Almost two years after Russia invaded Ukraine, I'm joined by Ukrainian illustrator, designer, and design community activist Olha Protasova to talk about creativity in times of war.This episode contains sensitive topics, but I hope you'll stay with us to be inspired by the bravery, resilience, and hope Olha shows.The show is supported by https://illustrationx.com and below are a series of links from Olha, via which you can help the Ukrainian cause:Olha's insta: https://www.instagram.com/olha_protasova_illustration Projector school: https://prjctr.com/ (Ukrainian)Yurko Gutsulyak: https://gutsulyak.studioMykola Kovalenko:https://mykolakovalenko.euA book about Trident, downloadable:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SD7nyGHyxo0JCnAw7gcS8BZ8eCEhq2Tr/view?usp=drivesdk(Language is Ukrainian, but the content is amazing)Meaning of trident: https://www.weareukraine.info/special/what-does-the-ukrainian-coat-of-arms-mean/Few articles about Ukrainian illustrators: https://ukraine.ua/stories/ukrainian-illustrators/https://theaoi.com/2022/05/13/drawing-strength-in-conversation-with-ukrainian-illustrators/Big article about type design and designers: https://eugenesadko.medium.com/21st-century-ukrainian-society-and-fonts-c61f6152ff19#:~:text=Among%20these%20type%20designers%20who,Lukian%20Turetsky%2C%20and%20Bohdan%20Hdal.https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

Simon is missing. The posters are up, and it sets in motion a bout of gross overthinking. A hypothetical thought experiment for the fellow sensitive people.Supported by founding sponsor https://illustrationx.comMusic by Dirty Freud https://open.spotify.com/artist/2c5NcXidirDDqL3sc3vW8SPresented and written by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

Washington DC-based artist and all-round creative human Chris Pyrate reflects on the role of early travels to New Mexico and LA, challenges for young people growing up in Washington DC, and why being an artist is a way of life, and not merely a profession.His big brand collaborations with the Washinton Wizards and Nike are secondary to a bigger philosophy.We get deep into all of it with a man vastly wiser than his years.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://ahumanfly.squarespace.com/bentallon.combentallonwriter.com

Part 2 of the creativity checklist.Part 1 can be heard on episode 208. Distilled from the forthcoming 'The Creative Condition' book. Out March 28th 2024.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.combentallon.combentallonwriter.com

Sarah Boris is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer at the top of her game. We discuss the challenges of change in early years, along with the upsides, her early career roles designing for The Barbican and Phaidon, and her current art and design studio practice. The challenges of staying disciplined, but not overworking are covered, as well as activism, and what Sarah refers to as 'the care bear phase' in which she needs to create bright, happy work to decompress from heavy subject matter.A fascinating glimpse of the mind and ways of one of the most dynamic creators in the game.https://www.instagram.com/sarahboris_ldn/?hl=enThe show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

Part 1 of a list of considerations for maximising your creativity, distilled from the forthcoming 'The Creative Condition' book. Out March 28th 2024.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

The human mind is not equipped to cope with the information overload we all experience in out western lifestyles. We burn out and stagger through our lives paying bills, consuming, neglecting, and misunderstanding our creativity to the detriment of our happiness and fulfillment.In 1993 Tom Hodkinson founded 'Idler' magazine - a publication dedicated to calling for a slower, more wholesome way of life, questioning the earn and spend ethic. Tom joins me to discuss most of modern life, with special attention paid to creativity and idling.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://idler.co.ukhttps://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

The first in a series of audience question-focused episodes of the podcast. This one is from designer Steve Cardwell, wondering about the validity of a portfolio comprised of personal work when starting afresh, or changing direction in an arts career.Any further responses to the question, questions for future episodes, or opinions on the question-based format are most welcome!Supported by Illustration X, who represent the best of global illustrators and animators at https://illustrationx.comHosted by Ben Tallon, https://bentallon.comThe Creative Condition book will be out in March 2024https://defaultica.com/

In 2018 I met Murugiah for episode 102 of The Creative Condition Podcast. He had results, and he was freelancing successfully as an illustrator and artist, but there was a fragility about him. The earliest seeds of his current, flourishing art style were starting to flower, but they were mere dots in the soil.In 2020, on 'Cabin Cast 5', bright green buds had emerged, and spots of colour were trying to push out.Now as we stare down both barrels of 2024, he returns and things are in full bloom. And yet, he says he's been talking utter h0rseshit this entire time. I disagree, and we get deep into how it all feels, why we can never truly feel satisfied, and how we go about juggling all the parts of a freelance career in the creative industry.Please consider subscribing and reviewing The Creative Condition podcast on your preferred platform. The show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X. Indulge yourself in their global range of artists, illustrators, and animators now at https://illustrationx.comHosted and produced by Ben Tallon. Https://bentallon.comToday's guest can be found at: https://murugiah.com/https://bentallonwriter.comhttps://instagram.com/bentallon

Designit is home to 700+ designers, analysts, brainstormers, creators, doers, dreamers, explorers, geeks, leaders, learners, lovers, mamas, papas, renegades, strategists, marketers, tree-huggers, visionaries, question-askers with diverse expertise and perspectives working together to solve complex problems.I'm joined by their head of design and creative in the Americas, Christine Pizzo as we get into large-scale design for positive change, design leadership, motorcycles, and the role of tech in our lives in the 21st century.As ever, the show is supported by the founding sponsor, illustration and animation agency, and b-corp Illustration X. illustrationx.comhttps://www.designit.com/aboutbentallon.combentallonwriter.comMusic by Dirty Freud:open.spotify.com/artist/2c5NcXidirDDqL3sc3vW8S