Advertise on podcast: My Life In Design Podcast

Send us a text In the last of the series, Claire sat down with Phil Jones, a true design innovator and a major force in the UK’s creative, digital, design and sports industries. Now best known as the founder of the invite-only Podge Lunches, Phil is also a mentor, consultant, and former MD of leading digital and typography agencies. He’s a pioneer of digital design and was voted into the BIMA Digital Hall of Fame in 2012. On the podcast, Phil shares his epic career journey from typesetting for London’s best design agencies, founding one of the first digital studios in the UK and creating the first websites for brands including Canon and Diesel, to the origins of the very first Podge Lunch - and how it became such an influential design community-building event. Links :  Red Setter Dba

Send us a text This week, Claire is joined by Helena Raven, managing director of brand design and innovation partner Bloom. She has helped shape work for major brands such as McVitie's, KP snacks, Tango, Heineken, Talisker and Virgin Atlantic. Helena shares her early career as a professional ballet dancer, and how an injury redirected her path into marketing, comms, and ultimately brand design - via roles in government and the charity sector. Her perspective on the big challenges facing the design industry, including the impact of AI (where it's the attitudes and behaviours, not the technology, that concern her most) and her priorities for leading a successful agency, and why the real magic happens in the chemistry, culture and trust built within client relationships. Links :  Bloom Red Setter Dba

Send us a text This week, Claire sits down with Jono Holt, founder of the communications and design studio Otherway. Founded in 2013, the agency now boasts a 75-strong team across London and New York, known for building brands such as Lucky Saint and Butternut Box, creating standout work for Smythson, Hylo, Strongbow, and Deliveroo, and nurturing long-term partnerships with icons like Fortnum & Mason. Links :  Otherway Red Setter Dba

Send us a text This week on the podcast, Claire is joined by Radim Malinic, creative director, designer, podcaster, and bestselling author. As the founder of Brand Nu and Brand Nu Books, Radim has worked with global names like Harry Potter, Adidas, and the London Film Museum. A regular keynote speaker at events including OFFF, Adobe MAX, and TEDx, he’s the author of six acclaimed books, with his seventh arriving in spring. Radim shares his life in design from growing up in the Czech Republic, to moving to London and becoming a self-taught creative. He discusses the evolution of his creativity from design, to writing to publishing (we highly recommend his books!) and overcoming burnout along the way. He also shares the importance of not waiting for things to happen - but making your own opportunities, from starting his own studio, to publishing and even creating his own coffee company. Links :  Radim Malinic Red Setter Dba

Send us a text Recorded at London Packaging Week, Chloe Templeman, ECD at Pearlfisher, joined Claire on the podcast to talk about her life in design so far. Chloe leads the creative vision of the London studio overseeing a diverse portfolio of brands across food & beverage, beauty, tech, healthcare and lifestyle. Her work during her career includes clients such as Fortnum & Mason, Smirnoff, Lipton Iced Tea, Tanqueray Ten, Wild Deodorant, Nivea and Heineken, and has been recognised with various accolades, including D&AD Pencils, Pentawards, FAB Awards and DBA Design Effectiveness Awards. On the podcast Chloe shares her journey, from starting out in Scotland, to moving to London and building a successful career at top brand design agencies including Brand Union and Design Bridge, culminating in joining Pearlfisher 18 months ago. Links :  Pearlfisher Red Setter Dba

Send us a text This week, we’re coming live from Transform Tuesday at the Crown & Two Chairman pub in London’s Soho, with Simon Dixon, co-founder of DixonBaxi.  Simon shares his journey from setting up his first agency straight out of an art foundation course, to where he is today running one of the best known branding agencies.  He gives great advice on how to get noticed as a young person entering the industry.  (NOTE - On Spotify, the chapter notes are auto-generated from the sound and it’s recording Aporva’s name as Apulva which is annoying!! I’m looking for ways to change or remove this, but in the meantime - it’s Aporva! 😀)  Links :  DixonBaxi Red Setter Dba

Send us a text Recorded at FutureBrand’s Amsterdam HQ, Queenie Lo, President of Spatial Design, joined Claire on the podcast to share her life in design so far. Queenie leads the global team to create immersive, insight driven brand experiences across retail, hospitality, and branded environments for global clients including LVMH brands such as Sephora and YYX, McDonald’s, Bentley, Bottega Veneta and Adidas. Links: FutureBrand Redsetter dba

Send us a text Joining the podcast this week is Christoph Lindner, President and Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art. Recorded at the RCA’s innovative Battersea campus, Claire and Christoph have one of the most sensible and thought-provoking conversations about the wide-reaching possibilities of design and creativity in every aspect of our lives and work. Christoph shares his design journey – from a liberal arts degree in Colorado, to a PhD in Scotland, via academia including the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis, to the University of Oregon, London’s Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, to joining the Royal College of Art in April 2024. He discusses the institution’s collaborative and leading approach to art and design; with the RCA’s ambition to become more accessible and future prepared. And he talks about how a creative life can take many different forms, and the advice that if you want a creative life… go for it! Links: Royal College of Art Redsetter dba

Send us a text Joining the podcast this week is James Greenfield, CEO and co-founder of Koto. James co-founded Koto 10 year ago, from humble beginnings in the corner of his friend Mr Bingo’s studio, to Koto’s global expansion with studios in London, Berlin, LA, New York and Sydney and clients including Amazon, Google, Spotify and Uber. James shares his design journey - from the life-changing work experience at 15, through art foundation and graphic design at university, to knocking on agency doors and rising into senior design creative roles at agencies including DesignStudio, Man vs Machine, Airside before founding Koto He discusses the forces that led him to co-founding Koto and the values that define it globally today, on inventing ‘Pinterest before Pinterest’ and how a tweet led to working with Coca-Cola.  Links: Koto Redsetter dba

Send us a text Recorded with an audience live at D&AD’s London HQ, Lisa Smith, the new D&AD President and Global Chief Design Officer at Uncommon Creative Studio, joined host Claire Blyth, to share her life in design so far, which is nothing short of inspiring.  On the podcast Lisa talks about her first steps into graphic design, from foundation art to knocking on doors to get a job, then time at agencies like Wolff Olins and JKR and in-house at Chobani. She shares insights and learnings from key branding projects in her career, including Burger King, USA Today and the V&A. She also digs deep on many issues, from mental health, to internal politics, to failing, and building resilience. Links: Uncommon Studio D&AD Redsetter dba

Send us a text In this bonus episode recorded live at New Designers, Claire speaks with ceramicist, designer, and curator, Peter Ting about his life in design. Renowned for work that fuses Eastern heritage with Western elegance, Peter has collaborated with brands like Asprey and Thomas Goode, founded the Ting Ying gallery, and is featured in major collections worldwide – including the V&A, where his celebrated ‘Buddha Hands Cup & Saucer’ is on display.  Peter shares his story in design, from first becoming aware of the impact of curation at an early age, to developing a lifelong love of ceramics. On the podcast Peter discusses the importance of thinking about the audience, the person who will receive your message and designing for them. Delivering work with ‘sparkles’, and standing out in a digital era. Links: Peter Ting Redsetter dba

Send us a text In the final episode of this series, Claire sits down with Tosh Hall, global chief creative officer at JKR, an agency that has been recognised as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies and winner of multiple top design awards, including Creative Review’s Design Studio of the Year and Ad Age’s A-list Design and Branding Agency. Tosh has been named one of Ad Age’s most creative people and has led work for major global brands like Budweiser, Walmart, Coca-Cola, Uber, and Jack Daniel’s. On the podcast Tosh shares his early experiences of trying to secure a design job in NYC, fuelled on by an inspirational note from Pentagram’s Michael Beirut and a serendipitous moment on a New York subway. He shares his story of joining JKR in NYC and how it broke through to be become one of the most respected and award-winning global branding agencies. And he talks about the importance of tenacity, perseverance and showing up everyday. Links: JKR Redsetter dba

Send us a text In our latest episode, Claire speaks to Helen Keyes, who was most recently the global head of brand, communications and digital design at Philips, where she was also part of the award-winning Philips Design leadership team. She has contributed to major brands along the way including Royal Mail, Mazda, Scandinavian Airlines, and the Ford Motor Company. Helen shares her life in design so far and some of the experiences that have shaped her along the way.  On the podcast Helen shares her art school journey into first jobs and the mentors who have had such a significant impact on her life. She talks about the far-reaching role and impact of design within Philips at every single touchpoint.  And her parting shot to designers… stay curious. Links: Helen Keyes  Redsetter dba

Send us a text This week, Claire sits down with Dave Recchia, Executive Creative Director at creative brand consultancy The Team. An award-winning creative director and author, Dave takes us on a journey from his early days in Australia to a 27-year career at The Team in London - shaping iconic brands like Heathrow Airport, McLaren Formula One, NatWest, Coca-Cola, and IBM.  On the podcast Dave shares his early fascination with visual identities and the importance of curiosity and exploration in shaping a design career, the issue of free pitching and its implications for designers, and he shares advice for aspiring designers on authenticity, adaptability, and embracing new technologies. Links:  The Team Redsetter dba

Send us a text In this episode, recorded live at the Northern Design Festival, Claire met up with Claire Parker, Group Creative Partner at The Chase. Claire shares her globe-trotting and award-winning career to date. With over 30 years in the industry, working in major cities including Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, Amsterdam and New York, Claire has led global teams, working at agencies including Design Bridge and Saatchi & Saatchi, she’s judged major awards like Cannes and D&AD, and worked on iconic brands including Johnnie Walker, Coca-Cola, Singapore Airlines, LEGO, and Mastercard. Claire shares her journey into the design industry and the role her Mum played in supporting her path into design education. She talks about the role of strategy in the design process (the fun bit!), and she has some really excellent advice to all young designers on how to get ahead, create a career path, ask for pay rises – and being brave and be more Bowie! Links: The Chase The Northern Design Festival Redsetter dba