The GDUSA Podcast: Conversations About Graphic Design

Paul Leibowitz founded Leibowitz, a 12-person branding and design company started in 1991. Leibowitz enjoys working with clients in many industries, including financial services, media, higher ed and human services. At Leibowitz, they believe effective communication isn’t about being loud. It’s about listening. Driven by research, their strategists, designers, writers and developers use critical thinking to tell a brand’s story. Paul serves on the Dean’s Council for the Syracuse University College of Visual & Performing Arts, where he has endowed two awards in the School of Design and the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies. At Syracuse, he also taught Communications Design as a Professor of Professional Practice, traveling weekly from his home in Westchester. In addition, Paul is past Chairman of the AIGA Design and the Environment special interest group and is on the board of the Financial Communications Society. He has lectured on entrepreneurship, business practices, design and social media at Columbia Business School, Syracuse University, Gotham Media Ventures, Financial Communications Society, Gramercy Institute, Mutual Fund Education Alliance and the Investment Adviser Association. Paul lives with his wife and business partner, Teresa.Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz

Creative and marketing pay is shifting fast, and in 2026, it really pays to know where things are headed. In this episode, we’re joined by two experts from Robert Half, Lucy Marino and Amy Mangan, to break down the 2026 Salary Guide and what the latest trends mean for both creative professionals and hiring managers.We dive into:Why AI and digital expertise are earning top dollarHow hiring managers are rethinking compensation strategies to stay competitiveWhat creative pros can do to boost their value in a changing marketThe growing demand for contract talent, emerging roles, and flexible perksWhether you're building a team or building your career, this episode is packed with insight to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.Amy Mangan oversees the strategic direction of Robert Half's Technology and Marketing and Creative placement services, ensuring that they deliver exceptional solutions to their clients. She's responsible for managing a team of recruiters, client solutions managers, and other professionals, and is committed to developing their talent and helping them achieve their career goals.Lucy Marino is the Executive Director of the marketing and creative practice at global talent solutions firm Robert Half, which connects professionals with companies hiring in marketing, creative, digital, advertising, and public relations. In this role, she oversees strategy and operations for the company’s marketing and creative talent solutions teams across U.S. locations. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz

Mike Perry is the founder and chief creative officer of Tavern, a Brooklyn-based global creative agency crafting timeless brands across food, beverage, hospitality, and beyond.With 15+ years at the forefront of brand building, Mike’s earned a reputation as a certified creative powerhouse. His career spans leading roles at top global studios like Stranger & Stranger, Design Bridge, and JKR, and media giants like NBC Sports and TikTok. He’s the creative mind behind some of the industry’s most recognizable rebrands for clients such as Budweiser, Burger King, and Diageo.Mike Perry Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mike_l_perry/Mike Perry LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelperry/Tavern Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tavern.agency/Tavern X - https://x.com/tavern_agencyTavern LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tavernagency/Drop us a line - [email protected] to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz

What if the most powerful kind of creativity isn’t about making things beautiful, but making them clear?Gordon Kaye never planned to work in design. He studied law, built a career in New York, and handled media and trademark cases before joining NBC as counsel, reviewing everything from late-night jokes to broadcast standards. But when his father’s health declined, he stepped away from law to take over the family publication, Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), a magazine his father had launched in the 1960s to celebrate the people behind design, not just the work itself.What began as a rescue mission became a lifelong calling. Gordon brought his legal mind and curiosity for communication to a creative field that thrives on clarity. Over the decades, he’s evolved GDUSA into more than a design magazine, it’s a respected voice for how ideas move through business, marketing, and culture.On this episode of Design Of, Gordon and Justin talk about what design can teach every leader: how to communicate simply, lead with empathy, and build trust through the way we share information. They discuss how his outsider’s view helped him see design not as decoration, but as direction. And how clarity, when done well, can turn creative thinking into real influence.For business and marketing leaders, this episode is about more than design. It’s about the responsibility of communication. About how we help people see what matters. And how legacy, when guided by purpose, can evolve without losing its truth.Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz

In this episode of The GDUSA Podcast, we welcome Paige Breedlove, Vice President and Senior Digital Recruiter at Robert Half’s Digital Talent Center, and Lucy Marino, Executive Director of Robert Half’s marketing and creative practice.Together, Paige and Lucy offer an expert perspective on the evolving nature of creative work—specifically, the accelerating shift from traditional graphic design to digital-first production and media. Drawing on their extensive experience guiding both companies and individuals, they explore how these changes are influencing hiring practices, skill requirements, and career development strategies across the industry.Topics Covered:The transformation of graphic design roles in a digital-first worldWhat hiring managers are prioritizing in today’s creative candidatesStrategies for job seekers to remain competitive and relevantInsights into workforce trends and the future of creative talentFeatured Guests:Paige Breedlove — Vice President & Senior Digital Recruiter, Robert Half Digital Talent CenterLucy Marino — Executive Director, Marketing & Creative Practice, Robert HalfResources:Robert Half | Marketing & Creative Talent SolutionsLucy Marino’s career column in GDUSAListen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz

As executive director of Technology Staffing Services for Robert Half, Randi's primary responsibility is to develop and oversee programs that enable the company's Permanent Placement teams across North America. Robert Half connects employers with highly skilled technology, creative and legal professionals.  Throughout Randi's 20-year career with Robert Half, she's taken great pride in providing strategic staffing solutions and quality customer service to her clients and candidates. She's also had the opportunity to expand their business, develop their Robert Half teams and improve employee retention in her various leadership positions. You can find Randi on LinkedIn. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz

Stephanie is a strategic, data-driven sustainability, ESG and communications leader who is currently Sr. Director, ESG at global talent solutions firm Robert Half.  She collaborates across the enterprise to find ways to continue and amplify the company's focus on ethics, integrity, innovation and inclusion, and she stands firm in the belief that she must learn and work each and every day on how to show up as a supporter and collaborator to act in allyship with historically excluded groups. She is passionate about our planet, politics, and plant-based food (feminism doesn't start with a P but it's in there too), and she spends her free time outdoors on various modes of human and wind-powered conveyances and/or devouring books and puzzles of all kinds.You can find Stephanie on LinkedIn.You can find the Robert Half ESG Webpage here and ESG Report here.Lucy is Executive Director of the marketing and creative practice at Robert Half. In this role, she oversees strategy and operations for the company’s marketing and creative talent solutions teams across U.S. locations. Since joining Robert Half in 1999, she has helped to advance Robert Half’s marketing and creative and technology practices throughout a number of geographies. With her passion for people and solutions, and a deep understanding of the industry, she has advised thousands of company leaders on talent solutions and guided thousands of individuals on the next steps in their careers. She also serves in board-level roles for organizations and has contributed her time and expertise to many local design schools and other creative organizations.You can find Lucy on LinkedIn.You can find Robert Half Marketing & Creative here.Robert Half Marketing & Creative Find Talent linkFollow Robert HalfRobert Half LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/robert-half-international/Robert Half Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roberthalf/Robert Half YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/roberthalfna Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz

Over the course of three decades, Debbie has built her Northern New Jersey-based firm into a hub that embraces the philosophy of great ideas that genuinely work.“When we meet with a client, we really tune in. We brainstorm, we collaborate, and we develop something that is wonderfully tailored to the client’s goals—a finished product that conveys why your company, brand or product is different—and why your own clients and customers should choose you and not the competition,” she says.Having honed her skills at Federal Paperboard, where she worked with brands such as Klondike, Nutella, Polly-O, and Dunlop, Debbie doesn’t turn off her designer’s instincts when she leaves the office. In fact, a trip to the grocery store is just as likely to be for product-packaging research as it is for stocking the pantry.As an entrepreneur, a wife, a mother, a frequent university lecturer and even a black belt, Debbie looks at every new opportunity as an exciting puzzle to be solved.You can find Debbie at: https://barnettdesign.comor follow her at:www.linkedin.com/in/debbiebarnettideasthatworkhttps://www.instagram.com/barnettdesigninc/https://www.facebook.com/barnettdesigninc/Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz

Paper is Michele's world. With 25+ years in the industry, she's seen a lot of changes. Watching technology infiltrate every aspect of our lives, she believes paper and print has evolved to a point where it can be considered a new medium. People respond to beautiful print, unique substrates and tangible things more than ever before. The right paper can be the critical factor that not only elevates a brand but helps define it - increasing shelf presence, brand equity, and response rates while driving sales. As the Marketing Manager at Neenah, Michele works on strategies, new ideas and tactics that keep Designers, Brand Managers and others who specify paper confident in paper specification, connecting them with Neenah's sales team and resources to provide solutions for packaging, print collateral, label, gift cards, direct mail and digital printing.You can find Michele on LinkedIn and Neenah on Instagram and on their website.Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz

Studio on Fire is a Midwestern company based in St. Paul, Minnesota; owned by husband-and-wife-team Ben and Stacy Levitz. Their printing operation started in 1999, when Ben rebelled against the grind of designing behind a computer and bought his first printing press. This early basement studio stationed a Chandler & Price platen press between the boiler and the clothes dryer and just a step away from the cat box. Fast-forward twenty-one years— that basement hobby is now a truly unique commercial print shop with a battery of presses and a crew of talented people. That first press still sits  in the entryway of their shop.They proudly represent the best version of craft manufacturing here in the United States of America. They own the 19,000 square foot building that has been their home for the last five years. Above all else, THEY LOVE MAKING THINGS.You can follow them on Instagram.Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play,  SoundCloud,  Spotify,  Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.Sign up to receive our monthly GDUSA Newsletter!https://gdusa.com/resources/newsletters/recentFollow us on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.Podcast art by Maliya Naz