Designer Dads

Join your host & producer, Katie Cadwell & Hatty Wytton, as they reflect on Season 3. With a whole host of new listener stories and opinions, we look back on all the great conversations from the past 10 episodes – and talk about what’s next.Huge thanks to all our guests and contributors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pro bono work. Is it too good to be true? Some view it as a generous donation of our skills. Others as a strategic way to entice new clients. And for those who’ve been burned, believe it’s devaluing the industry.In the last episode of season 3, we’re joined by two industry heavyweights to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of working for free. Legendary Paula Scher, Partner at Pentagram, who shares the story of her prolific pro-bono projects for The Public Theatre and other charities – and the importance of a collaborative relationship with creative freedom.While Mirella Arapian, Founder and ECD at MEK, started a studio with the intention of donating their time to pro-bono projects – but the reality was more complex than they realised. Low effort from clients, endless rounds of feedback, scope creep and lackluster creative results. So what is the key to pro bono projects that benefit studios and clients alike? And are we doing a disservice to the industry by giving away our skills for free, even if it is for a good cause.Join us in an honest, authentic conversation about generosity, labour, and where to draw the line.—Netflix documentary: ‘Abstract: The Art of Design’ DAIS 10 year project: https://dais.com.au/passion-project/ten-year-project-2020-2030/The One Percent programme: https://buildingelements.com/theonepercent/Studio Every: https://www.studioevery.com/perspectives/-2-weeks-2-charitiesJonty Sharples article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pro-bono-sucks-everyones-blame-jonty-sharples/The Resourceful Designer article: https://www.resourcefuldesigner.com/navigating-pro-bono-design-work-for-non-profits-and-charities-rd320/—Stories: Jennie Potts, Martin Boath & Andy Cooke  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are around 2 million posts published on Linkedin every day. Once a business platform, it has become the home of the ‘professional personal brand’.Creative leaders are fighting in the feed for engagement – chiming in with thought-leadership, hot takes and opinions of the work & world. The pressure to have an online persona (and a following to match) is bigger than ever.This week we’re asking, is building your personal brand a smart business tool, or just a way to chase validation and satiate our egos?Joined by two titans of the feed, Amy Kean (CEO & Creative Director of Good Shout) and Helena Langdon (Freelance Copywriter / Comedy Writer) – we asked them if they believe they’re influencers. We talk about the wins and losses of growing an online following. Fears of being cancelled, trolls, time wasting, and whether they reap the rewards of their investment.A candid conversation about whether the algorithm is really worth your energy.—Statistics: https://www.cognism.com/blog/linkedin-statistics#:~:text=Content%20Impressions:%20LinkedIn%20generates%209,45.Gender article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/nov/22/bro-boost-women-find-linkedin-traffic-drives-if-they-pretend-to-be-men Book: Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams AI content: https://originality.ai/blog/ai-content-published-linkedin#Creative Boom article: https://www.creativeboom.com/tips/what-the-heck-is-a-personal-brand-in-2025/Creator economy: https://digiday.com/media/linkedin-emerges-as-a-serious-player-in-the-creator-economy/https://www.linkedin.com/posts/noam-nisand_linkedins-biggest-growth-is-coming-these-activity-7364574631187406848-ysdH/Huge thanks to all our anonymous contributors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The creative industry loves to talk about creatives. But what about the hidden army of people that keep our studios afloat?The split of creative vs ‘non-creative’ roles is around 50/50 – but it’s rare to hear from those behind the scenes. Client services, operations, finance, HR… Seen as the vital cogs to a studio's success, but too often reduced to emails, admin, or budget police.This week, we’re joined by Katie Lyons (Studio Manager at Pentagram) & Anna Victor (Business Lead at Mother Design) to unpack how they define themselves, whether they feel valued, and if they get enough credit.From being ignored in crits, reduced to admin, shielding teams from chaotic clients, impossible budgets, and emotional fallout — they share the invisible labour, the cliche “bad guy” role, and what they wish the industry would do to make them feel welcome.This is a candid conversation about how we can better support, and celebrate, the backbone of the creative industry. —HS Creative Operations: https://www.henrystewartconferences.com/creative-operationsInside Out Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-future-of-in-house-creative-leadership/id1747200978The Industry Club: https://www.theindustryclub.co.uk/trainingHuge thanks to all our anonymous stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To partner or not to partner?83% of our listeners say they want a business partner. But the reality? It’s complicated. You spend more time with your co-founder than you do your family. How do you choose the right person to go into business with? Handle conflict when creativity clashes with cash? And what is it like for the teams caught in the middle of founder tension?In this episode, we unpack the partnership recipe: why most billion-dollar startups are built by teams, why solo founders are more likely to survive, and why partnerships fail more often than we like to admit. Joined by two brilliant creative duos – veteran partners Matt Baxter & Dom Bailey (Baxter & Bailey) and a new relationship, Gemma Ballinger & Johanna Drewe (Output)From two-person dream teams to three-way creative standoffs, married co-founders to messy breakups – this is a frank, unfiltered conversation about building (and breaking) business relationships.—Partnership stats: https://startersreview.com/solo-or-sidekick-weighing-the-pros-and-cons-of-business-partnerships/https://www.equidam.com/the-case-for-solo-founders/Creative Counsel with Brittany Ratelle Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-start-and-fix-your-business-partnerships-with/id1314211690?i=1000585724842Co-founders Lab: https://cofounderslab.com/Partnership Agreement: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/partnership-agreement-guidanceStories: James KapeHuge thank you for all the anonymous stories in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the episode you’ve been asking for — and the one we were nervous to record.When we asked our listeners if they’d experienced burnout, 97% said yes. Nearly a quarter have been signed off work. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a sign of an industry that’s ignoring the primary reason for losing their workforce.In this episode, we talk honestly about what burnout really looks like: physical symptoms, loneliness, losing creativity, and forgetting your purpose. Joined by two guests with lived experience, James Horwitz (Founder of Two Times Elliott) & Rebecca Price (Previous Senior Brand Manager at Monotype) and a whole host of anonymous listener submissions. We’re unpacking how burnout happens, how it affects business, whose responsibility it is, and why so many people feel unable to speak up.If you’ve ever been on the burnout scale, this episode is for you. Content note: this episode includes discussion of panic attacks and mental health struggles.—Jackie Ivy TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nunvox1QqVsMental health burnout report: https://euc7zxtct58.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/16142505/Mental-Health-UK_The-Burnout-Report-2025.pdfEmmi Salonen ‘The Creative Wellbeing handbook’: https://www.creativeecosystem.org/bookNHS burnout resources: https://www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/services/newcastle-occupational-health-service/information-for-staff/covid-support-materials/managing-occupational-burnout/Stories: Megan Fry, Chris WilsonHuge thank you for all the anonymous stories in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many disabled creatives have you worked with?27% of the EU population has a disability. By the time we all reach 65, half of us will be disabled. But the creative industry? Surprise, surprise, that number drops to just 12%.We went on a mission to find out why — and ask some of the questions we’re all afraid to. Like, how do I approach someone to find out about their disability? What words can’t I use? Will it get me cancelled? Is my studio accessible? What does that actually look like?And most importantly, what more can we be doing?To answer all our questions, we’re joined by Paul Hewitt (Executive Creative Director at That Lot) and Julie Seal (Founder & CCO Republic of Imagination) in a candid conversation about their experiences being disabled creatives.— Stats: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/disability-eu-facts-figures/https://advertisingallin.co.uk/ (The stat included in the episode was based on the 2021 census, there has since been new data released which has seen a rise from 9% to 12%)https://creativeaccess.org.uk/app/uploads/2024/01/disability-report-28th-nov.pdfRyan Hudson-Peralta: https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2022/01/19/ryan-hudson-peralta-designing-with-a-disabilityGeorgia Lupi: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/14/opinion/my-life-with-long-covid.htmlCreative Equals: https://www.creativeequals.org/disabledcreativesSCOPE: https://www.scope.org.uk/ Stories: Opal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our freelance listeners are furious – and maybe they have a right to be.Cancelled bookings. Late payments. Chaotic onboarding. Loneliness. But with nearly half of the creative industry being self-employed and studios relying on freelancers to bolster their teams, what’s going wrong?This week, we talk to two experts in all things freelance. Sadia Noor, Creative Partner at Small World shares what it’s like to run an entirely freelance model. Matthew Knight, Chief Freelance Officer at The Independency Co. discusses the issues his community encounters time and time again.They discuss the benefits of hiring freelance talent, the biggest frustrations, and what we need to do to help change the way the industry looks after its largest talent pool.— Stats: https://www.leapers.co/research/2024/#chapter-headlineshttps://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2025/03/report-finds-creative-freelancers-hit-by-loss-of-work-late-pay-and-rise-of-ai/#https://www.thedoers.co.uk/blog/are-freelancers-more-productive-than-employeesLeapers: https://www.leapers.co/ Freelancing support: https://www.freelancing.support/resources/guide-to/dealing-with-late-payments/at-a-glance/WithJack: https://withjack.co.uk/South West Freelancers: Kerry WheelerStories: Sam Edwards / Tarn / Ellen / Chris Greenwood / Miltos Bottis / Jack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the rise in conversations around ‘working mums’, we wondered, why don’t we call fathers ‘working dads’?As we strive for equal parenting, Dads are picking up more of the mental, emotional and physical load of raising children. Juggling being hands-on both at home and in the studio. All with less parental leave, less support and less opportunity to share how they’re coping.Our two guests are fathers of children, teenagers and creative teams, Ali Ozden (Universal Favourite) & Jamie Ellul (Supple Studio)We asked them how becoming Designer Dads has impacted their careers, creativity and mental health (and if they want their children to follow in their footsteps)–Stats: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/70-of-dads-who-didnt-take-their-full-paternity-leave-entitlement-had-to-cut-it-short-due-to-cost/https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/familiesandthelabourmarketengland/2019https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/why-we-are-campaigning-for-6-weeks-paid-paternity-leave/Dadwell & Co: https://dadwell.co/Fathercraft: https://fathercraft.com/fathers-ed/Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/Calm: https://www.thecalmzone.net/Andys Man Club: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/groups/Tommys: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/dads-and-partners/looking-after-your-mental-health-after-baby-bornStories: Samuel / Lee Davies / Jack Trotman / Sam / Adam Ding–The NDA Podcast is created by Lucky Dip. Hosted by Katie Cadwell & produced by Hatty Wytton.Edited by James from Be Heard. Original music 'The Theme from NDA' by Jamie Ellul & Toby McLaren. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is a fact that multicultural teams outperform homogeneous ones.But roughly 9% of the design industry is made up of people in minority groups, whereas the wider workforce is 17%. And that’s not factoring in how many of those are in junior positions.So why are we taking so long to catch up?Our guests in this episode think there’s too much talk, and not enough action. So join us, Andy Khatouli & Priyjah Paramasivam as we ask them –How they’re perceived in studios and whether they feel the need to mask their authentic selves?What it’s like being the only voice in the room calling things out, or being pushed into the role of ’spokesperson’ for diversity?And ultimately, what is our industry missing out on by not welcoming different cultures with open arms.–There are some brilliant orgs really doing the work to rebalance our industry. Make sure you check them out.Stats: https://www.cipd.org/uk/about/news/managing-multicultural-teams/Andy’s article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/other-0-andrew-khatouli-7sqkc/Ahmed Abokor’s article: https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/ahmed-abokor-on-being-a-black-creative-in-a-homogenous-industry-opinion-240620Samar Maakaroun intervew: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/typography-expression-language-identity-dad-jury-president-samar-grnde/ POCC: https://www.instagram.com/wearepocc/?hl=enOtherbox: https://otherbox.co/Stories: Kay / Agata Gray / Sibin –The NDA Podcast is created by Lucky Dip. Hosted by Katie Cadwell & produced by Hatty Wytton.Edited by James from Be Heard. Original music 'The Theme from NDA' by Jamie Ellul & Toby McLaren. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.