Stay ConnectedConversations with the biggest names and best-kept secrets of the creative world, spanning across industries. Learn about their origin stories and how they keep going when things get tough.
New episodes drop every 2 weeks.
Hosted by Rick Kitagawa and Digital Noir Studios.
Copyright: © DesignerCon
Andrew Davis is a creative director, marketer, woodworker, and Dungeons & Dragons GM that has rolled (pun intended) all his interests into one Dodecadonuts - where he sells handcrafted donut dice containers.
With over two decades of experience in advertising and design, Andrew shares his journey through the ups and downs of his industry, his pivot towards product design, and how tabletop role-playing games can be amazing labs for personal creative journeys.
In this fun, insightful conversation, Andrew not only shares his love of role-playing games, but also drops tons of great advice on getting through the hard part of creating, how crucial experimentation is, and the importance of just trying new things.
Andrew’s links:
Website: Dodecadonuts.com
Instagram:@dodecadonuts
Threads:@dodecadonuts
TikTok: @dodecadonuts
Ollie Davis’ Instagram: @Polliewogg
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
If you’ve ever struggled with the tension between a job you struggle with and what pulls you with every fiber of your being, you’ll gain a lot from this conversation with Emma Bolz.
Emma is a young designer who brings an incredible amount of thoughtfulness, maturity, and intellectual rigor to the start of her creative journey. She is a fierce advocate for herself and has already honed her intuition around what it means to be authentic and to focus on impactful design solutions to wicked problems.
In this conversation Emma shares about finding her authentic voice, the benefits of starting over when something is wrong, and reflects upon what it’s like starting out fresh in a creative journey. We also dive into the future of art and creativity in the age of generative AI and how human creativity is still necessary.
Emma’s Links:
LinkedIn: Emma Bolz
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a successful career in branding, design, AND illustration, you definitely need to listen to this masterclass with Chris Maze.
Chris masterfully juggles two jobs - his day job as a Creative Director specializing in brand development who works with clients with Levi’s and ASICS, and his night job at an illustrator creating original and pop culture artwork that he brings to conventions and local events.
In this conversation, Chris drops tons of advice for creatives of all points in their career - whether you’re looking to break into branding or graphic design or if you’re a seasoned veteran struggling with impostor syndrome, this is for you.
Chris Maze’s links:
Linktr.ee:Chrismaze
Instagram: @chrismaze
Threads: @chrismaze
Twitter: @mazehimself
Shop: shopchrismaze.square.site
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
Have you wondered what it takes to hang in multiple industries ranging from graffiti to animation to toy design to streetwear? kaNO’s done it, and that’s who we’re talking to this week!
kaNO is an art hustler extraordinaire, whose multidisciplinary roles and iconic style takes him around the world with clients ranging from Medicom, Universal, Jordan, DC, Marvel, G-Shock, and the NBA, just to name a few. Raised in NYC and now working in Burbank, kaNO seamlessly weaves back and forth between the world of towering murals, toy design, character design, and streetwear.
In this conversation, kaNO shares his journey from the High School of Art & Design to being asked to work with top brands in multiple industries, and drops tons of knowledge for artists of all ages to learn from. Listen now!
PS - Listen to the end for some bonus content..and keep in mind kaNO and Jerome and friends :P
kaNO’s Links:
Webstore: https://www.kanokid.com/shop
Instagram: @kanoKid
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
If you’ve ever looked at a project’s deep world building and wondered what inspired it, check out this conversation with Colton Houser of Fixed Temple Toys.
Colton is the mastermind behind the Glorbles, ectoplasmic shape shifting entities bent on taking over the world, and the AOA, the last bastion of human defense against these ectoplasmic, shapeshifting entities that have taken the art toy scene by storm.
In this inspiring conversation, Colton shares the origins of Glorbles, the power of support networks, and the fundamental need for artists to just “send it.”
Fixed Temple Toy links:
Instagram: @fixedtempletoys
PS - Find Fixed Temple Toys at Five Points Fest in New York on June 8-9, 2024!
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
If you’ve ever wondered how to get started streaming your art and building a community, come listen to the blueprint that Ari Bean Things shares in this fun and lively conversation.
Ari is a multidisciplinary artist who makes her living crafting, illustrating, and streaming her process on Twitch. In this conversation, Ari shares her journey through engineering, music, and visual art, and how the pandemic was a huge shift that ended up totally reimagining her career path.
In this conversation, Ari shares how she’s been able to grow a steady audience and offers tons of great advice for creatives in a digital age, even if you’re not planning on growing your streaming fan base.
Ari’s links:
Instagram: @ari.bean.things
Twitch: Aribeanthings
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
If you’ve ever thought about making your own toy, or trying to break into the toy industry, you’ve got to listen to this conversation with the creator of Hyperactive Monkey, Jerome Lu.
Jerome works by day for clients like Hasbro, Super7, Nice Kicks, and Spin Master, and builds the world of Hyperactive Monkey at night. He shares his origin story: from being rejected from animation programs to getting into toy design to working on the Star Wars franchise to how his journey is like the Fast and the Furious films.
In this conversation Jerome shares tons of great advice for aspiring creatives of all disciplines, especially those seeking to collaborate and get their foot in the door.
Jerome’s Links:
Website: Hyperactivemonkey.com
Instagram: @jromonkey
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
If you’ve read any Marvel comics in the 90’s, there is a strong likelihood that you’re familiar with Tom DeFalco, one of Marvel’s longest running editors-in-chief. Besides helping Hasbro launch the GI Joe mythos of the 80’s, he’s also written stories for Spider-Man, Archie, the Fantastic Four, Wolverine, Thor..and the list goes on and on and on.
Every writer (and creative) needs to listen to this conversation with Tom as shares with us how he broke in (and how to do so now), how to write great characters, and what it means to be a professional writer.
Tom’s links:
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
Ever feel like someplace else might suit you better? What does it take to move countries twice before finding the place that feels right for you? Find out in this conversation with industrial designer and visual development artist Susel Aleman.
Susel Aleman didn’t start taking art seriously until she was in high school. After graduating college in Cuba, she moved to France to pursue her Masters, and she’s since moved to the United States where she is a practicing industrial designer building pedagogical toys, and moonlights as a visual development artist and illustrator. Susel shares some great wisdom around artist block, overcoming challenges, and embracing curiosity and experimentation.
Susel’s Links:
Instagram: @illustration_by_susy
Website: suselaleman.com
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
If you’ve ever wanted to draw faster or learn what it takes to make it in the animation industry, this conversation with character designer and academy founder Stephen Silver is a must-listen.
Stephen Silver has worked with some of the biggest animation studios in the world as a lead character designer developing the style for shows such as Scooby-Doo, Kim Possible, and Danny Phantom. He’s also the founder of the Silver Drawing Academy, where he teaches both aspiring professionals and hobbyists.
This is a masterclass on getting your foot in the door from someone who has worked as a Disney recruiter and has given thousands of portfolio reviews. He not only gives practical tips for those looking to break in, but also the need for preparation as well as surrender.
Stephen’s Links:
The Silver Drawing Academy: silverdrawingacademy.com
Instagram: @stephensilver7
Facebook: facebook.com/stephensilver
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephen-silver-1b1bb23/
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_
TikTok: @noelbeltran
Youtube: @noelbeltran
Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston
Tiktok: @father_bankston
Youtube: @nathanbankston
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen
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