Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Quickie Podcast, we chat with Vietnamese American illustrator and design generalist Kytana Le. She shares her journey from growing up in a small bayou town in Louisiana to working at Visa, blending her love for illustration, branding, and UX design.

We dive into how a high school art class and a Tumblr rabbit hole led her to pursue design, her obsession with print and tactile design, and the challenges of working in a corporate design environment.

Kytana also opens up about her time working on Samurai Jack promos for Adult Swim, her love for packaging design, and her latest unexpected skill—tarot reading. 

Episode Highlights:

Finding Her Path – How a high school art class and Tumblr opened the door to design.
A Defining Moment – The Society of Illustrators magazine that changed how she saw creativity.
From Animation to UX – Her experience working on Samurai Jack promos and transitioning into UX design.
Print Obsession – Why she nearly minored in printmaking and still collects packaging today.
Big Company Challenges – The difficulties of implementing design processes at a corporate level.
Client Communication 101 – How she helps stakeholders articulate their design vision.
Tarot & Life Lessons – A farewell gift sparked a new skill—reading tarot for her coworkers.

Resources & Links:

Kytana on Instagram: @ivorytea
Kytan's Website: LINK HERE

// Print Design Academy for Teams // Learn more here

// Print Design Academy for Freelance Creatives // Learn more here

In this episode of The Quickie Podcast, we sit down with graphic designer, illustrator, and creative director Colby Clites. Colby shares his journey from Tampa, Florida, to the mountains of Colorado, where he works in the beverage and food industry, designing packaging and branding for some seriously cool products.

We talk about his creative childhood (spoiler: his mom saw his design future before he did), how an Adobe livestream shaped his passion, and the highs and lows of his freelance journey.

Plus, Colby shares the story of a packaging mishap that turned into an unexpected PR campaign and drops his go-to playlist for getting in the zone. 

Resources & Mentions:

The Playlist: Disco F**ks - LISTEN HERE

Colby Clites on Instagram: @colbyclites
Colby's Website: LINK HERE

// Print Design Academy for Teams // Learn more here

// Print Design Academy for Freelance Creatives // Learn more here

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Cousins, a self-taught graphic designer, art director, and creative director with an impressive career spanning West Beach, Lululemon, and top design studios in Portland.

Steve shares his journey from small-town British Columbia to working with global brands, the impact of skate culture on him, and the lessons he’s learned from both wins and failures. Plus, we talk about the balance between hands-on design work and creative direction, and Steve drops some wisdom for young designers navigating their careers.

Episode Highlights:

From Small-Town Skater to Design Pro: How Steve’s childhood in Pitt Meadows and passion for skate culture led him into graphic design.

The Art of Culture-Driven Design: Why Steve believes culture is at the heart of great design and how brands should lean into their communities.

The Pepsi Pitch Gone Wrong: That time he flew to Pepsi HQ on a private jet, only to find out the team had prepared the wrong type of campaign.

Learning the Hard Way in Print: A hilarious but painful lesson on Photoshop’s Magic Wand tool and sending posters to print—missing half of the athletes' legs.

Navigating the Designer-to-Creative Director Transition: Why the move to creative direction isn’t for everyone and why great designers shouldn’t feel pressured to take that path.

Finding Fresh Passion in Photography: Steve’s latest creative pursuit and why learning something new keeps things exciting.

Designing Experiences That Matter: How working on Lululemon’s SeaWheeze Half Marathon branding gave Steve a whole new perspective on experiential design.

Resources & Mentions:

ReallyBigCool on Instagram: @reallybigcoolio
Steve Cousins' Website: LINK HERE

// Print Design Academy for Teams // Learn more here

// Print Design Academy for Freelance Creatives // Learn more here

In this episode, Lucy Eden, a talented brand designer and educator, shares her journey from creative childhood experiments to building a thriving career.

We dive into her insights on balancing content creation with client work, navigating challenging seasons in business, and her passion for wordmarks and typography in design.

Lucy opens up about lessons learned from difficult projects, her admiration for industry icons like Paula Scherr, and her dream of building a business that supports a balanced, family-centered life.

Whether you're a designer seeking inspiration or just love hearing behind-the-scenes stories, this episode is full of gems!

Episode Highlights:

Creative Beginnings: Lucy shares how her upbringing, with creative parents and hands-on exploration, sparked her passion for design and entrepreneurship.

Building a Business with Social Media: Lucy discusses how consistent Instagram and TikTok posting in 2021 became the foundation for her business growth.

Wordmark Love: Lucy explains her deep appreciation for wordmarks and how typography can showcase personality and emotion in branding.

Lessons from Challenges: From difficult client relationships to juggling multiple career paths, Lucy offers honest reflections on overcoming obstacles and evolving her processes.

Heartfelt Projects: Lucy highlights meaningful projects, including branding for mission-driven businesses like a candle company employing adults with special needs.

Recommended Read: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People left a lasting impression on Lucy, helping her align goals with her values and structure her life for success. 

Resources & Mentions:

Lucy Eden on Instagram: @lucyeendesign
Lucy Eden on TikTok: @lucyedendesign
Lucy Eden's Website: LINK HERE

// Print Design Academy for Teams // Learn more here

// Print Design Academy for Freelance Creatives // Learn more here

In this episode, I chat with Tim Jacobus, the legendary illustrator behind the iconic Goosebumps book covers. From the early days of his career to navigating the evolution of illustration from traditional painting to digital, Tim shares fascinating stories about his creative process, challenges, and the enduring legacy of his work. Tune in for a nostalgic deep dive into the art that shaped a generation and valuable lessons for any creative professional.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaways:

Notable Quotes:

Resources & Mentions:

// Print Design Academy for Teams // Learn more here

// Print Design Academy for Freelance Creatives // Learn more here

In this episode of The Quickie Podcast, Dave sits down with Sara Sun, a graphic designer, content creator, and illustrator based in Dallas, Texas. With experience spanning from boutique design studios in New Zealand to creating conceptual packaging and brand sponsorships on social media, Sara shares her journey of transitioning from traditional design roles to becoming a full-time content creator.

// Get the FREE Guide to Pricing Graphic Design here //

Print Design Academy YouTube // CLICK HERE // 

In this episode of The Quickie Podcast, Dave chats with Michelle Muise, Art Director for the New England Patriots. With over 25 years of experience in graphic design and project management, Michelle shares her journey from discovering her passion for print and design at a young age to becoming a pivotal part of one of the most successful NFL franchises.

// Free 7-day VIP Access to Print Design Academy //

Print Design Academy YouTube // CLICK HERE // 

In this episode of The Quickie Podcast, I chat with Cam Werner, also known as Canvas Cam, a self-taught graphic designer with a love for skateboarding, hardcore music, and comics.

Cam shares his journey from starting a clothing brand during his skateboarding days to becoming a full-time freelance designer with Canvas Design Company.

PRINT DESIGN RESOURCES

// Free 7-day VIP Access to Print Design Academy //

Print Design Academy YouTube // CLICK HERE // 

In this episode of "The Quickie Podcast," we sit down with Todd Wikle, a talented designer from Asheville, North Carolina. Todd shares his journey from youth pastor to graphic designer, highlighting the influence of family, the challenges of self-teaching, and the importance of creative community.

We dive into his most proud project, discuss his inspirations, and explore how personal experiences shape his design approach. Todd also shares some of his favorite resources and insights for aspiring designers.

Key Moments from this episode:

Memorable Quotes:

CONNECT WITH TODD:

Instagram: CLICK HERE
Website: CLICK HERE

PRINT DESIGN RESOURCES

// Free 7-day VIP Access to Print Design Academy //

Print Design Academy YouTube // CLICK HERE // 

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

This weeks guest is Dustin Noden. He is the Creative Director at Lincoln Design Co. and cofounder of KernClub.

During this episode we talk about his journey to the design field and how it wasn't through a traditional schooling path. He gets into his early inspirations, the random job offer he got because he knew Photoshop a bit, and the direction that job pointed him in. 

We also talk about the excitement of being a new dad and the challenges of figuring all that out and finding a new balance. 

Dustin also gets into a brewer project that he was a part of that went off the rails after 11 revisions and what that felt like. And on the flip side, he shares a project that is pretty fresh on his mind that he is really proud to be a part of.

All that plus even more stories in this episode. Dive into this rad conversation, the 3rd and final live episode from Creative South. Dustin's a rad dude and I know you'll dig this one. 

THE LINKS 

Dustin Instagram: CLICK HERE
KernClub Website: CLICK HERE
Lincoln Design Co. Instagram: CLICK HERE
Lincoln Design Co. Website: CLICK HERE

PRINT DESIGN RESOURCES

// Free 7-day VIP Access to Print Design Academy //

Print Design Academy YouTube // CLICK HERE //