own business, walked me through a typical day, and shared how the power of community has transformed his life. If you're a creative looking to take your presence to the next level, then Ian Davis is the man!

Rafael Smith proves that being curious and being open to new experiences can take you pretty far in life. As the current design lead at IDEO.org, he uses his skills in product design and industrial design to improve the lives of people in poor and vulnerable communities worldwide.

We talked about how Rafael almost became a horse trainer instead of a designer, and the one experience that set him on his current path. He also shared a really good piece of advice that has stayed with him over the years, spoke about his new focus on approaching design and bias, and also talked about the importance of carving out time to be creative. Thank you Rafael for sharing your knowledge with all of us!

Regine Gilbert is such a positive presence in our Slack community, so when we finally met at last year's Black in Design Conference, I knew I had to have her on the show. As a UX design consultant, Regine uses her skills of observation and exploration to help make the world a more accessible place.

We talked about how Regine transitioned into UX from the world of fashion design, the advice that's stuck with her the most over the years, and she shared how more designers can become aware of using accessibility in their work. We definitely need more people like Regine in the design world, and I'm so glad that she's part of our community!

When Jomo Tariku reached out to me to tell me about his work, I knew I had to have him come on the podcast and tell his story. His furniture designs draw heavily from his Ethiopian background, and has been exhibited in Accra, Dubai, Lagos, Venice, New York, Montreal, and in other spaces around the world.

Our conversation began with Jomo describing growing up in Ethiopia and how that led him into industrial design. He also talked about the importance of building a support network to ensure your work is sustainable, why he took a seven year break from his work, and he explained his signature piece, The Birth Chair II. Jomo really uses his heritage as a source of inspiration, and I'm excited to see what else he'll create in the future!

We've had design educators and researchers on Revision Path before, but never a design scholar! Audrey Bennett studies cross-cultural and trans-disciplinary communication that makes use of images that not only impact the way we think and behave, but that also permeate global culture. For the past 20 years, she has done her research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where she currently serves as associate professor of graphics for the Department of Communication and Media.

Audrey and I talked about her journey to becoming a design scholar, and we discussed the notion of a Black design aesthetic, as well as how her work and the design industry has changed with the rapid adoption of technology. Audrey has done a ton of research in the field of graphic design, so if you're looking for a deep dive, make sure you check out the interview, read her papers, and learn more about her work!

I couldn't think of a better person to start 2018 with here on Revision Path than Jermaine Bell. The Baltimore-based visual designer, photographer, and social designer embodies what it means to work within a supportive creative community.

Jermaine started off by talking about his childhood growing up in Baltimore, and we followed his design journey through high school and college. He also gave us the lowdown on the ups and downs of fellowships, his first foray into retail, and discussed what it means to him to "make it" as a designer. Keep an eye out for Jermaine -- he's doing big things!

We're closing out 2017 by talking with the one and only John Jennings. As a storyteller, editor and artist, John's body of work spans several media: comics, graphic novels, books, and countless panels and talks. He's even the co-founder and organizer of two comics conventions! Currently he's a professor of media and cultural studies at UC Riverside, and he is exploring the connections between design, identity politics and popular media.

John starts off by giving us a primer on afrofuturism and talks about some of his current projects, such as illustrating Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation and finishing the art book Black Comix Returns. From there, we go into topics around art and design as indicators of culture, speculative design, and more. John is really helping advance the conversation around comics and culture, and I couldn't think of a better way to wrap up the year. 2018, here we come!

When you think of design and Rhode Island, what comes to mind? Well hopefully after this episode, you'll think of web and print designer Danikqwa Rambert! She may be new to the design industry, but she's quickly making a name for herself.

I had to learn more, so Danikqwa talked with me about her time at Johnson and Wales University along with how important networking and internships have been to her career so far. She also shared her thoughts on what can be done to keep more women in the design industry, and we even geeked out a bit talking about tea. Danikqwa Rambert is definitely a rising star, so keep your eye on her!

Gail Anderson is a titan in the design community. As an educator, designer, author, and creative director, her output of work has helped shape and propel the design community worldwide for the past 30 years. Her enthusiasm for design has not abated, and she's now helping teach the next generation of designers at SVA in New York City.

Our conversation touched on some of her most prolific work, including stamps for the U.S. Postal Service and art direction for Rolling Stone magazine. We also talked about her time growing up in the Bronx, discussed how the design community has changed over the years, and she shared her secrets for collaborating that have kept her creating. If you're looking to get inspired, this interview is for you!