The Creative Condition podcast

According to the Department For Education figures, 70% of youth services funding has been cut since 2010, since the Conservatives came to power. Violent crime is a regular feature on the news, young deaths seemingly a daily headline. Kerry O'Brien joins me to discuss the incredible and essential work of Young Urban Arts Foundation, the charity she founded who provide workshops and programs to empower young people to express themselves and develop their talents through creativity. Her own story of adversity and resolve is powerful and we get into why artistic expression is so important for the fundamental needs of every young person on earth, to avoid mental health catastrophes.When an education system is ill equipped to cater for individuality, teachers left no choice but to be more stressed about Ofsted visits than the needs of their pupils, police forces whittled down to the bare bones, able only to focus on the end results and not the community and root causes of violent crime, then the support of society and organisations like YUAF becomes the difference between a frightening future and one of hope and positive change.Get your thoughts on young people and creativity to @arrestallmimics on social media.Episode 138 is supported by http://illustrationweb.com http://heartinternet.co.uk http://foilco.uk http://theaoi.comSpecial thanks to Bayeux photo lab and Fujifilm for support on http://lendmeyourearart.comhttp://yuaf.org.ukhttp://twitter.com/yuafofficialhttp://instagram.com/yuafofficialhttp://twitter.com/ladyemcee

AMV BBDO is a global communications agency. 289 offices in 81 countries big. That's influence. Their #Bloodnormal campaign for Bodyform was the first to show period blood. Plastic Oceans with Ladbible played a significant role in bringing the plastic problem into mainstream conversation. Both campaigns showcased the power of creativity and visual communication.I talk to creative partner and a key mind behind both campaigns Nadja Lossgott about her work for AMV, her story, thoughts on branding taboos and the power of our artistic skills to inspire change for good.We get into the role of consumers and brands in triggering mainstream conversations and we must piss a few people off to make real change.What are your thoughts on blood in advertising and the role of brands in positive change? @arrestallmimics on social media.Episode 137 is supported by http://illustrationweb.com http://heartinternet.co.uk http://foilco.uk http://theaoi.comSpecial thanks to Bayeux photo lab and Fujifilm for support on http://lendmeyourearart.comhttp://amvbbdo.comhttp://nickandnadja.comhttp://dandad.orghttp://instagram.com/nadja_lossgotthttp://twitter.com/nadjalossgott

Andy Cotterill has spent many years with larger than life characters of all kinds, photographing them for the likes of Sony Music, Dazed and Confused, Mojo Magazine, and Q. It's mental health awareness week and ahead of the launch of our illustration/photography collaboration, 'Lend Me Your Ear,' we sit down to discuss why we wanted to celebrate identity, creativity and self-expression through our skills.Andy shares some brilliant stories about the likes of Kanye West, Pink, FKA Twigs and Jarvis Cocker among many others and it's a great insight into the warmth that epitomises his work.We also touch upon why we wanted to shout about the mind and the great work that Young Urban Arts Foundation and CALM do through the project.Get your feedback over to @arrestallmimics on social media and listen on all good podcast platforms.Special thanks to Bayeux photo lab, Fujifilm and StanceThis episode is supported by http://illustrationweb.com, http://heartinternet.co.uk, http://foilco.co.uk and http://theaoi.comhttps://www.andrewcotterillphotography.com/https://www.instagram.com/andrewcotterill/http://lendmeyourearart.com

Collins strategy and brand experience design company Creative Director Ben Crick joins me to share his story, from Australia to San Francisco, via New York City.Working on projects with clients including Spotify, Vitamin Water and Mail Chimp, he discusses why we must avoid designing for the approval of other designers, but instead listen to the client's needs in order to create the strongest possible solution to brief challenges.What's it like to work with and learn from Brian Collins, a highly respected and vastly experienced Chief Creative Officer?Ben explains why he feels it's dangerous and destructive to all share the same inspiration pool in the digital age and offers many more great insights.Send your feedback on the show over to @arrestallmimics now!Episode 135 is supported by http://illustrationweb.com, http://heartinternet.co.uk, http://foilco.co.uk and http://theaoi.comhttps://www.wearecollins.com/https://twitter.com/wearecollinshttps://www.instagram.com/thisiscollins/http://lendmeyourearart.comhttp://yuaf.org.ukhttp://thecalmzone.net

Glasgow based design studio O-Street join me to discuss their superb portfolio of work, detailing the balance of play, research, hard work and leading with personal passions.Tessa Simpson and Jonny Mowatt explain the process of making the new Scottish banknote and why a love of beer has lead them to some of their favourite clients.It's a great insight into why pleasure in work is crucial, no matter how nuanced.Feedback at @arrestallmimicsSupported by http://illustrationweb.com, http://heartinternet.co.uk, http://foilco.co.uk and http://theaoi.comhttp://www.ostreet.co.uk/http://www.ostreet.co.uk/https://twitter.com/ostreetstudio?lang=enhttps://www.instagram.com/ostreetstudio/http://www.ostreet.co.uk/label-o-love/

We spend close on 12 hours a day consuming content and we do not yet know the long term impact on our mental and physical health.As creative professionals, we are often reliant upon the internet to operate...Ex Ebay chief curator and Moodrise founder Michael Phillips Moskowitz joins me to talk about the neuroscience of happiness and his hopes for the new Moodrise app.It's a fascinating insight into the science of our time spent interacting with technology and feeding the mind, its effect on mental health and where we go from here.Get your feedback over @arrestallmimics!Episode X5 is supported by http://illustrationweb.com, http://heartinternet.co.uk, http://foilco.co.uk and http://theaoi.comhttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moodrise-by-aebeze-labs/id1400832226?mt=8https://www.aebeze.com/mobile-app/

Pricing creative work is like a dagger made of ice for many professionals, sending chills down our spine, keeping us awake at night. Much industry talk of late has made it hard to ignore that independent professional visual communicators are underselling their talents and earning too little as a result. Who could blame them? There are many variables to consider, not to mention individual circumstances when it comes to putting a number of creativity.That's where Blair Enns comes in. Blair's book, Pricing Creativity: Profit Beyond the Billable Hour has been a success and he breaks down the topic in expert style. Blair explains why a conversation of value is key, why we should price the client and not the work and explains why we should never post definitive prices on our websites.Get your thoughts and pricing experiences over to @arrestallmimics on social media.Episode 133 is supported by http://illustrationweb.com, http://heartinternet.co.uk, http://foilco.co.uk and http://theaoi.comhttps://www.winwithoutpitching.com/https://www.instagram.com/winwithoutpitching/https://twitter.com/blairenns

Jane Bowyer, designer and illustrator returns to the show to catch up on the progress of her wonderful and inspiring 'Women In Print' celebration of creative ladies. Back on episode 35, Jane was in the early days of her freelance career and we have much to catch up on. How has she adapted to the brutal world of flying solo in the arts? We get into the difficulties of titling yourself, the idea of making it up as you go along and not straying too far from what you like to do, even if it feels strange.It's an exciting time for a lady on fire right now.Get your thoughts over @arrestallmimics on social mediaEpisode 132 is supported by http://illustrationweb.com, http://heartinternet.co.uk, http://foilco.co.uk and http://theaoi.comhttp://bowyerjane.co.uk/http://instagram.com/bowyerjanehttp://twitter.com/bowyerjanehttp://www.womeninprint.uk/

It's International Women's Day 2019 on 7/3 and i'm joined by two women on the frontline of creativity, UK country music duo Ward Thomas. The twin sisters, Lizzie and Catherine are passionate, hard working and lovely people who open up about their art, from songwriting in sixth form to a UK number one album. How about the art direction of their three albums to date and why self-obsession is so unhealthy on social media?In the midst of their UK tour, we grab a sit down in Manchester's beautiful Albert Hall and discuss creativity and how it feels to be a part of an exciting time for women as the fight for equality continues.Get your thoughts and feedback over to @arrestallmimics on social media now!Episode 131 is supported by http://illustrationweb.com, http://heartinternet.co.uk, http://foilco.co.uk and http://theaoi.comhttps://www.wardthomasmusic.com/https://www.instagram.com/wardthomasmusic/https://twitter.com/wardthomasmusic

Shaun Ryder is a bonafide rock star with stories to tell. The Happy Mondays and Black Grape frontman joins me to share his creativity, his back story and why he feels as energised as ever before with Black Grape due to start a fresh UK tour off the back of returning album Pop Voodoo.Not one to hold back with the truth, Shaun touches upon why trends are the worst thing to follow, how he learned on the job and the key role played by Tony Wilson who appreciated not just their technical abilities, but the whole aura, attitude and appearance of the band and allowed them freedom to develop creatively.It's a spellbinding glimpse into one of music's most interesting minds.Get us your thoughts on social @arrestallmimics, listen and subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher and more.Episode X4 of Arrest All Mimics is kindly supported by http://illustrationweb.com, http://heartinternet.co.uk, http://foilco.co.uk and http://theaoi.comBlack Grape tour tickets at: http://www.blackgrapemusic.com/tourPre Order Wrote For Luck at https://www.faber.co.uk/shop/music/9780571330935-wrote-for-luck.html