Talk Paper Scissors

This episode is the first in a 6-part series in magazine production and publishing. Here you’ll meet Nicola Hamilton, Toronto-based magazine Art Director and independent magazine shop owner. In this episode you’ll hear trends in magazine publishing and production.

Nicola describes her process as an Art Director, including how she collaborates in making magazines among many stakeholders. Nicola also shares her advice for sourcing inexpensive (even free!) visuals for magazine projects. Finally, she describes the importance of setting the technical foundation of a periodical publication, as well as what ‘pacing’ means and how to design with pacing in mind.

And here’s the great news for all magazine makers: Nicola believes that the future belongs to niche publications (that YOU could create!).

This episode is part of a guest lecture series in GCM 720 Magazine Production & Publishing in The Creative School at TMU and co-hosted by student, Enza Borson.

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In this episode you'll meet Camilo Saenz and Kristin Lewis who are using their talents for graphic design, videography and photography to communicate and accelerate this important organization doing important work.

These two excitingly talented creatives who work in a STEM organization (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) called Visions of Science here in Toronto. 

Visions of Science is transforming lives and advancing equity through STEM; providing access, increasing representation and fostering meaningful inclusion. They reach 1000+ youth in 30 communities each year through in-school programming, after-school tutoring, camps and partnerships with major organizations like Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and IBM.

This conversation about creative thinking and creative outputs is framed around the four pillars of STEM.

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Recorded at Podcamp 2023, here’s a talk about breaking all the rules in podcasting: “By day, Diana teaches students within The Creative School at TMU to know their audience and create compelling visual content. By night, Diana does the exact opposite: she creates podcast content for herself more than for her audience — with no set production schedule, no set show format, no set episode length, no less! — in a decidedly non-visual format. And it’s the best thing she’s ever done. Learn the way Diana uses podcasting as a creative outlet (that sometimes interweaves with her day job), allowing her to explore new topics, speak with interesting people and create a body of work that’s opened doors she didn’t know existed. Be inspired to create your own podcast that breaks all the rules and is uniquely you.”

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Meet emerging typeface designers, Nicole Galindo and Cameron Mady! You’ll learn about their original typeface designs (Dogggo and Perpetua) created in Advanced Typography class at Toronto Metropolitan University. You’ll hear about their typefaces’ perfect pairings, sensory descriptions of each (sight, smell, touch, sound and even taste), the ways they could be uniquely transformed into variable fonts, as well as where they plan to take their typefaces next. Playful and classic, spirited and rule-bound, these two original creations don’t disappoint. 

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This is the final episode in the Brand New series where you’ll hear from Richard Nalli-Petta of Parcel in Toronto chat about his work for the agency, including one very special project he’s been a part of recently. You’ll hear how Parcel defines branding, the ways collaboration happens on large projects and the challenges of handing finished work to a client, who can then shape or change the design in any way they see fit. Finally you’ll hear why Richard believes design jobs are safe from being totally taken over by AI.

Finally, I encourage you to check out the images shared by Richard during the recording, which are available in the show notes at https://www.talkpaperscissors.info/. 

This episode is part of a guest lecture series in Design as Communication, Bachelor of Brand Design Program, George Brown College School of Design. 

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Welcome to the second episode in our Brand New series all about brand identity design. Today’s episode features the passionate and talented team at Loop who designs for social good. 

Here you’ll meet designers Josh Layton and Emma Steele, learn what Loop does and how they see themselves as different from traditional agencies, as well as how Loop’s process is one of deep listening and unlearning, stemming from a place of curiosity and connection.

You’ll learn what human-centred design means to Loop and how they approach their work through this critical lens, as well as all of the ways that equity, diversity and inclusion is baked into to Loop’s people and processes and is constantly evolving.

Finally you’ll hear the ways that storytelling is used to build trust through design, helping to weave a common thread for supporters of the cause.

The Loop team presented beautiful visuals to accompany their talk so please check them out at https://www.talkpaperscissors.info/!

This episode is part of a guest lecture series in Design as Communication, Bachelor of Brand Design Program, George Brown College School of Design. 

 Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

It’s Meg! Meg Lewis is a designer, illustrator, artist and all-around creative. In this conversation, Meg and Diana get delightfully weird!

The duo discuss Meg’s approach to their work centred around making the world a happier place, Meg’s ‘no process’ process and their definition of success. You’ll hear about the dreamiest client project Meg’s ever worked on (it’s a good one!), including Meg’s wildest idea that they can’t get out of their head.

You’ll also hear about Meg’s approach to finding their style, including why they’re not upset by copycat work. Diana invites Meg to play an improv game with her about the embodiment of fonts and it’s embarrassingly magical (you can practically hear the hives forming on Diana’s neck). Finally, you’ll learn about Meg’s awesome advice to their younger self, what happened when Meg decided to dance and you can’t forget the clowns and the mimes and circus stuff. It’s a fun one!

This episode is part of a guest lecture series in Design as Communication, Bachelor of Brand Design Program, George Brown College School of Design. 

 Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

In this episode, you’ll meet Aurelie Maron, a full-time lettering artist and teacher based out of the Gold Coast, Australia. You’ll hear Aurelie’s story, including why neither agency life nor freelance work was the right fit for her creativity. You’ll hear accessible ways for beginners to get started in their lettering journey, as well as the way Aurelie uses lettering challenges to practice her craft, hone her style and scale her business. 

You’ll hear about her creative processes in approaching unfamiliar design challenges, as well as for designing an original typeface (and how to move forward if you feel stuck!). Finally you’ll hear about Aurelie’s desert island typeface choices (great minds think alike!), about her new Domestika course and about how she makes money as a lettering artist.

This episode is part of a guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography in The Creative School at TMU and co-hosted by student, Katrina Javier.

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In this episode, you’ll meet Jorge Gomez, a brand strategist and graffiti writer based out of Inglewood, CA. You’ll hear about Jorge’s work running The Money Studio, helping BIPOC-owned brands preserve their culture, as well as his design origin story that started with graffiti. You’ll hear how he’s doubled down on setbacks in his life and used them as powerful catalysts for growth, including the ways in which he faced prejudice in his ascent through school and into industry. Jorge shares his use of Design Thinking and math (math!) when painting murals, how he said “yes” before he was ready and the ways in which his family plays an integral role in his work.

This episode is part of a guest lecture series in GCM 806 Advanced Typography in The Creative School at TMU and co-hosted by student, Katrina Javier.

 Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)

In this episode close to Diana’s heart released on what would have been her Dad’s 69th birthday, hear them read a favourite children’s story book together. First recorded in the late 1980s and then in 2021, hear Diana, her Dad and her youngest daughter (who narrowly missed meeting her Grandad) read for the first and last time together, united through the magic of audio.

 Let's Connect on the web or via Instagram. :)