Diana Russell – Co-founder of Rebel Nell
[quote style=”boxed”]Every entrepreneur must face moments of failure. The trick is not to give up, but try again.[/quote] Rebel Nell creates defiant jewelry with a purpose. They make jewelry from…
design
Design is how things go from functional to meaningful. The founders in this section understand that. They’ve built design agencies, product studios, UX consultancies, and creative firms that shape how people interact with everything from apps to physical spaces.
These interviews cover the full design spectrum. Graphic design. UX and UI. Industrial design. Interior design. Brand identity. Web design. The kind of work that most people don’t notice until it’s done badly. Which, if you think about it, is the highest compliment.
The founders here talk about the business of design, not just the craft. How to price creative work. How to manage client expectations. How to build a team of creative people without everything devolving into chaos. And how to stay creatively fulfilled while running a business, which turns out to be harder than it sounds.
You’ll find insights on design thinking, user research, building a portfolio, and the eternal debate between form and function. If you’re a designer, a founder who needs design help, or just someone who appreciates things that work well and look good doing it, these conversations are for you.
Melissa Steach – Design & BDM of CORT Interiors
[quote style=”boxed”]Art cannot exist in your head, only ideas, and ideas are of no use if not enacted. You have to be willing to make ugly if you’re ever going…
Kerrie Kelly – Founder of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab
[quote style=”boxed”]I touch things once. I open the mail, schedule the bill payment and file it. You won’t see heaps of paper on my desk or a full inbox of…
Samuel Stubblefield – Digital Technology Architect
[quote style=”boxed”]I take off several months per year to make art. That time off (I call these months “divergent”) makes the remainder of the year (I call these months “convergent”)…
Haroon Mokhtarzada – Co-founder of Webs
[quote style=”boxed”]Launch and get your first customer. The vast majority of businesses fail because they never get a customer.[/quote] Haroon Mokhtarzada is the co-founder and vice president of innovation for…
Vladimir Gendelman – Founder and CEO of Company Folders
[quote style=”boxed”]One of my greatest failures was starting multiple businesses at once. At the time, I thought this was a great idea, because I figured if one of them didn’t…
Meet Vladimir Gendelman – Founder and CEO of Company Folders
Clay Bethune – Co-founder of 9thandElm
Most ideas sound good in theory — until you mention them to others. So I like to bring my team together a couple of times each week to throw out…
Sara Gulyas – Designer and Founder of Pikkpack
[quote style=”boxed”]Hard work will always pay off. You have to believe that if you put a great amount of time and effort in something, sooner or later you will see…
Jason Halstead – Founder of Gist Brands
[quote style=”boxed”]In fact, in my job it’s hugely more important to ask the right questions rather than have all the right answers. I’m an innately curious person. I’ve always asked,…
Susan Taing – Founder and CEO of bhold
[quote style=”boxed”]Prioritize. Over and over again.[/quote] Susan Taing is the founder and CEO of bhold, a design house using new technology to create lifestyle accessories that make your life easier….
Alexei Levene – Co-founder of Innovation eXperience
Alexei Levene hails from London, UK and is a graduate in Philosophy and Law. With an early career in business development and sales roles in the supply chain technology, Alexei later…
Ben Byford – CEO of Eulergy
[quote style=”boxed”]Knowing when someone else could do it better and they can deliver. It’s too easy to try and do everything yourself, but you’ve also got to make sure the…