We are so excited to launch our brand new weekly podcast, The Honest Designers Show!
This new podcast features our founder and CEO Tom Ross, alongside experienced designers Ian Barnard, Lisa Glanz and Dustin Lee. Each of your hosts have excelled in their own creative fields, and this new show is our way to give you a transparent look into life as a modern designer. Want to learn how to land your first client, develop a unique style in your work, or simply to realise that other folk are going through the same challenges that you’re facing? Then this is the show for you!
In episode 1 we look at developing your design style. Finding a unique style can be tricky, but there are lots of steps you can take to begin developing yours over time.
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Show Notes for This Episode:
[1.00] Copying others to find your style, and getting comfortable with yourself
[1.45] How to recognise when you’ve found your style
[2.25] The ‘switch’ moment when you finally discover your style
[3.00] Using other people’s work to find your own style
[3.40] Why copying is a natural part of the process
[4.20] Finding different sources of inspiration
[5.15] Being inspired by outside styles
[6.00] Using outside inspiration for marketing yourself
[6.30] Dustin’s shaving routine (and how it helps inspire him!)
[7.30] The power of mood-boards and other cliches
[8.30] Ian’s struggle to nail down a particular style
[9.45] Why you shouldn’t worry if your style flits all over the place
[10.20] How your style can often by subconscious
[11.15] The importance of practice
[12.05] Feeling comfortable in your skin
[13.25] Ian’s random feed (and why this doesn’t matter!)
[14.50] The home-runs in the early days
[15.15] Copying your best self
[16.00] Holding yourself accountable with a fan-base
[17.00] Why consistency matters
[17.50] How to avoid giving up too quickly
[18.30] Why feedback is great (even the bad feedback!)
[19.25] Why no feedback is the worst feedback
[20.25] The insecurities of being a designer
[21.20] Why you should aim to divide people with your work
[22.00] Finding your core fans through polarisation
[23.00] Taking note of what you’re drawn to
[23.50] Finding your style in other areas (music)
[24.40] Dustin’s friend’s amazing project
[25.55] Getting out of your head, and getting lost in the process
[27.30] Learning along the way
[28.10] Why Ian works on what interests him the most
[29.45] Exposing yourself to multiple influences
[30.50] Why a defined style can be an advantage
[31.30] Listen to your personality type to find your style
[32.20] Our various styles (and who is most distinctive)
[33.20] Why YOU can be your style (rather than just your work)
[34.00] Why you can attract clients with a narrow style
[36.00] Why other people’s style might not be right for you
[37.45] Some styles are more achievable via practice than others
[39.00] How to see different styles in imperfections
[40.00] Having fun and trying different things
[42.00] ‘Find your fun’
[43.00] ‘Do what’s weird about you’
[43.50] How to stand out in a busy industry
[44.30] Branching off from your best ideas
[45.10] Tom’s teacher ripping up his artwork at school!
[46.25] How Lisa judges a successful project
[47.40] Dustin NOT going to the bathroom on the call
[48.45] Lisa’s weird world
[50.00] The importance of giving yourself some slack
[50.50] Tom’s tip for feeling better about your journey
[52.00] Why people remember your failures (and why this is ok)
“A must for every creative freelancer (or those aspiring to freelance). Thank you for being so… honest! Such a wealth of information from people I admire who have ‘been there and done that’. Listening to the podcast every week feels like I’m among friends. Can’t wait for more episodes!” – AG_GD
I love your podcast!!! Just rated it on iTunes!
great content and i low the witty banter. You are all so full of advice and have a passion for sharing it. It’s awesome. Thank you so much.
IG: @designbyalva
Hey Enrique
Thank you so much for the feedback and for the iTunes rating. We’re so happy to hear that you’ve enjoyed the podcast and you’re finding it useful ?
Episode 43 – about the bali sign thing. I don’t think its aussie accent. We call beer piss. People would describe a night drinking beer as “getting on the piss” which is why drunk is pissed as well.
Hey Cole, thanks for clarifying this with us – that’s great to know ?
Hello,
I love this podcast and its honest and ego-free talk.
I’m on the cusp of selling digital creative products but am unsure about copyright and licensing. How do you guys deal with this? How do you come up with licensing agreements and what do you/can you do when you catch someone exploiting your work?
Another topic of discussion that would be great, is how do you keep momentum going for a non client based project. Especially when you can’t just bunker down and work on a project all day and night because you have kids/other commitments. How do you keep going to get something finished?
Best wishes
Lizzy
Hey Lizzy
Thank you for getting in touch and happy to hear that you’ve been enjoying the podcast. I will pass your question and topic suggestion to the hosts and I will get back to you when I have more information. Thank you :)
Love the podcast. I just wanted to let you all know that there is an app that packages your Illustrator files similar to Indesign. It’s Art Files. Here is the link to their site: https://www.code-line.com/artfiles/
Hey Matt, so happy to hear that you like the podcast. Thank you so very much for sending us the link to this very useful app. I will share this with the Honest Designers hosts ?
Love listening in every week! I know you have touched on freelancing and the basics of charging but I am wondering if you could touch on whether becoming an LLC or just trademarking your business is needed.
hey Erica,
Thanks for the comment on the podcast and this is a really great suggestion! I will pass it over to the Honest Designers and hopefully they can chat about it in an upcoming episode!