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
If you've ever told yourself "You're not ready" for an opportunity, you've got to listen to this conversation with illustrator, muralist, and acrylic painter The Obanoth.
The Obanoth, aka Hannah Webb, is a full-time artist with a huge social media following and multiple brand sponsorships. Her instantly-recognizable work is a staple at DesignerCon, and in this interview she shares her scrappy mindset that leads her to "chase the No's" as a pass to getting to the "yes's."
Hannah breaks down some crucial nuance around considering opportunities, especially when you're getting started, as well as how authenticity can lead to finding connection with your audience.
Hannah’s Links:
Hannah’s website: The Obanoth.com
Instagram: @theobanoth
TikTok: @theobanoth
Email: theobanoth@gmail.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
Website: thekitchenrecordingstudio.com
How do you weave together a background in theater, visual art, costume design, and music to chart your own course as a certified rockstar? Find out in this conversation with Margarita Monet, the singer/pianist behind the cinematic rock act Edge of Paradise.
Margarita Monet and Edge of Paradise have released three albums and toured over 25 countries, building a supportive fan base through killer riffs, cinematic stage shows, and lots and lots of hard work.
Margarita shares her take on getting through setbacks and mistakes, how to build self-trust in one's creative vision, and how she weaves multiple creative mediums into the art she creates.
PS - If you want to catch Margarita and Edge of Paradise live, they're embarking on a US/Canada tour in April.
Margarita's Links:
Edge of Paradise website: EdgeofParadiseband.com
Spotify: Edge of Paradise
YouTube: @EdgeofParadiseBand
Instagram: @edgeofparadise
Twitter: @edgeofparadise
Facebook: Edge of Paradise Band
Apple Music: Edge of Paradise
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
What does it look like to shed an identity after building up a public persona for a decade and getting on CNN, Fox, and the Today show?
Ruby Roth won awards as a best-selling children's book author-illustrator, then made a major pivot into figurative art that alienated her past audience. Ruby's origin story is one of courage and resilience in the face of algorithmic fallout and angry parents.
She is also releasing Boss Inside: A Reclamation of the Feminine, an illustrator memoir that covers 2016-2020 as she reclaimed her life, creativity, art, sexuality, and relationship with men and masculinity.
Ruby's Links:
Website: RubyRoth.co
Instagram: @ruby_roth
Order Boss Inside
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
Recorded originally the week before DCON 2023, we're excited to bring you this convo with Paul Schiola, the sofubi man himself behind Mile High Sofubi.
Paul shares about the blood, sweat, and tears that (literally) goes into making toys for many of DesignerCon's creators, and his year-long journey of creative problem-solving to be the first soft vinyl toy factory based in the United States.
Paul shares how monster movies and model kits led him to become the backbone of the modern neo-sofubi boom we're seeing today.
Paul's Links:
Instagram: @MileHighSofubi
Instagram: @Sputnik_Supplies
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 BeltranInstagram: @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
Website: thekitchenrecordingstudio.com
We are honored to share this conversation with author, envisioneer, innovator, and futurist, Mike Pell.
Mike Pell's origin story spans from design to creating the pdf (yes, the file type) to building and leading The Microsoft Garage - Microsoft's worldwide innovation program.
Mike brings his incredible insights into innovating, problem-solving, and merging creativity into all aspects of life into this fantastic conversation that every creative leader needs to listen to.
Mike's Links:
Mike's Website: mike-pell.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepell/
Visualizing Business (his newest book): https://visualizingbusiness.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 BeltranInstagram: @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
Website: thekitchenrecordingstudio.com
We are super excited to share this conversation with an award-winning, multidisciplinary creator Phil Mucci of Diabolik, LLC.
Phil's origin story weaves through multiple industries from billboards in Times Square to music videos with Metallica to horror films to comic books. He shares stories of having his work stolen, and the tolls that success can have on one's personal life.
Along the way, we dive into keeping one's course true among shifting industry tides, turning having work stolen into a positive experience, and how to avoid boxing your own creativity in.
Enjoy!
Phil's Links:
Instagram: @philmucci
Instagram: @diabolikllc
Comic website: professordariobava.com
Website: diabolikfilms.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
Website: thekitchenrecordingstudio.com
We are super excited to share this conversation with one of the greatest influences in the modern sofubi scene - James Sizemore of Wonder Goblin Toys and Vinyl Wonder Paint.
James has changed the landscape for soft vinyl toy painters by making an affordable, accessible paint that opened the doors to many customizers/painters that was previously closed to many.
As James shares his origin story, we dive into his process, how he determines what he makes into toys, visions of demons, the problem with ego, and his take on business and running the only vinyl paint company (for toys, anyway) in the US.
Enjoy!
James' Links:
His toys: WonderGoblin.com
His paint: VinylWonder.com
Instagram: @wondergoblin
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
Welcome to the first episode of Origins: A Creative Journey.
We are honored and so excited to bring you this conversation with John S. Couch, a multidisciplinary artist, designer, author, and creative director.
John's origin story is a masterclass in creativity. Join us as he breaks down some common misperceptions about art and creativity, society's obsession with utility over happiness, the need for fearlessness, the early days of Wired, a simple (yet difficult) reframe that all artists need to make, and the power of creating a creative habit.
Do yourself a favor and listen to John, and then run out and buy a copy of The Art of Creative Rebellion. John's links:
Buy his book, The Art of Creative Rebellion (you'll be glad you did) here.
His website: john-couch.com
Instagram: @shadow.and.sun.art
Twitter/X: titaniumsky
LinkedIn: John S Couch
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
Today we are excited to share the origin story of Mr. Cookie aka Michael Cook.
Michael is an artist and tech entrepreneur seeking to empower freelancers and creators to better leverage their networks and relationships in a world shifting into a gig economy.
In this conversation, Michael shares with us how an early internship shaped how he thinks about marketing, building relationships with others, how the recession inspired him to build a tech company, how to enroll people in a creative vision, and the need to be a creative problem-solver.
This is conversation that is a must-listen for any creative who needs help with the business side of creativity.
Michael's Links:
Instagram: @mrcookieart
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
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