Episode 292 - Kytana Le - Illustrator + Designer at Visa
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: @ivoryteaKytan'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: @colbyclitesColby's Website: LINK HERE
// Print Design Academy for Teams // Learn more here
// Print Design Academy for Freelance Creatives // Learn more here
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33:17
Episode 290 - Steve Cousins - Creative Director + Designer
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: @reallybigcoolioSteve 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: @lucyeendesignLucy Eden on TikTok: @lucyedendesignLucy Eden's Website: LINK HERE
// Print Design Academy for Teams // Learn more here
// Print Design Academy for Freelance Creatives // Learn more here
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45:15
Episode 288 - Tim Jacobus - Illustrator for Goosebumps Books
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:
Tim shares how he became the original illustrator for the Goosebumps series, illustrating over 100 covers.
The evolution of Tim’s creative process—from traditional painting to embracing digital tools.
Behind-the-scenes stories of working with R.L. Stine and the creative freedom he enjoyed during the Goosebumps series.
How the iconic Goosebumps embossing and specialty covers were developed and their lasting impact.
Reflections on the challenges of early freelance life and the moment he felt he "made it" as an illustrator.
Tim’s philosophy on art: “Show people what's in your mind, not what they already see.”
A discussion on luck, persistence, and how small events can lead to big changes in life and career.
Key Takeaways:
Persistence Pays Off: Tim’s career started with small sign-painting jobs and grew to iconic book covers through resilience and hard work.
Evolving with the Times: Transitioning from traditional to digital methods was challenging, but it opened doors to global clients and creative opportunities.
Creative Freedom Matters: The success of Goosebumps allowed Tim unprecedented freedom, leading to some of his best work.
Nostalgia’s Power: Tim reflects on how Goosebumps has stayed relevant, sparking creativity across generations.
Notable Quotes:
“Don’t paint what you know. Paint what you don’t know and give people a window into your imagination.”
“Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity. Sometimes it’s the smallest events that shape your career.”
“For those about to rock, we salute you.”
Resources & Mentions:
Tim Jacobus Website
// Print Design Academy for Teams // Learn more here
// Print Design Academy for Freelance Creatives // Learn more here
Looking for a podcast that’s all about graphic design, creativity, and the people who make it happen? On The Quickie, host Dave Hopkins has candid, inspiring conversations with graphic designers, illustrators, creative directors, and other creative pros. From freelancers to in-house designers at top agencies, they share their career journeys, creative processes, biggest wins, and lessons learned.
Whether you’re into branding, packaging, print design, or just need a fresh dose of inspiration, each short episode delivers stories, design tips, and real-world advice. Subscribe now to get inspired, learn something new, and hear the stories behind the work. Because, honestly, who doesn’t love a good quickie?
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