The Creative Boom Podcast

This final episode of the season closes on a note that feels right for a new year. Honest. Hopeful. A little raw and full of heart. Chris Wilson, the multi-disciplinary force behind Glasgow’s one-man studio Stckmn, joins Katy for a conversation about surviving life's sharpest edges and still choosing to create something good. Chris grew up working class in Clydebank, a kid who took things apart to understand how the world worked. That curiosity shaped everything. So did hardship. He talks openly about trauma he never recognised as trauma until therapy named it: a violent attack at university that left deep physical and emotional scars. The loss of his dad. Years of pushing pain aside and throwing himself into work because survival sometimes looks like graft, not clarity. And yet. Through humour, compassion, and the stubborn belief that he could always graft his way forward, Chris built a career spanning product design, graphics, branding, packaging, and beyond. He tells Katy how he learned to reframe fear into momentum, why being a generalist has kept him afloat in changing times, and how a decade of running Stckmn has been as much about resilience as it has design. They talk about belonging, too. About feeling out of place in creative spaces that can still feel elitist. About the invisible hierarchies that quietly shape the industry. And the joy of realising most of us are just muddling through, hoping no one notices our nerves. It's a candid, funny, deeply human exchange. Chris also shares the burnout that landed him in hospital, the difficult lessons about boundaries he's trying to honour, and the softer tools he's building as a dad. His son, Caleb, pops up as a recurring theme. A reminder of why slowing down is key. Why healing matters. And why showing up as the gentler version of ourselves is important. This is a conversation about making peace with your younger self. About the courage to start again, no matter how many times life has knocked you sideways. And about the strange, hopeful power of creativity to stitch us back together. A beautiful way to end the season. A reminder that even in the mess, even in the dark, there's always a way to move forward.

DNCO just turned 20, and founder Joy Nazzari is not done yet. In this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Joy joins Katy to talk honestly about building a place brand studio from two slightly rebellious thirty-somethings with no clients, to a 33-strong team working on cities and even a whole US state. Joy shares why she and co-founder Ben walked out of permanent jobs with nothing lined up, how "never doing shit work" became a founding principle, and why saying no early on shaped the kind of clients they attract today. She also opens up about buying Ben out, staying friends, and why founders should be allowed to leave without drama. The conversation delves into the realities of running a studio after the pandemic. Joy talks about the economics no one wants to touch publicly. Productivity, hybrid working, the way slowed pace quietly kills profit, and why getting people in a room together still matters more than anyone wants to admit. She also reflects on what it means to be a tall American non-designer leading a London agency, the label "female-founded", and how it lands in different rooms, including very male, sports-led organisations. There is an honest chat about ageing as a woman in a visual industry, being "an older woman" in the room, and the subtle ways respect and perception can shift. We get into family, identity and what really keeps her going. Joy talks candidly about growing up in California with a father whose career was destroyed by alcoholism, how that experience turned financial security into a core driver, and why she has built a career around helping people feel like they belong in places. Katy and Joy also compare notes on menopause, confidence, video, and the strange process of becoming more visible just as your face starts to change. They talk about raising children, how different generations see work and politics, why debate and nuance matter, and how to keep reading beyond your own bubble. Towards the end, Joy shares the advice she would give her 30-year-old self. Chill out and don't overreact. Delegate sooner. Let designers hear clients unfiltered. Guard relationships and stay in touch with people who back your work. Underneath it all, she admits that for all the big ideas about cities, identity and belonging, the real engine has always been simple: keep the people you love safe and secure, and keep your brain switched on for as long as you can. A big, honest chat about work, power, ageing, politics, money, motherhood and why many of us build studios in the first place.

Designer, writer and hat connoisseur Matt Baxter of Baxter & Bailey joins us on The Creative Boom Podcast this week to talk about imperfection, community, and the creative life. Matt's been in the game for three decades – from Trickett & Webb and 300million to co-founding his Brighton studio with Dom Bailey in 2012. Since then, they've built thoughtful, human brands for Oxford University Press, The Body Shop, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Mail and the BBC. But it's his side project, The Design Laundry, that really caught my eye. It's a gloriously honest archive of our industry's mishaps – typos, rogue emails, pitch disasters – and the lessons that come from them. We talk about growing up in Burnley, moving south, why pondering still matters, and how to keep a studio human when speed rules everything. We also get into Brighton's creative scene, building community, and why staying off Instagram helps with creative jealousy. It's warm, funny and refreshingly honest... with bonus seagulls.

Pum Lefebure is the cofounder and chief creative officer of Design Army, the award-winning Washington DC studio behind bold campaigns for clients like The Washington Ballet, Bloomingdale's, and Hong Kong Ballet. Known for her clarity of vision, Pum set her sights on fashion, performing arts, and culture from the very beginning, building a portfolio that attracted exactly the clients she wanted. In this conversation, Pum shares how she and her husband Jake turned a yard sale poster into their first break, why every project is a calling card, and how choosing clients with intent can shape the future of your career. We talk about the balance between paid work and passion projects, what it really takes to build a studio with grit and perseverance, and why leadership means being a coach, a cheerleader, and sometimes a plumber. Pum also reflects on staying relevant in an industry shifting at lightning speed, how AI and social media are changing client expectations, and why authenticity and craft still matter more than ever. This conversation is about courage, focus, and carving your own path – and it's packed with practical wisdom for anyone dreaming of their own creative career.

Jeff Staple is a designer, brand strategist and cultural icon who helped turn sneaker culture into a global movement. In this conversation, he opens up about growing up as an only child in New Jersey, how loneliness built his imagination, and how two near-death experiences changed the way he looks at risk, success and creativity. We talk about the making of Nike's Pigeon Dunk, the sneaker that sparked a riot in New York and put Jeff on the map, and what it's like to live with both the blessing and the curse of being known for one career-defining hit. He shares how he turned brands like Brooks, Crocs and Cole Haan into unexpected lifestyle favourites, what he's learned about launching his own creative agency in a competitive industry. It's a rich, funny and surprisingly human conversation about resilience, reinvention and what it really means to stay cool in a world that loves to label you. Expect plenty of sneaker stories, a little philosophy and the reminder that, whatever mountain you're on, this too shall pass.

n this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Katy chats with Ashley Johnson, Head of Brand Narrative at Pentagram in London, about the winding path that took her from Canadian TV journalism to one of the world's most respected design studios. Ashley shares how early experiences with online harassment pushed her out of the newsroom, why she calls her career "squiggly", and how she discovered a love for shaping brand stories that are as strategic as they are creative. Ashley explains how great design and great copy are two languages expressing the same powerful idea, and why the best words are often the simplest. She talks about creating a "source code" for clients—a clear, truthful narrative that defines what they stand for before anything goes public. Along the way, she reflects on feminist leadership, the quiet sexism still present in the industry, and the importance of psychological safety in allowing creative teams to take risks and be brave. This is a warm, funny, and deeply honest conversation about finding your voice, redefining success, and holding your nerve in a world that often rewards style over substance. Whether you're a writer, designer, or anyone navigating a creative career, Ashley's insights on storytelling, authenticity, and quiet power will leave you feeling inspired and understood.

For The Creative Boom Podcast this week, Katy Cowan chats with Zoë Thompson, the founder of Sweet Thang, an independent arts and literary zine that champions black creatives around the world. Zoë launched the publication when she was just 18, driven by a love of magazines and a desire to create a platform where underrepresented voices could shine. What began as a scrappy DIY project has grown into a celebrated space for fresh talent, first-time writers, and those often overlooked by mainstream media. Zoë shares the story behind Sweet Thang's beginnings, from collaging spreads at home to crowdfunding to pay contributors. She explains why zines remain such a powerful and democratic medium, offering a direct connection between creator and reader, without the need for algorithms or gatekeepers. With a warm and candid honesty, Zoë talks about the freedom of imperfection, the joy of making something physical, and the thrill of giving people their first-ever byline. Together, Katy and Zoë explore the enduring magic of print in a digital world. They discuss why physical publications feel more important than ever, offering permanence and value in an age of fleeting feeds. They also touch on the challenges of running a passion project, the lessons learned along the way, and the communities that keep them both inspired. It's a conversation filled with humour, insight, and plenty of creative wisdom—perfect listening for anyone who wants to make something of their own.