Wendy is an Owner and Creative Director of Lewis Carnegie, a multi-discipline design studio in Austin, TX. She's created work for The University of Texas, The Harry Ransom Center, Home Slice Pizza, Austin Batcave, and many others. She's also recognized as a FELLOW by AIGA Austin and served as vice president for the chapter. Wendy and her husband (Sean) are pillars of the creative community in Austin, and Lewis Carnegie has a long history of hosting fantastic design events—and that is exactly where we met. Tune in for a talk about making yourself valuable, getting involved in the creative community, and women in design. You can find samples of Wendy's work at lewiscarnegie.com.

Questions for this interview.

• (Listener Question) How do you know when the project you're working on is complete?
• You met your partner Sean in Maine—how did you end up there?
• What are some of the big takeaways from working at Pentagram?
• Ideally, what do your relationships with clients look like, and what do you care about most when choosing to work with someone?
• Why is it important to you for Lewis Carnegie to host events for the design community and welcome people with open arms?
• What do you think students and young professionals can do to feel like they belong to the design community?
• Do you have any advice for someone struggling to combine typefaces successfully?
• What are the essential skills you're looking for when you hire someone?
• How do you think the design industry has changed for women since the late 1990s?
• Are there any areas where you won't compromise or allow yourself to settle for something less than a specific standard?

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If you LIKE what you hear, please subscribe and keep listening. Sharing this episode with someone is the best way to support the podcast. 

If you LOVE what you hear and want to help me keep the interviews coming—consider buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

Also, I'm always looking for questions from listeners. If there's a burning question you want to hear answered on the podcast, please email it to me at [email protected].

Follow @studentsofdesignpod on Instagram for updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content.

The music you hear on the podcast is Accident by Timothy Infinite and PUSH !T by Nbhd Nick.

studentsofdesign.simplecast.com

Oen is a Distinguished Design Executive at IBM. He's also held titles like Visual Designer, Creative Director, and Design Principal. However, at his core, Oen is a Designer, an Advocate, and an Educator. He's served on several AIGA Boards, is recognized as a FELLOW by AIGA Austin, and has taught at Austin Community College for over 15 years. I met him in 2010 while he was my Portfolio Development Instructor. You can connect with and follow Oen on LinkedIn and see work samples on his website, visualnotepad.org.

Questions for this interview.

• Can you give us a quick summary of all the places you worked before IBM?
• How did you know it was time to leave Y&R and move on to something new?
• How many people do you think you've interviewed at IBM?
• What does someone need to have or need to do to get hired at IBM?
• Is there a portfolio piece or a specific interview moment that has stuck with you until now?
• (Listener Question) What do you think is important to showcase in a portfolio in 2024?
• What's the driving force behind your involvement with education?
• How do you approach failure, and how do you react to it?
• Is the way you process failure influenced by where you grew up?
• What do you think a successful mentorship needs to have?
• What impact does international travel have on your design work?
• What do you think makes a typeface great?

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If you LIKE what you hear, please subscribe and keep listening. Sharing this episode with someone is the best way to support the podcast. 

If you LOVE what you hear and want to help me keep the interviews coming—consider buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

Also, I'm always looking for questions from listeners. If there's a burning question you want to hear answered on the podcast, please email it to me at [email protected].

Follow @studentsofdesignpod on Instagram for updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content.

The music you hear on the podcast is Accident by Timothy Infinite and PUSH !T by Nbhd Nick.

studentsofdesign.simplecast.com

Matt is an independent visual designer—based in Austin, TX—primarily focused on brand identity, package design, illustration, and custom typography. He's done work with Helms Workshop, Canales & Co., The Butler Bros, and more. Matt is also a metal guitarist, DIY to the bone, and if push came to shove, he'd give up custom typography before music. You can find his work on Instagram @mattthompson and delicious pricing information on his website.

Questions for this interview.

• In December 2023, you posted a graphic on Instagram that said, "Design Pricing...Let's talk about it." What's the story behind that post?
• Can you talk about how you charge your clients for work?
• Can you tell us about your connection to the music industry and why you have messaging specific to musicians on your website?
• Do you think music creeps into your designs or influences your professional work? If it does, how so?
• Do you ever get pushback on your prices? How do you respond to clients who want your services for less money?
• What advice do you have for someone who understands they should be charging more for their work but doesn't know where to start?
• (Listener Question) How do you find new clients? Is it just who you know?
• What characteristics do you look for in a client?
• Which would you give up, playing the guitar or custom typography?

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If you LIKE what you hear, please subscribe and keep listening. Sharing this episode with someone is the best way to support the podcast. 

If you LOVE what you hear and want to help me keep the interviews coming—consider buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

Also, I'm always looking for questions from listeners. If there's a burning question you want to hear answered on the podcast, please email it to me at [email protected].

Follow @studentsofdesignpod on Instagram for updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content.

The music you hear on the podcast is Accident by Timothy Infinite and PUSH !T by Nbhd Nick.

studentsofdesign.simplecast.com

Nick is the Owner of Longo Designs. He's a brand builder, a design instructor at Cal State University Northridge, and a mentor. He's also a Co-Host of The Deeply Graphic Designcast (The DGDC), the ultimate podcast for creatives, and you can watch him weekly on Adobe Live: Office Hours. I met Nick at Crop 2023 in Austin, TX, and we've been friends ever since. Tune in for a talk about package design, portfolios, resume design, and typography.

Questions for this interview.

• How do you think students can benefit from going to their first design conference?
• What is it about the package design process that keeps you going back to it?
• What advice do you have for someone struggling to find their first packaging client?
• What are some (important) questions to ask the client during the kickoff meeting?
• (Listener Question) Is there anything you felt unprepared for once you entered the professional workforce?
• "If it ain't a HELL YES, it's a HELL NO." Can you talk about what that means to you? 
• What are some common mistakes you see designers make with their resume designs?
• How do you think students can safely take more risks and still create effective designs?
• (Listener Question) How do you balance your creative vision and still meet client expectations?
• (Listener Question) Do you ever get cold feet before starting a project? What helps you get past the hesitation?
• Do your students use Dafont.com? What do you say to convince them to source typography from somewhere else?

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If you LIKE what you hear, please subscribe and keep listening. Sharing this episode with someone is the best way to support the podcast. 

If you LOVE what you hear and want to help me keep the interviews coming—consider buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

Also, I'm always looking for questions from listeners. If there's a burning question you want to hear answered on the podcast, please email it to me at [email protected].

Follow @studentsofdesignpod on Instagram for updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content.

The music you hear on the podcast is Accident by Timothy Infinite and PUSH !T by Nbhd Nick.

studentsofdesign.simplecast.com

Russell is the Owner and Creative Director at Studio Dzo, a Black-owned and Woman-led multi-disciplinary, design-build studio based in Austin, Texas. He's also a Design Educator and teaches Portfolio Development at Austin Community College. Russell is a longtime friend—we went to school together, worked together at Dell, and were roommates for a while. Check out work samples at SudioDzo.com and follow Studio Dzo on Instagram.

Questions for this interview.

• (Listener Question) What makes a strong portfolio? What specific things do you look for?
• What can you remember and tell us about your first portfolio?
• Do you consider yourself a confident person? 
• (Listener Question) What advice do you have for graphic designers who struggle with self-doubt and imposter-like feelings?
• What were some of the considerations you made before leaving Dell? What emotions did you experience after making that decision?
• What has Studio Dzo taught you that you didn't know before?
• Can you explain the meaning behind the phrase "pulling taffy"?
• What's the story behind the thought, "Get your mind right, get your grind right"?
• What kind of value did you get from going to AIGA events?
• What can students do before they take a portfolio class to help them be more prepared?
• Do you have any words of encouragement for people of color in the design industry?
• Where should designers go within themselves to find inspiration for their visual identity?

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If you LIKE what you hear, please subscribe and keep listening. Sharing this episode with someone is the best way to support the podcast. 

If you LOVE what you hear and want to help me keep the interviews coming—consider buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

Also, I'm always looking for questions from listeners. If there's a burning question you want to hear answered on the podcast, please email it to me at [email protected].

Follow @studentsofdesignpod on Instagram for updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content.

The music you hear on the podcast is Accident by Timothy Infinite and PUSH !T by Nbhd Nick.

studentsofdesign.simplecast.com

Zaine is an independent Illustrator & Graphic Designer located in Austin, TX. She's completed work for Yeti, June Shine, Kammok, and Corvus Coffee. Zaine is also a former student of mine, and I'm proud to feature her as the first guest on the podcast. You can see more of her work on Instagram and her website.

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Questions for this interview.

• Think about what you knew when you graduated vs. what you know today. How much of a gap is there? Is it significant?
• Is there something you should have learned in school but didn't?
• How do you use nature for inspiration? Specifically offline inspiration. How do you repurpose what nature has to offer?
• (Listener Question) What do you think defines success as an illustrator?
• Can you tell us how you landed the 2024 Parks Project calendar project?
• Do you share sketches or process work with clients before you show them a finished illustration?
• Which design application do you use in your workflow for illustrations?
• (Listener Question) Have you ever felt dissatisfied with a final design that a client approved?
• How much value did you get from your internship with The Young Jerks? What kind of things did you do during your internship? Do you have any advice for someone looking for an internship?
• Have you learned any production lessons the hard way?
• Do you ask clients for a percentage of the total project cost upfront?
• Were you ever intimidated by typography as a student? What would you say to help someone who is?
• How is your process for working with clients different today than some of your earliest paid work?

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If you LIKE what you hear, please subscribe and keep listening. Sharing this episode with someone is the best way to support the podcast. 

If you LOVE what you hear and want to help me keep the interviews coming—consider buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

Also, I'm always looking for questions from listeners. If there's a burning question you want to hear answered on the podcast, please email it to me at [email protected].

Follow @studentsofdesignpod on Instagram for updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content.

The music you hear on the podcast is Accident by Timothy Infinite and PUSH !T by Nbhd Nick.

studentsofdesign.simplecast.com

Welcome to Students of Design. My name is Joseph Israel Raul Bullard, and I'm a Logo & Visual Identity Designer based in Colorado. I'm also an adjunct professor at Austin Community College and have taught there since 2017. As you can imagine, I've seen a lot of student work—the good, the bad, and the trash. But more importantly, I've heard a lot of the same questions. This podcast will provide interesting perspectives on some of them.

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If you LIKE what you hear, please subscribe and keep listening. Sharing this episode with someone is the best way to support the podcast. 

If you LOVE what you hear and want to help me keep the interviews coming—consider buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

Also, I'm always looking for questions from listeners. If there's a burning question you want to hear answered on the podcast, please email it to me at [email protected].

Follow @studentsofdesignpod on Instagram for updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes content.

The music you hear on the podcast is Accident by Timothy Infinite and PUSH !T by Nbhd Nick.

studentsofdesign.simplecast.com