Students of Design

Jacob is a Dingbat—MR. Dingbat to you—a designer and art director who runs a tiny graphic design studio in Austin, TX, also called Dingbat. His studio specializes in brand identity, packaging, illustration, and typography. Once upon a time, he worked at IBM and then Helms Workshop, and he's partnered with selected clients like Duolingo, Cratejoy, Emojibator, Kammok, and Fifty-Nine Parks. Did I mention he designs typefaces, too? Yeah, you can find them at Dingbat.xyz! Tune in for a talk about collaborating with other designers, tips for maintaining readability, and which typeface designer he would wipe from history. See more of Jake's work on Instagram and Dribbble, and browse his typefaces on Gumroad. Who knows, if you get into his inner circle, he might serve you a cortado from his coffee cart, Lil Dingus.

Questions for this interview.

• Do you typically collaborate with people you already have a relationship with?
• Do you actively look for opportunities to collaborate, or do you prefer to take them on whenever they fall into place on their own?
• What would you say to someone afraid to ask another designer to collaborate on a project?
• What did you realize you took for granted after leaving IBM?
• Since going independent, what do you miss about working with a team of people?
• Did you move to Austin for IBM, or were you already living in Austin when you started working there?
• What was your experience working at Helms Workshop like?
• Do you think an internship is worth the time and effort?
• What were your thoughts when you transitioned from using your name to using the word Dingbat?
• Are you happy you made that change?
• Were there any other names you seriously considered before settling on Dingbat?
• What's something you're into that isn't directly related to design?
• Has design ever ruined your passion for anything?
• If you had to teach a random person one thing about typography, what would you teach them?
• Which is worse? Poorly justified text or bad typographic hierarchy?
• Which is worse? A poor ragged edge or (slightly) misaligned text frames?
• Can you give us some tips for readability when working with body text?
• Are there any typographic treatments that get under your skin or you won't put up with?
• How often do your type designs start from a specific source of inspiration vs. a custom letterform you designed or a sketch?
• Was the name of your typeface, Marston, inspired by Red Dead Redemption?
• Which part of the type design process is the most complicated?
• If you had to choose Helvetica, Futura, Clarendon, or Garamond, which typeface would you erase from existence?
• If you had to choose Matthew Carter, Jonathan Hoefler, Adrian Frutiger, or Erik Spiekermann, who would you erase from history?

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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.

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Adam is a designer and illustrator from Orlando, Florida. For the past 4.5 years, he's been working as a Senior Brand Designer at Acorns—basically, he draws squirrels for a living, lol. But, before the squirrels, he worked independently for a long time and created designs for big names like Disney, Target, Dunkin' Donuts, William Sonoma, and Cartoon Network. Eventually, his world started to fall apart. He lost some people close to him, Disney cut him off, and the social media demons got the best of him. Since then, he's picked himself back up, and 2025 is his redemption tour. Tune in for a talk about growing up without understanding financial wellness, making critical mistakes with a huge client, and how working in-house at Acorns provides the stability to move forward. Look for his work on Instagram, Dribbble, and his website, studiograson.com. Also, start investing :)

Questions for this interview.

• Can you give us some examples of the types of design assets you create at Acorns?
• There's a lot of green in the Acorns color palette. How's that treating you?
• Has working at Acorns changed how you think about money or plan for your family's future?
• Can you share what growing up in Pine Hills was like?
• How did your grandmother impact your creativity?
• Is there any time when you feel like you legitimately hit rock bottom?
• Can you share some encouraging thoughts for anyone in the trenches who feels they might be experiencing their lowest point?
• Can you tell us what happened between you and Disney?
• What is your non-professional relationship with Disney like today?
• What did the situation with Disney teach you about respect?
• How did you start rebuilding yourself and your identity after Disney cut ties with you?
• Why are you so willing to share personal information about yourself?
• How are you navigating your work and the design industry differently than you were before?
• Has working in-house for the last 4.5 years helped you refocus, rebuild, and work on yourself?
• Do you still take on a lot of independent work?
• How does being represented by Arthur and Elias fit into everything?
• Can you tell us how the relationship works?
• Who do you think this kind of relationship is for?
• Is there a level of quality or experience someone needs before applying for representation?
• Can you tell us about the family Instagram account your wife (Christina) manages?
• How close are you to being the happiest you've ever been?

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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.

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Kendrick is a Creative Director and VP of Creative at Shepherd, a full-service ad agency in Jacksonville, Florida. He surfs and skates, and you can find him at Kona Skatepark with his kids on the weekends. Kendrick is just an all-around swell guy, and his work is fantastically textured, smooth, slick, cute, gnarly, or literally whatever it needs to be. Despite working at the same agency—Shepherd—for TWENTY YEARS, Kendrick does plenty of independent work for clients like Nickelodeon, Target, ESPN Magazine, Billabong, and Reve Brewing. Tune in for a talk about agency life, typographic taste, and his work for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run. You can find Kendrick on Instagram, Dribbble, and LinkedIn.

Questions for this interview.

• Kendrick, are you a leader?
• What do you think great leaders in the design and advertising industry do well?
• You've worked at Shepherd for 20 years. Why stay at the same agency for two decades?
• Have you ever worried that staying in one place for too long could lead to stagnation or cause you to stop growing creatively?
• What's the role of a Creative Director at Shepherd?
• Can you think of a misconception that people (with no agency experience) have but isn't true in your agency experience?
• You watched a lot of people come and go. Why do you think agency life didn't work out for some people?
• Imagine a recent grad wanting to work at Shepherd. What would you recommend they focus on to prepare for the interview?
• Art Director vs. Creative Director. Has one of those roles been more stressful or complicated than the other?
• How do you feel when someone says you're their design hero or calls you a legend within the industry?
• Where is your comfort zone, and how do you define it?
• You designed a modular typeface called Snips. Where did the idea for the typeface come from? Is there a story to tell?
• Do you think good typographic taste can be taught or learned?
• Who's your favorite SpongeBob character? Were any characters more fun to work on than others?
• What did you use as reference material, and where did you pull inspiration?
• Did working on such a high-profile IP (SpongeBob Squarepants) come with extra pressure?
• Have you outgrown falling into the comparison trap?
• Who's your favorite droid in the Star Wars universe?
• Is there any part of your process or technique that you turn to often enough to consider a crutch?
• You've had a long and successful career. What have you done right to get yourself to that point?
• Would you have stayed at Shepherd for 20 years if they didn't allow you to take on independent clients or support you the way they do?

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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.

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Bryony is a designer, author, and co-founder of UnderConsideration—a graphic design firm in Bloomington, Indiana. Over the last two decades, Bryony has managed the behind-the-scenes of various initiatives with her husband, Armin Vit, including Brand New (the blog), Brand New Conference, First Round, a bunch of other blogs, a podcast, and they've published five books including Graphic Design Referenced. Bryony is the type of person who comes up with a wild idea that seems impossible but always finds a way to make it a reality. It (legit) could be magic, but I bet it's because she has more follow-through than anyone I've ever met. She's serious about most things, like enough to know she's usually TOO serious, and she's the mastermind behind the ridiculously well-crafted conference materials at the Brand New Conference. IYKYK. Tune in for a talk about the perfect combination of confidence and self-doubt, designing for a critical audience, and the most dangerous day of her year. Check out UnderConsideration on Behance for excellent examples of how you can document your process, and visit UnderConsideration.com for more information about everything she does.

Questions for this interview.

• Why is quality so important to you?
• Who has a more critical eye between you and Armin?
• What are some of your considerations, or how do you decide it's the right time to conclude a project?
• Why archive and preserve all of your concluded projects? Why do you keep them all intact online?
• Can you talk about the perfect formula of being confident in your abilities but having self-doubt?
• I heard you say the fear of failure is your biggest motivator. Do you still feel that way today?
• In 2016, you held the Brand New Conference in Amsterdam. Do you consider that event a failure according to your standards?
• How does designing for a critical, tough crowd like designers inspire your work?
• You believe one specific day of the year is more dangerous than the rest. Can you tell us which day it is and explain why for you?
• When a vendor can't help you bring an idea to life, you always find a way to do it yourself. Where do you think your drive comes from?
• How difficult is it for you—someone who obsesses over the details—to let go of perfection and allow yourself to accept and embrace the final output when there are imperfections?
• What are the speakers you choose for your conferences doing to stand out? Are there any common threads or characteristics you look for when making those decisions?
• Between you and Armin, who has more technically sound InDesign files?

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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.

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Sarah is an illustrator, lettering artist, and muralist living in Austin, Texas. In 2019, she gave her two weeks' notice, left the corporate design world (USAA), and started Wild Vine Creative. For the past few years, her focus has been creating murals, and her artwork features organic shapes, an earthy color palette, and wildflowers like globemallow, fall aster, and bluebonnets. Don't be surprised if you spot some food and plant puns, too! Tune in for a talk about growing up in a military family, deciding to leave a full-time job to become an independent illustrator and muralist, and tips for lettering with a paintbrush. You can see her artwork and process videos on Instagram and buy stickers, cards, and prints on her website.

Questions for this interview.

• You grew up in a military family and moved a lot. Was art (or making art) important to you during that time?
• Did you grow up with siblings?
• Hypothetically, do you think you would be more or less creative if you didn't grow up with a brother?
• Did you have a good experience at Columbia College Chicago?
• Did you feel prepared to find an entry-level design job after you finished design school?
• For many of us, one design professor changed how we view the world. Did anyone make that kind of impact on you?
• You started Wild Vine Creative in 2019—why did you decide to branch out of your own?
• What do you remember about giving your two weeks' notice? How did you feel about taking that leap?
• Did you have a mentor or ask anyone for advice before making that decision?
• Why do murals draw you in and make you want to create them?
• Can you explain some of the art transfer methods used to create murals?
• How intimidated were you by the idea of painting large murals?
• Is there anything about murals that you still find intimidating or makes you nervous?
• Did you find Lauren Hom's course "Mural Painting for Designers" helpful?
• Do you have beginner-friendly tips for achieving clean lines and smooth curves when painting letterforms with a paintbrush?
• You added two new colors to your color palette. Where did the inspiration for those colors come from?
• What are some of your favorite native wildflowers or cacti?
• Is there a story behind your mural inspired by Otomi patterns?

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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

Michael (aka Fugstrator) is an "illustrator who illustrates with design principles." He's the "People's Homie"—I made that up—and is a Senior Design Evangelist for Next Gen Creative Pros at Adobe. We all love his work, and I'm jealous of all the "space stuff" he creates. He's worked with aerospace clients like NASA, Blue Origin, Boeing, and other big companies like IBM, Oracle, and Skillshare—AND he's been on some of the biggest stages in the industry, like Adobe MAX. Tune in for a talk about getting expelled from college, living by the Pirate Code, and speaking to a crowd of 10,000 people. Look for Fugstrator on Instagram, Dribbble, LinkedIn, and Adobe MAX.

Questions for this interview.

• Do you know where this text is from? "After months of tenacious enemy attack, only one ship has survived..."
• Who's your favorite Street Fighter character?
• Do you have a favorite video game-inspired illustration you've created?
• If you could only choose one, which series would you keep around between Ninja Gaiden and Mega Man?
• Something went wrong during your last year of college. Can you tell us what happened?
• Did that event lead you to design school?
• What did that experience teach you? What lesson did you take away from it?
• What's something important to you that you think everyone should learn in design school?
• Does creating and sharing short-form tutorial videos scratch your educator itch?
• Are the reactions to your Instagram videos what you were hoping or expecting?
• (Listener Question) In an industry that's constantly changing because of technology and trends, how do you keep up and feel like an "advanced designer?"
• You say, "Think Like an Artist; Execute Like a Designer." Can you elaborate on that?
• Do you think someone needs to be good at drawing to be a great illustrator?
• Do you still create all your illustrations with a single light source in the top-left corner?
• You've spoken at Adobe MAX. How would you weigh your level of confidence vs. nervousness when you were on that stage?
• When working with engineers who demand precision, how do you acknowledge their feedback, and how do you typically try to implement it?
• Who do you think will win the F1 Drivers Championship this year? Max Verstappen or Lando Norris?

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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

Rick (aka Skeeletor in the competitive Skee-Ball world) is a lot of things—a Dark Artist, Creativity & Leadership Coach, Inner Monster Wrangler, Author, Educator, Podcaster, and World Builder. I met Rick around 2014 and have followed and supported his work since. Some of the best conversations I've ever had about self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and monsters have been with him. As a coach, he's helped thousands of leaders confront their fears, wrestle their inner imposter monsters, and find more within themselves. Most of all, he prioritizes creating a space for people to become their most authentic selves. Tune in for a talk about the inspiration behind his work, imposter syndrome, and why you should embrace the bog witch life. Visit his website for more info about his coaching practice, art shop, newsletter, NFTs, screenplays, and more. I recommend giving The Inner Monster Podcast a try.

Questions for this interview.

• Why are you an artist?
• If you created a pie chart to visualize your identity, how would it look?
• How would you describe your artwork to someone who's never seen it before?
• Do you know where your inspiration comes from?
• Across everyone you've worked with, roughly how many of those people experience a form of imposter syndrome?
• Can you talk about the phrase "Face It Till You Make It?"
• When facing our inner monster (imposter syndrome), how can we succeed in the long and short term?
• If the feelings of imposter syndrome were a monster, which monster(s) do you think represent those feelings the best?
• What is a bog witch? How do you think creative people can tap into their inner bog witch, and why should they?
• Can you tell us about the highs and lows of streaming on Twitch?
• How much of your digital painting style resembles your traditional painting style?
• What advice do you have for someone who wants to sell prints, illustrations, or merch at an art convention or event?
• In moments of self-doubt, what's a question you always ask yourself that helps keep you going?
• How do you define authenticity, and why do you think people get hung up on it or have trouble being more authentic?
• Why do you think it's important to focus on the process instead of the result?
• Why should people be more generous with themselves?

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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

Hank is an Art Director, Designer, and Illustrator originally from the muddy backwoods of Mississippi. He's created work with Instagram, Netflix, and Adobe, and he's the force behind Hank Designs Studios and Fuzzies Co.—a culture-focused illustration project. Our friendship goes back to 2019 when I met him at Design Week Huntsville in Alabama. He gave a fantastic presentation, and afterward, I taught him some of the secrets of competitive Skee-Ball—then we made it rain redemption tickets on dem fools. Tune in for a talk about avoiding math in Adobe Illustrator, finding inspiration for Fuzzies characters, and speaking on the main stage at Creative South. You can find Hank's brand identity work on his website, and check out his gallery of culture-focused illustrations at Fuzzies Co.

Questions for this interview.

• What kind of impact did Jamal Collins have on your career?
• What kind of design work are you primarily looking for?
• Which Adobe Illustrator tool or feature do you think people sleep on the most?
• What helped you get the hang of the pen tool? Do you have any tips for using it more effectively?
• Custom lettering—are there situations when you start from an existing digital letterform instead of a sketch?
• Can you explain what Fuzzies are for anyone who doesn't know?
• What kind of impact do you eventually want Fuzzies to have?
• What are the elements or components that make a Fuzzie a Fuzzie?
• Are Fuzzies always based on specific people, or do you create some from your imagination?
• What's your approach to color when bringing a Fuzzie to life? Do you have a core set of colors, or start from scratch with each character?
• Can you tell us about the lead-up to Creative South and how you became a speaker?

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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

Ash is a Co-Founder and Creative Director of Six Cinquième, a Montreal-based Strategic Brand Consultancy. She's created work for organizations like The National Black Canadians Summit, On Est Là!, a BIPOC-focused talent agency, and The Centre for Canadians of African Descent. Many design agencies say they're selective about the people they work with—but Six Cinquième proves they are. Their work uplifts Black creativity. It represents and has the power to inspire young, underrecognized designers to enter the design industry. Tune in for a talk about shifting your mindset, setting boundaries with clients, and trusting everything will work itself out. You can find more of Ash's work on her agency's website, follow Six Cinquième on Instagram, and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Questions for this interview.

• What is your agency, Six Cinquieme, proof of? At this point in your career, what have you proven to yourself?
• You started your agency because you didn't feel like the design industry was a space made for you. What was missing from it? Why didn't you feel like it was a space for you?
• Do you feel responsible for encouraging and attracting young, underprivileged people to the design industry?
• What does operating with a "scarcity mindset" mean to you?
• Can you tell us about the moment in your career when you realized saying yes to everything wouldn't be sustainable?
• Do you think your clients' perspectives (of you) have shifted since setting healthy boundaries?
• How have you and Miro grown since establishing those boundaries?
• How do you encourage clients to think about design on a deeper level when they're stuck on the surface?
• How do you make sure you don't get consumed by your work?
• You said you no longer fear hitting a creative standstill or mental block. Why is that?
• What do you think design leaders, seasoned creative directors, or people who own a design studio can do differently to help young designers feel like the industry is a space for them, too?
• What can people attending Circles Conference and Creative Works East expect to take away from your sessions?
• Can you share some thoughts on the visual touchpoints you experienced in Paris before the 2024 Olympic Games started?

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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.

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Jesse is an Associate Creative Director at Marketing for Change, a research and creative agency propelled by behavioral science. He's also the tallest designer I know, plays in a volleyball league on Wednesday evenings, and will tell you the best chicken tender in Colorado Springs is from Ivywild Kitchen. When Jesse isn't winning ADDY or Telly awards, he's pushing passion projects—like T is for Tattoo—to new heights. Ha, new heights, lol. Tune in for a talk about working with a team, graphic design tattoos, and including passion projects in your portfolio. You can find some of Jesse's funny internet videos on Instagram, see more of his work on his website, and learn more about where he works at Marketing for Change.

Questions for this interview.

• How does the team you work with—or the people you collaborate with—help you handle feeling like an imposter?
• Have you learned anything working with a team you don't think you would have learned working alone?
• Do you enjoy presenting your ideas or designs to clients? Do you ever find the process intimidating?
• What percentage of time do you spend planning and thinking vs. actually making?
• Can you tell us how your remote working days look and how often they happen?
• Are the people you meet with also designers, or do they have different roles?
• Do you have any tattoos directly related to graphic design?
• How do you decide or choose the subject matter for your tattoos?
• Can you explain the concept behind your "T is for Tattoo" project?
• Where did the kids in the video for T is Tattoo come from?
• Were you surprised no one backed the "Your Name Forever" reward tier?
• Do you regret getting any of your tattoos? Do you have any cover-ups?
• How would you respond to students asking if they should include a passion project in their portfolio?
• You became a design educator in 2023. What was that experience like?
• Were there any takeaways from your first semester of teaching?
• Do you have any words of encouragement for designers looking for more impact or meaning in their work?
• Can you tell us about the book you made in memory of your dog, Dylan?

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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