2017 — what a year! 200 episodes, three new sponsors — Glitch, Google Design, and SiteGround — and we launched our new Deals page! We were even featured on iTunes for Black History Month!
Let’s take a look back at our ten most popular interviews here on Revision Path based on listens, downloads, page views, social sharing, and overall web traffic. Check them out and see if your favorite interview made the list!
#10: Timothy Bardlavens
Timothy Bardlavens has accomplished a lot since he started designing professionally five years ago. His design journey has taken him from coast to coast, and now he’s at Microsoft helping lead product innovation and UX while also heading up the culture team to foster greater inclusion throughout the company. And he is just getting started!
We talked about how Microsoft has changed over the years, and he shared how he started with humble beginnings in South Carolina and worked his way up to one of the largest tech companies in the world. We also discussed the role of design organizations for designers of color, and we talked about Timothy’s Medium article on leaving AIGA. Timothy’s big goal is to impact the culture, and at the rate he’s going, he’s well on his way to making that happen!
#9: Sarah Huny Young
For our 200th episode, we’re bringing back one of our favorite guests — Sarah Huny Young. Huny does it all — she’s a creative director, a multidisciplinary designer, and an overall creative titan. It was great to catch up with her and learn about what she’s been doing since our 100th episode!
We talked about her latest project, American Woman, and she shared how the project came to fruition and what its taught her since she started it a year ago. We also discussed funding for the creative arts, the importance of designers to brand themselves, the pros and cons of the Pittsburgh arts and design scene, and a lot more. Huny has so much wisdom to share, and it’s always great to catch up with her. Who knows…maybe she’ll come back for episode 300!
#8: Laci Jordan
There’s few designers out there that can match Laci Jordan’s unique mix of talent, energy, and hustle. This Los Angeles-based creative director and multidisciplinary designer is killing the game with her work, and I’m honored to get a chance to share this conversation with you all.
We started off looking at the design scene in LA, talked about design awards, her time growing up in Alabama, and how a short stint with the FBI fueled her passion for design. I truly feel like Laci is at a point where her career is about to skyrocket, and I’m so excited to talk with her. Enjoy!
#7: Angelica McKinley
We’ve had several folks from Slack here on Revision Path, and the latest one is digital designer Angelica McKinley! She has a wealth of experience in digital storytelling from working at The New York Times, and she’s now making the switch from print to tech.
We talked about her work at The New York Times, which went into a discussion on how Black creatives use tech as well as on the importance of HBCU pipelines. Angelica also shared what has her excited at the moment, and what she plans to accomplish for the rest of this year. 2017 has been a big year for Angelica, and I’m glad that she’s one of hundreds of talented Black creatives out in the Bay Area!
#6: Alex Fefegha
We’re closing out March by talking with with London-based product designer and creative technologist Alex Fefegha. As the creative director of his own Alex’s work has taken him all over the world, and he’s currently creative director of Comuzi, an agency with clients like the BBC, the University of the Arts London and NHS England.
Our talk is less of an interview and more of a conversation. We touch on a few entrepreneurial topics like starting a studio and finding clients, the state of diversity in design in London and the United Kingdom, and I ask Alex what he thinks prevents more Black designers from becoming recognized leaders in design. It’s a little bit of a departure from the norm, but I’m glad that we were able to candidly discuss these topics. Thanks Alex!
#5: Djuvane Browne
We’re back in the Caribbean this week and talking with Djuvane Browne, UI designer and owner of One Great Studio in Kingston, Jamaica. If you’re a freelancer and looking to level up in 2017, then you will want to hear what Djuvane has to say!
Djuvane gives me a quick rundown on an average day at his studio, and shares the one secret that transformed his business to where it is today. We also talk about the design scene in Kingston, the notion of a “Caribbean aesthetic”, and what he would be doing if he didn’t become a designer. Djuvane says that you’ll never know what will work until you try, so hopefully his words will inspire you to do bigger things!
#4: Ariem Anthony
When you think about a designer who has built a body of work, think of Ariem Anthony. As a production design manager for Airbnb, he serves a critical role between the design and engineering departments. More than that, Ariem is a self-taught designer with over 25 years of experience to his name across print, web, multimedia, for companies such as Apple and Netflix.
We start off by talking about the importance of production design, discussing Airbnb’s open culture, exploring the advantages of being a self-taught designer, and going into what kept him motivated throughout the years as the design industry has grown and changed. Ariem’s journey as a designer is proof that doing the work can take you farther than you ever imagined!
#3: Antoine Thomas
The DMV area is brimming with Black design talent, and Antoine Thomas is no exception. As the founder of West 7th Design Studio, Antoine and his team create beautiful and functional designs for small businesses, government agencies, and more.
We talked about his time at Howard University, and he gave a sneak peek into their design program, which is where he got the idea to to start his studio. He also shared his visions for engaging the next generation of Black designers, and told how he manages both his studio and his new apparel line PRNT while holding down a full-time job. Impressive! Learn more about Antoine in this week’s interview!
#2: Jessica Bellamy
We’re starting off February this year by talking with entrepreneur and visual storyteller Jessica Bellamy. She specializes in creating eye-catching information graphics that are easy to understand and share, which is definitely needed in this current climate of “fake news”.
Jessica talked about her exhibit titled The Black Woman Project, the progressive design scene in Louisville, Kentucky, and how she started her grassroots design studio GRIDS, which is currently working on a project about bringing awareness to the incarceration system. If you’re trying to find someone that cares about her community and helps give back by using design, then look no further! Thank you for all you do Jessica!
#1: Melissa Smith
It’s been a minute since we’ve had someone at Google on the show, so I was really excited to have the chance to interview Melissa Smith, a user experience researcher at Google working primarily on the YouTube mobile and desktop products.
We talked about how user experience research factors into her work, why it’s an important part of the design process, and talk about how she shifted from studying engineering towards her current work. There’s even a conversation about self-driving cars! It’s great knowing women like Melissa are at the forefront of helping make better experiences for all of us online!
(Thanks to one of our patrons, Nate Koechley, for the introduction!)
Once again, thanks to all of you who have helped Revision Path get through this year! Support, participation, and sharing what we’re doing here really helps keep this platform alive. There’s some big things in store for 2018, so stay tuned!