Works In Process

Welcome to Works In Process / Ep 25

Translate YOU in your personal style. People hire me for my style, and so I look inward (at) what makes me who I am? What makes me unique and amazing? (And) what has molded me into the person that I am today? I look at those things and remember how I can translate me and what has made me who I am into a style.

—Meg Lewis, Artist, Illustrator, Freelancer, Designer, Educator, Amateur Clown

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In this episode of Works in Process, host George Garrastegui Jr. chats with Meg Lewis, a designer working to make the world a happier place through friendly, personable design. By celebrating individuality, Meg has created a one-of-a-kind career that allows her to utilize every niche, personality, trait, interest, and skill to create brands, services, and offerings that no one else can.

In our conversation, Meg talks about her bold, friendly, personable, clean design style that focuses on color, fun, and following her own beat. Beyond her transition from designer to artist and illustrator, Meg talks about the ongoing project, the Funhouse, and how she wants us to have a creative career that makes us less sad.

As you will hear, it was a fun and off-beats convo with straightforward ways of staying true to yourself. Enjoy!

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Follow GUEST NAME via:

Meg's Website / @yourbuddymeg on Instagram

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Credits

• Editor: RJ Basilio
• Research and Transcription Reviewer: Or Syzflingier and Stephanie Erazo
• Intro / Outro Music: The System Has Failed Us - The Passion HiFi

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Like what you just heard? Support the process and rate us on Apple Podcast and Spotify!

About the Works in Process Podcast:

A podcast series by George Garrastegui, Jr. — designer, educator, and curator. Works In Process is a collection of discussions that explore the creative process. I interview individuals to gain more insight into the ways they work and the projects they produce.

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Subscribe to Works in Process via:

Apple Podcast: http://wip.show/apple_podcast

Spotify: https://www.wip.show/spotify

Amazon: https://www.wip.show/amazon

Stitcher: https://www.wip.show/stitcher

YouTube: https://www.wip.show/youtube

Follow Works in Process:

Instagram / LinkedIn

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Welcome to Works In Process / Ep 24

Finding Your Process Takes Time. Knowing when to pivot from one tool to another, and finding the right one that fit(s) into your workflow is super important. What might be good for one person may not be good for you. As with any process and system...you have stick to it, you have to have discipline — you can build the best system, but if you don't use it, it's useless.

—Maurice Cherry, Designer / Strategist / Podcaster

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That’s my guest Maurice Cherry. In this episode, Maurice reflects on the early days of the web and how it was a time of great opportunity for anyone with an idea. The origins of his award-winning Revision Path podcast and how 10+ episodes are now part of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture permanent collection. Maurice shares his insights on how to be a successful creative, the importance of community, and how he wants to be a renaissance person. Also, the challenges and opportunities that come with being a person of color in the design industry, and how to create change within the industry.

What a blast it was to talk to him. Enjoy!

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Mentions

Dr. Cheryl Holmes-Miller 

Where are the Black Designers? 

Raquel Rodriquez 

Alesha Randolph 

28 Days of The Web 

Wayne Sutton 

Tina Shoulders 

Jesse Phillips / Neu Year

Google Docs

Audacity

Trello

Notion

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Follow Maurice and Revision Path on:

Personal Website  / Twitter / Instagram

————

Credits

• Edited by RJ Basilio
• Research and Transcription Reviewer: Or Syzflingier
• Intro / Outro Music: The System Has Failed Us - The Passion HiFi

————

Like what you just heard? Support the process and rate us on Apple Podcasts :) 

About the Works In Process Podcast:

A podcast series by George Garrastegui, Jr. — designer, educator, and creative catalyst. Works In Process is a collection of discussions that explore and demystify the creative process. I interview individuals to gain more insight into the ways they work and the projects they produce.

Follow Works in Process:

Instagram / LinkedIn

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Welcome to Works in Process / Ep 23

"Start with Words. Don’t try starting with ideas. If you try starting with an idea without a concept or a plan, you’re just going, you are going to continue to experience more imposter syndrome. Create concepts using a word map and then understand how to insert the uncommon inspiration and stop just searching where everyone else’s searching!” — Brandi Sea

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That’s my guest Brandi Sea, Brandi is an award-winning designer, educator, and creative leader. She's been recognized for her poster design work. In 2017, she was also awarded a prestigious Albuquerque 30 award from the American Advertising Federation, which celebrates the 30 greatest ideas of the year. Brandi has also worked as an adjunct professor at her Alma mater Southwest University of Visual Arts teaching advanced design concepts. She began her design career in 2001 and is actively involved in her local design community. 

Brandi uses her 20 years of experience to help fellow creatives map out a plan to discover uncommon inspiration and produce more captivating design concepts to create standout work through her podcast: Design Speaks. With her online course, her YouTube channel, and her blog, Brandi works to empower designers with the tools they need to stay inspired and create the work that gets through. 

In this episode want to learn more about her ability to see inspiration and unusual things and how she developed The Strategic Process™ and approach for designers who look to strengthen their creative confidence so they can present design work that gets approved the first time.

Enjoy!

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Mentions

The Strategic Process™

Design Speaks podcast.

Follow Brandi Sea at Personal Website  / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

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————

Credits

• Editor: RJ Basilio
• Research and Transcription Reviewer: Or Syzflingier and Stephanie Erazo
• Intro / Outro Music: The System Has Failed Us - The Passion HiFi

————

Like what you just heard? Support the process and rate us on Apple Podcast and Spotify!

About the Works in Process Podcast:

A podcast series by George Garrastegui, Jr. — designer, educator, and curator. Works In Process is a collection of discussions that explore the creative process. I interview individuals to gain more insight into the ways they work and the projects they produce.

---

Subscribe to Works in Process via:

Apple Podcast: http://wip.show/apple_podcast

Spotify: https://www.wip.show/spotify

Amazon: https://www.wip.show/amazon

Stitcher: https://www.wip.show/stitcher

YouTube: https://www.wip.show/youtube

 

Follow Works in Process:

Instagram / LinkedIn

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Welcome to Works In Process / Ep 22

I always encourage (young people) that you should believe you can do it. That thing that you think is a disadvantage might very well be the best down thing you SHOULD do. You’ve got to believe it’s possible. Because there will be people, there will be forces, there will be places and organizations to tell you otherwise. If you don’t, you better start believing quick!”

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That’s my guest Jacinda Walker , Jacinda is renowned for her work in design, diversity, research, and strategy. She is the founder and creative director of designExplorr, a social impact organization whose mission addresses the diversity gap within the design profession. Her research on Design Journeys: Strategies for Increasing Diversity in Design Disciplines has been hailed as breakthrough work. This solutions-based thesis explores diversity in design disciplines and investigates effective strategies to expose Black and Latino youth to design careers. Ms. Walker’s future goals are to help scale diversity in design initiatives within education institutions, corporations, organizations, and museums.

It's for her continued drive and advocation for young people that I have Jacinda on the show. I look to learn how she instills the passion for design at an early and what we should do, as a community, do to foster this change alongside her.

Enjoy!

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Mentions

Design Explorr

Design Journeys

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Other links Jacinda wants you to know about:

• Project Osmosis 2021 Mentor Award
• Unsung Hero Community Service recognition

Follow GUEST NAME via: Jacinda's Facebook page /@designexplorr on Instagram / Jacinda's Website / @designexplorr on X

————

Credits

• Edited by RJ Basilio
• Research and Transcription Reviewer: Or Syzflingier
• Intro / Outro Music: The System Has Failed Us - The Passion HiFi

————

Like what you just heard? Support the process and rate us on Apple Podcasts :) 

About the Works In Process Podcast:

A podcast series by George Garrastegui, Jr. — designer, educator, and creative catalyst. Works In Process is a collection of discussions that explore and demystify the creative process. I interview individuals to gain more insight into the ways they work and the projects they produce.

 

Follow Works in Process:

Instagram / LinkedIn

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Welcome to Works In Process / Ep 21

This is Part 2, the combined episode with be listed as a bonus :) Coming Soon

Design is About feedback

There’s a really big need for us to rethink the entire curriculum that we’ve been teaching for 50 plus years. Advocate strongly for unlearning and have honest conversations with the graduates. Because if we’re not getting feedback from the people who have gone through our classes, you’re doing a disservice to the institution as well as the students.— Ritesh Gupta, Founder / Volunteer / Lover of Techno, Streetwear, and Greyhounds

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Ritesh is a Wieden+Kennedy alum, a former director at 2 Shark Tank companies, and specializes in product design, product management, branding, and growth analytics for mission-driven companies. 

He recently rebranded and rebuilt Realm a podcast studio on app with Mother Design, Felt Not Heard, and an incredible internal team. It debuted at #1 on the Apples podcast charts and was featured in It's Nice That as well as Print Mag. And Brand New named it one of the top 10 wordmarks and monograms of 2021.

And before that, Ritesh has worked with and for Sagmeister & Walsh, Cooper Hewitt, Disney, and Hungry Harvest. Currently, he’s the Senior Director of New Product Ventures at Gannett/USA Today.

We’ll get into some of that, but I want to focus on his support and championing of the shift in Design, to include more advocacy, accountability, and access. Ritesh has been helping change the landscape with his volunteer work for Where Are The Black Designers? -a nonprofit design advocacy organization.. and with his upcoming venture as Founder of Useful School, A useful, fun, affordable, 10-week product design virtual program catered to the people who needed it. Ushering in more diversity, autonomy, and practicality into the profession.

Enjoy!

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Mentions

Realm

Sagmeister & Walsh

Gannett

Useful School

Where Are The Black Designers?

Future Fonts

Sharp Type

SPIKE LEE Book

Other links Ritesh wants you to know about:

What Does It Mean to Decolonize Design?

Dori Tunstall: Decolonizing Design Practices in Academia (VIDEO)

Even by design - Linda Dounia Rebeiz (Config 2021)(VIDEO)

The Malee Scholarship

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Follow Ritesh Gupta via:

Ritesh's Website

————

Credits

• Edited by RJ Basilio
• Research and Transcription Reviewer: Or Syzflingier
• Intro / Outro Music: The System Has Failed Us - The Passion HiFi

————

Like what you just heard? Support the process and rate us on Apple Podcasts :) 

About the Works In Process Podcast:

A podcast series by George Garrastegui, Jr. — designer, educator, and creative catalyst. Works In Process is a collection of discussions that explore and demystify the creative process. I interview individuals to gain more insight into the ways they work and the projects they produce.

 

Follow Works in Process:

Instagram / LinkedIn

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Welcome to Works In Process / Ep (No episode number)

Ritesh is a Wieden+Kennedy alum, a former director at 2 Shark Tank companies, and specializes in product design, product management, branding, and growth analytics for mission-driven companies. 

He recently rebranded and rebuilt Realm a podcast studio on app with Mother Design, Felt Not Heard, and an incredible internal team. It debuted at #1 on the Apples podcast charts and was featured in It's Nice That as well as Print Mag. And Brand New named it one of the top 10 wordmarks and monograms of 2021.

And before that, Ritesh has worked with and for Sagmeister & Walsh, Cooper Hewitt, Disney, and Hungry Harvest. Currently, he’s the Senior Director of New Product Ventures at Gannett/USA Today.

We’ll get into some of that, but I want to focus on his support and championing of the shift in Design,  to include more advocacy, accountability, and access. Ritesh has been helping change the landscape with his volunteer work for Where Are The Black Designers? -a nonprofit design advocacy organization.. and with his upcoming venture as Founder of Useful School,  A useful, fun, affordable, 10-week product design virtual program catered to the people who needed it. Ushering in more diversity, autonomy, and practicality into the profession.

Enjoy!

---

Mentions

Realm

Sagmeister & Walsh

Gannett

Useful School

Where Are The Black Designers?

Future Fonts

Sharp Type

SPIKE LEE Book

Other links Ritesh wants you to know about:

What Does It Mean to Decolonize Design?

Dori Tunstall: Decolonizing Design Practices in Academia (VIDEO)

Even by design - Linda Dounia Rebeiz (Config 2021)(VIDEO)

The Malee Scholarship

---

Follow via:

————

Credits

• Edited by RJ Basilio
• Research and Transcription Reviewer: Or Syzflingier
• Intro / Outro Music: The System Has Failed Us - The Passion HiFi

————

Like what you just heard? Support the process and rate us on Apple Podcasts :) 

About the Works In Process Podcast:

A podcast series by George Garrastegui, Jr. — designer, educator, and creative catalyst. Works In Process is a collection of discussions that explore and demystify the creative process. I interview individuals to gain more insight into the ways they work and the projects they produce.

 

Follow Works in Process:

Instagram / LinkedIn

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Welcome to a live version of the Works in Process podcast. As part of the State of Black Design Conference and theme: Family Reunion, I am looking to revisit previous guest conversations. This is a way to catch up with them and learn more about people we should keep our sights on. Thank You Episode 8 guest, Dr. Fahamu Pecou, Ep 17 guest Mike Nicholls and welcome Ariel Dannielle and Akintunde Ahmad.

Enjoy this conversation about the State of Black Design and Creativity and hear the power of owning our stories, owning our narratives, and determining how people see us.

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Guest Info

Dr. Fahamu Pecou. Fahamu is an interdisciplinary artist and scholar whose works combine observations on hip-hop, fine art, and popular culture to address concerns around contemporary representations of Black men. Through paintings, performance art, and academic work, Dr. Pecou confronts the performance of Black masculinity and Black identity, challenging and expanding the reading, performance, and expressions of Blackness.

Dr. Pecou is also the founding Director of the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA).

Mike Nicholls is an Oakland-based award-winning creative director, book designer, visual artist, and community builder. He translates ideas into visionary creative solutions utilizing over 20 years of design experience and natural talent. Mike founded Umber, a media platform highlighting creative perspectives that matter, which has been recognized by Blavity, Print Magazine, KQED, and Communication Arts.

As a community builder, Mike is an advisor to Inneract Project, a nonprofit that empowers underrepresented youth through design. Through his work with Umber, he collaborated with renowned creatives around the world like Saul Williams, Tonya Rapley, Souls of Mischief, and Deanna Van Buren.

Ariel Danielle is an African American painter born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She graduated from the University of West Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Drawing directly from her life, Ariel creates large-scale paintings that depict the daily experiences of young Black women. She believes in the importance of her artwork to provide new lenses through which Black womanhood can be represented, understood, and related to.

Akintunde Ahmad is a writer, podcaster, and filmmaker from Oakland, CA. He has also been an educator with the Oakland Unified School District’s African American Male Achievement Program. He is currently the co-host of the podcast series Viewers Like Us, and an associate producer for Proximity Media’s non-fiction department.

Follow Works in Process:

Instagram / LinkedIn

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Welcome to Works In Process / Ep 20

This is Part 1, the combined episode with be listed as a bonus :) Coming Soon

Speak their language

It’s relatively rare to have a designer who can speak or is even interested in speaking both design and data… To be able to say, I did an A B test, and that means it equals another $333,000. That's a really powerful and really exciting thing that a designer is able to say. — Ritesh Gupta, Founder / Volunteer / Lover of Techno, Streetwear, and Greyhounds

---

Ritesh is a Wieden+Kennedy alum, a former director at 2 Shark Tank companies, and specializes in product design, product management, branding, and growth analytics for mission-driven companies. 

He recently rebranded and rebuilt Realm a podcast studio on app with Mother Design, Felt Not Heard, and an incredible internal team. It debuted at #1 on the Apples podcast charts and was featured in It's Nice That as well as Print Mag. And Brand New named it one of the top 10 wordmarks and monograms of 2021.

And before that, Ritesh has worked with and for Sagmeister & Walsh, Cooper Hewitt, Disney, and Hungry Harvest. Currently, he’s the Senior Director of New Product Ventures at Gannett/USA Today.

We’ll get into some of that, but I want to focus on his support and championing of the shift in Design,  to include more advocacy, accountability, and access. Ritesh has been helping change the landscape with his volunteer work for Where Are The Black Designers? -a nonprofit design advocacy organization.. and with his upcoming venture as Founder of Useful School,  A useful, fun, affordable, 10-week product design virtual program catered to the people who needed it. Ushering in more diversity, autonomy, and practicality into the profession.

Enjoy!

---

Mentions

Realm

Sagmeister & Walsh

Gannett

Useful School

Where Are The Black Designers?

Future Fonts

Sharp Type

SPIKE LEE Book

Other links Ritesh wants you to know about:

What Does It Mean to Decolonize Design?

Dori Tunstall: Decolonizing Design Practices in Academia (VIDEO)

Even by design - Linda Dounia Rebeiz (Config 2021)(VIDEO)

The Malee Scholarship

---

Follow via:

————

Credits

• Edited by RJ Basilio
• Research and Transcription Reviewer: Or Syzflingier
• Intro / Outro Music: The System Has Failed Us - The Passion HiFi

————

Like what you just heard? Support the process and rate us on Apple Podcasts :) 

About the Works In Process Podcast:

A podcast series by George Garrastegui, Jr. — designer, educator, and creative catalyst. Works In Process is a collection of discussions that explore and demystify the creative process. I interview individuals to gain more insight into the ways they work and the projects they produce.

 

Follow Works in Process:

Instagram / LinkedIn

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Hello everyone… Welcome to Works in Process, The podcast where I, Designer and Educator George Garrastegui Jr, have the creative conversations you wish you had. I talk to designers, artists, educators, and creators to find the How’s and Why’s of their creative work.

So join me as I explore how creativity is fueled by intuition, motivation, and, most of all, process.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Welcome to Works In Process / Ep 19

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Omari Souza is a first-generation American of Jamaican descent, raised in the Bronx, NY. Before working at Texas State University, Omari gained work experience with companies such as VIBE magazine, Buffalo News, CBS Radio, and Case Western Reserve University. He received his BFA in Digital Media from Cleveland Institute of Art and his MFA in Design from Kent State University. Omari’s research explores the idea of perceptions, and how visual narratives influence culture, how we view ourselves and others around us.

We discuss not only the shift in design education but also how he started the State of Black Design conference. He created a forum for black designers to discuss and share personal perspectives and is helping to forester communities that are satisfying the various needs of diversity within the industry.

Get your notes app ready during this episode, there are people mentioned that you’ll want to check out on your own.

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Mentions

• State of Black Design
• Thesis: Chasing Vertical
• Maurice Cherry
• Bekah Marcum
• Teresa Moses
• Lauren Williams
• Antionette Carrol
• Terrance Moline
• Jen White-Johnson

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Credits

• Edited by RJ Basilio
• Research and Transcription Reviewer: Or Syzflingier
• Intro / Outro Music: The System Has Failed Us - The Passion HiFi

————

Like what you just heard? Support the process and rate us on Apple Podcasts :) 

About the Works In Process Podcast:

A podcast series by George Garrastegui, Jr. — designer, educator, and creative catalyst. Works In Process is a collection of discussions that explore and demystify the creative process. I interview individuals to gain more insight into the ways they work and the projects they produce.

Follow Works in Process:

Instagram / LinkedIn

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp