Art School Graduate | Creative Careers & Design

Art School Graduate Podcast
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Design
  • Updated Weekly

🎙️ What does it really take to build a creative career that lasts? That's the whole show. Every week, host Justin Robinson sits down with an artist, designer, or creative leader: a Vans footwear designer, a chemical engineer turned artist, a type designer reshaping global design, for the real story behind the work: the pivots, the doubt, the failures, and the paths that never show up in a portfolio. If you went to art school (or wish you had) and you're building your own creative life, this one's for you. New episodes weekly.

  1. 2d ago

    He Invented an African Writing System. Here’s Why| Osmomd Tshuma

    What happens when design becomes a tool for preserving culture instead of simply making things look beautiful? In this episode of the Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with Zimbabwean designer, typographer, and art director Osmond Tshuma. From designing visual systems for the Obama Foundation to developing entirely new African writing systems, Osmond shares how African visual language can reshape modern design. Topics include: African typographyGraphic design historyRISD experienceBranding with cultural meaningResearch-driven designIdentity systemsCreative processDesign educationVisual storytellingPreserving culture through designIf you’re a graphic designer, creative director, typography enthusiast, branding professional, educator, or design student, this conversation will completely change how you think about visual communication. Subscribe for weekly conversations with the world’s most influential creatives.

    He Invented an African Writing System. Here’s Why| Osmomd Tshuma

  2. Jul 14

    How Book Covers Shape Culture | Dominique Jones | Art School Graduate Podcast

    Every book begins with a story—but readers see the cover first. In this episode of the Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with Dominique Jones, Senior Designer at Penguin Random House and founder of Blk + Brwn Book Designers, to explore the hidden craft behind book cover design. Dominique shares how she entered publishing, what goes into creating covers that connect emotionally, working with bestselling authors, balancing creativity with client feedback, and why increasing diversity in publishing design matters more than ever. Whether you’re a designer, illustrator, creative professional, student, or simply someone who loves books, this conversation offers an inside look at one of the most overlooked creative careers. Topics include: Book cover design processGraphic design careersPenguin Random HousePublishing industryTypography and visual storytellingCreativity and design thinkingBlk + Brwn Book DesignersDiversity in publishingGraphic design educationBuilding a creative career Subscribe for more conversations with the artists and designers shaping culture.

    How Book Covers Shape Culture | Dominique Jones | Art School Graduate Podcast

  3. Jul 7

    Design Is Just the Vehicle | Shawn Williams (Vans Footwear Designer)

    How does someone go from social work to designing footwear at Vans? In this episode of the Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with Shawn Williams, a footwear designer at Vans whose journey into the design industry was anything but traditional. After spending years helping people find employment as an employment specialist, Shawn rediscovered his passion for drawing during COVID, leading him to the Pensole Design Academy, a VF Corporation apprenticeship, and ultimately a career designing footwear for one of the most iconic sneaker brands in the world. Shawn shares his experience overcoming imposter syndrome, entering the design industry without a formal design degree, learning footwear design, building confidence in creative spaces, and using design as a tool for community impact. The conversation explores mentorship, representation in design, Black creatives in the footwear industry, and why exposure matters for the next generation of designers. Topics Covered:• How Shawn Williams became a footwear designer at Vans• Career changes and transitioning into design• Pensole Design Academy experience• Sneaker and footwear design process• Overcoming imposter syndrome in creative careers• Representation and diversity in design• Mentorship and creative leadership• Building a career in product design• Using design to create community impact Subscribe for more conversations with artists, designers, creative leaders, and innovators shaping culture through their work. #FootwearDesign #Vans #CreativeCareers #CareerPivot #PensoleAcademy

    Design Is Just the Vehicle | Shawn Williams (Vans Footwear Designer)

  4. Jun 30

    Why Great Designers Leave Success Behind | Gus Granger on Creativity, Branding & AI

    What happens when you build a successful 50-person design agency, sell it, become a Chief Creative Officer, and then decide to start over from scratch? In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with designer, strategist, entrepreneur, and creative leader Gus Granger to discuss the realities of building a creative career that stays aligned with who you are. Gus shares his journey from founding and growing 70KFT into a nationally recognized agency, navigating leadership roles, and ultimately returning to the hands-on creative work that first made him fall in love with design. Along the way, he breaks down the importance of typography, brand strategy, storytelling, entrepreneurship, creative identity, and how designers can remain relevant in the age of AI. This conversation explores what it means to create work with significance, why authenticity matters more than ever, and how creative professionals can navigate career pivots without losing themselves in the process. Whether you’re a graphic designer, creative entrepreneur, design student, brand strategist, agency owner, or someone trying to build a meaningful creative career, this episode is packed with practical insights and hard-earned wisdom.   Building a design agency from a spare bedroomGrowing and selling a 50-person creative firmThe difference between success and fulfillmentWhy typography remains a designer’s superpowerBrand strategy and meaningful storytellingCreating work that has cultural impactBlack designers and representation in designEntrepreneurship and creative leadershipThe future of AI in graphic designWhy designers should master fundamentals before toolsIf you enjoy conversations about creativity, design, branding, entrepreneurship, and the future of creative work, be sure to subscribe and join us for future episodes. #GraphicDesign #BrandStrategy #Typography #CreativeLeadership #DesignPodcast #AIForDesigners #Entrepreneurship #CreativeCareer #Branding #DesignThinking #AgencyLife #DesignEducation #ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast #GusGranger #JustinRobinson

    Why Great Designers Leave Success Behind | Gus Granger on Creativity, Branding & AI

  5. Jun 23

    How a UX Designer Became a Stand-Up Comedian | O’mar Finley

    What do stand-up comedy, product design, and artificial intelligence have in common? In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with product designer, UX strategist, and comedian O’mar Finley to explore the unexpected overlap between creativity, technology, and human connection.   O’mar shares his journey from growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, to building a career in product design while simultaneously developing a reputation as a stand-up comedian and creator of the Group Therapy Comedy Show. Together they discuss: • How UX design and comedy both rely on understanding people• Why simplicity is one of the hardest goals in design• The future of AI in product design and creative work• What comedians can teach designers about empathy and communication• Navigating feedback, criticism, and creative risk• Building digital products that people actually want to use• The realities of pursuing multiple creative careers at once• Why audience psychology matters in both design and entertainment Whether you’re a designer, creative entrepreneur, comedian, student, or someone interested in the future of creativity, this conversation offers practical insights and honest reflections on building a meaningful creative life. Subscribe for more conversations with artists, designers, educators, and creative leaders shaping culture through their work. #design #uxdesign #productdesign #standupcomedy #artschoolgraduatepodcast #creativity #artificialintelligence #designthinking #userexperience #creativecareers

    How a UX Designer Became a Stand-Up Comedian | O’mar Finley

  6. Jun 16

    The Design World Ignored This Visual Culture for Decades | Shantanu Suman

    What happens when a designer leaves a successful advertising career to explore the deeper meaning of design? In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with graphic designer, educator, filmmaker, and creative director Shantanu Suman for a powerful conversation about design, culture, identity, and visual storytelling. Born and raised in India, Shantanu worked at some of the world’s leading advertising agencies before moving to the United States to pursue his MFA at the University of Florida. His journey transformed the way he thought about design—from simply creating visual solutions to asking deeper questions about culture, communication, and human experience. Together, Justin and Shantanu discuss: • Growing up as a creative in India• The differences between Indian and American design culture• Why design is more than problem solving• The importance of documenting overlooked visual cultures• His award-winning documentary Horn Please and Indian truck art• Hindi typography and cultural identity in design• Building Studio 165+, a student-run design studio at Ball State University• Mentorship, collaboration, and preparing the next generation of designers• The responsibility designers carry when their work enters the world This conversation is packed with insights for graphic designers, creative directors, design students, educators, and anyone interested in the intersection of culture and creativity. If you’ve ever wondered how design shapes the way we see ourselves and the world around us, this episode is for you. Based on the interview transcript. 🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with artists, designers, educators, and creative leaders from around the world. #GraphicDesign #DesignPodcast #DesignEducation #VisualCommunication #CreativeCareers #Typography #DesignThinking #CreativeLeadership #ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast #ShantanuSuman

    The Design World Ignored This Visual Culture for Decades | Shantanu Suman

  7. Jun 9

    How African Typography Is Changing Global Design | Chisaokwu Joboson

    How do you build a design career when the path doesn’t exist? In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with Nigerian brand designer, type designer, and founder of Udi Foundry, Chisaokwu Joboson, to discuss his journey from studying civil engineering to becoming one of the leading voices in African typography. Chisaokwu shares how he taught himself graphic design, discovered type design, and ultimately created Ojuju, the groundbreaking Google Fonts typeface that supports hundreds of languages and helps bring African stories, culture, and identity into the global design conversation. Together, they explore the challenges of building a creative career without formal design education, the lack of documentation surrounding African design history, and why typography is much more than letters—it is the voice of a culture. This conversation is a must-watch for graphic designers, brand designers, typography enthusiasts, creative entrepreneurs, students, and anyone interested in the future of African design. ⸻ 💡 In This Episode: • How Chisaokwu transitioned from civil engineering to graphic design • Teaching yourself design without a traditional design school • Why African typography matters • The story behind Ojuju and Google Fonts • Building Udi Foundry and TypeAfrica • The relationship between brand design and type design • Why typography is the voice of a brand • Preserving African languages through design • Creating opportunities when no roadmap exists • The future of African typography and design education ⸻ 🎙 About Chisaokwu Joboson Chisaokwu Joboson is a Nigerian brand designer, type designer, and founder of Udi Foundry. His work focuses on creating culturally relevant typefaces that support African languages and storytelling. He is the creator of Ojuju, a typeface featured on Google Fonts, and an advocate for making type design education more accessible across Africa. ⸻ 📌 Topics Covered African Design African Typography Type Design Graphic Design Brand Identity Design Google Fonts Creative Careers Design Education Visual Identity Typography Design African Creatives Design Culture Brand Strategy Self-Taught Designer Creative Entrepreneurship ⸻ Subscribe for more conversations with designers, artists, illustrators, creative directors, educators, and cultural leaders shaping the future of creativity. #AfricanDesign #Typography #GraphicDesign #TypeDesign #BrandIdentity #GoogleFonts #CreativeCareers #DesignPodcast #AfricanCreatives #DesignEducation

    How African Typography Is Changing Global Design | Chisaokwu Joboson

  8. Jun 2

    How Maurice Woods Went From Pro Basketball to Microsoft Design Leader

    In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with designer, educator, and founder Maurice Woods for a powerful conversation about creativity, identity, representation, and building purpose through design. Maurice Woods is a Principal Designer at Microsoft, a former professional basketball player, and the founder of Inneract Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating access and opportunities for underrepresented youth in design and tech. From growing up in Richmond, California, to playing professional basketball overseas, to becoming a leader in the design industry, Maurice shares the real story behind his journey and the lessons he’s learned navigating sports, creativity, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and representation in corporate America. This conversation dives deep into: The transition from basketball to graphic designWhat it means to be a Black designer in techBuilding Inneract Project from the ground upWhy representation in design mattersThe importance of mentorship and communityCreativity, purpose, and identityHow design shapes culture and societyAI, the future of design, and staying relevantEntrepreneurship and creating opportunities for othersIf you’re a creative, designer, student, educator, entrepreneur, or someone trying to find purpose in your work, this episode is filled with wisdom, honesty, and inspiration. ⸻ 🔗 Learn more about Inneract Project: https://www.inneractproject.org 🎙️ Subscribe to The Art School Graduate Podcast for more conversations with artists, designers, educators, and creative leaders shaping culture and the future of creativity. #MauriceWoods #GraphicDesign #DesignPodcast #BlackDesigners #MicrosoftDesign #UXDesign #CreativeCareers #InneractProject #DesignEducation #ArtSchoolGraduate #ProductDesign #CreativeJourney #DesignLeadership #RepresentationMatters #PodcastInterview

    How Maurice Woods Went From Pro Basketball to Microsoft Design Leader
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🎙️ What does it really take to build a creative career that lasts? That's the whole show. Every week, host Justin Robinson sits down with an artist, designer, or creative leader: a Vans footwear designer, a chemical engineer turned artist, a type designer reshaping global design, for the real story behind the work: the pivots, the doubt, the failures, and the paths that never show up in a portfolio. If you went to art school (or wish you had) and you're building your own creative life, this one's for you. New episodes weekly.

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