In this bonus episode, The Spark, our founding editor Katy Cowan reunites with Kenny Gravillis for a more playful, off-the-cuff chat that lifts the lid on the personality behind the creative powerhouse. With the serious stuff out of the way, it's time to talk rules, rituals and ridiculous snacks. Kenny shares the one design rule he tries not to break (but sometimes does) and how his relationship with creativity has evolved from being a perfectionist to embracing a more open, collaborative approa...
Jul 02, 2025•20 min•Season 9Ep. 164
He branded the Oscars. Designed the iconic Ready to Die album cover. Created film campaigns for Inglourious Basterds, West Side Story, Dune and more. In this episode, our founding editor Katy Cowan chats with creative director Kenny Gravillis , the East London-born designer who's helped shape the visual language of contemporary film. The founder of Gravillis Inc. , Kenny shares how he went from designing panty shield ads to working at Def Jam by age 21, and later building a studio in LA that now...
Jun 29, 2025•59 min•Season 9Ep. 163
In this joyful, laugh-out-loud episode of The Spark, our founding editor Katy Cowan sits down (again!) with the brilliant Emily Jeffrey-Barrett, founder of creative agency Among Equals , to continue where they left off—with less business chat and more banter. Expect everything from shameful Brownie troop confessions and controversial creative opinions (spoiler: she doesn't think we're artists), to what it's like flying business class for the first time and being traumatised by cyclists in London...
Jun 25, 2025•33 min•Season 9Ep. 162
In this candid and energising conversation, our host, Katy Cowan, sits down with Emily Jeffrey-Barrett, founder of creative agency Among Equals , to mark its fifth anniversary. From launching in lockdown with nothing but patio furniture and ambition to opening a second office in Dubai, Emily shares the real story of building an agency entirely on her own terms. They talk openly about what it means to take up space as a woman in business: being talked over, underestimated, and navigating the exha...
Jun 22, 2025•53 min•Season 9Ep. 161
Welcome back to The Spark, your extra dose of insight and fun from this week's guest. Today, Adrian Carroll of D8 returns to answer a few quick-fire questions—and as you'd expect from someone with decades of experience, his answers are full of wisdom and wit. Adrian shares his most controversial creative opinion (and it's a good one), the best advice he's ever received, and the one ordinary day he'd relive if he could. He also reveals the word that gets on his nerves the most, his favourite plac...
Jun 18, 2025•29 min•Season 9Ep. 160
In this episode, our founding editor Katy Cowan sits down with Adrian Carroll, co-founder and executive creative director of D8 , a leading creative agency with studios in Glasgow, Amsterdam, and beyond. With over 26 years in the industry, Adrian reflects on the constant change he's weathered—from the dawn of the internet to economic crises, the rise of social media, and the latest wave of AI disruption. They talk candidly about starting out in the late '90s, why human relationships still sit at...
Jun 15, 2025•53 min•Season 9Ep. 159
In this bonus Spark episode, Emma Barratt returns for a funny, honest, and brilliantly unfiltered chat with Katy Cowan. She takes on some of our favourite quick-fire questions — from the best advice she's ever received to the song she'd like played at her funeral. Emma shares her most controversial creative opinion (spoiler: not everything is "transformative"), the word that gives her the ick, and why she relates most to an octopus. She also opens up about OCD rituals, arguments she has to win, ...
Jun 11, 2025•36 min•Season 9Ep. 158
In this raw and energising conversation, Katy Cowan is joined by Emma Barratt , global executive creative director at Wolff Olins , to talk about class in the creative industry, imposter syndrome, and the kind of diversity we don't discuss enough. With honesty, grit, and a huge amount of heart, Emma opens up about her working-class roots in Salford, the long road into the design world, and the resilience it took to get to the top. They explore why the industry still has a long way to go when it ...
Jun 08, 2025•50 min•Season 9Ep. 157
In this bonus episode, Liz Mosley returns for a relaxed, thoughtful catch-up with Katy Cowan. They chat about building confidence, embracing cringe, and the joy of just having a go — plus Liz answers some of our favourite Spark questions. From the best advice she's ever received to a dream she can’t forget, Liz shares her most controversial creative opinion, the word that drives her mad, and the one ordinary day she'd relive if she could. Warm, funny, and full of heart — it's a lovely listen for...
Jun 04, 2025•27 min•Season 9Ep. 156
In this laugh-out-loud, heart-on-sleeve conversation, Katy Cowan is joined by branding designer and podcast host Liz Mosley to explore the messy, magical world of podcasting. With over 120 episodes of the Building Your Brand podcast behind her, Liz shares the honest truth: podcasting isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up as yourself. Together, Katy and Liz dive into the highs and lows of running a podcast (awkward endings included), why less polished content often resonates more, and h...
Jun 01, 2025•59 min•Season 9Ep. 155
In this bonus episode, The Spark, we welcome back Sam Gilbey , the pop culture illustrator whose work brings our favourite films to life, for a lighter, more personal chat. After Monday's nostalgic deep dive into his creative journey, Sam returns to answer some of our signature questions, offering a glimpse of the person behind the prints. From his controversial view on talent (spoiler: he's not sure it exists) to why OK Computer still hits after all these years, Sam talks about creativity with ...
May 28, 2025•26 min•Season 9Ep. 154
This week, we’re joined by the brilliant Sam Gilbey – a celebrated illustrator known for his detailed, painted portraits of cult movie characters, iconic pop culture figures, and, more recently, football heroes. In a lively and nostalgic conversation, Sam and host Katy Cowan explore what it means to survive and thrive as a creative today — through economic downturns, industry disruption, and the ever-looming rise of AI. From early web design adventures and building Weetabix’s first website, to b...
May 25, 2025•59 min•Season 9Ep. 153
In this bonus episode, The Spark, we welcome back Gnome Taylor , senior creative at Grey London, for a lighter, more personal chat. After Monday's powerful conversation on resilience, Gnome returns to answer some of our signature questions—giving us a glimpse of the person behind the job title. From why kindness is the best lesson she's learned in her career, to the odd comfort she gets from even numbers, Gnome shares stories with humour and heart. We talk about the ideas she's proud of (even th...
May 21, 2025•18 min•Season 9Ep. 152
This week, we chat with Gnome Taylor , senior creative at Grey London, about the resilience it takes to make it in the creative industries—especially when life starts out tough. Gnome shares her incredible journey from growing up in foster care to carving out a thriving career in advertising. With honesty and humour, she reflects on the chaos of her early years, the stereotypes she battled, and the pivotal moment that made her decide to change her life. From raising over £26,000 to attend the Sc...
May 18, 2025•46 min•Season 9Ep. 151
Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we share a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration—and this season, we've switched things up. Each Spark now features a bonus conversation with our guest from earlier in the week. Today, we're once again joined by the award-winning creative director, Christine Smith , who returned for a little more fun—and a few unexpected surprises. Christine shared some brilliant insights on Monday's ...
May 14, 2025•30 min•Season 9Ep. 150
In this episode, Katy is joined by award-winning creative director Christine Smith to explore the topic of role models and their critical importance, particularly for women in the creative industries. Christine shares her personal journey of navigating a male-dominated field, describing how she spent her early career without any female figures to look up to. This gradual realisation shaped her mission to become the kind of role model she never had, especially for the next generation of fearless ...
May 11, 2025•51 min•Season 9Ep. 149
Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration. And this season, we've switched things up. Each Spark now features a bonus conversation with our week's guest. Today, we're joined once again by Kiser Barnes, partner and CCO at Red Antler , who returns for some quick-fire fun. Kiser joined us on Monday to explore the intersection of creativity and technology, and why optimism and ...
May 07, 2025•19 min•Season 9Ep. 148
What does creativity look like in a world increasingly shaped by technology and AI? In this episode, Katy Cowan speaks with Kiser Barnes , partner and chief creative officer at Red Antler , about the evolving relationship between technology and creativity. Together, they explore how AI presents both thrilling opportunities and existential challenges for the creative industry. Kiser emphasises the critical role of storytelling, optimism, and authenticity as we move into an increasingly AI-driven ...
May 04, 2025•51 min•Season 9Ep. 147
Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration. And this season, we've switched things up. Now, each Spark features a bonus conversation with our week's guest. For this first revamped episode, we're joined by Michael Johnson, the founder of Johnson Banks, who returns to have some fun. Michael joined us on Monday to explore whether we're living through a phase where all design lo...
Apr 30, 2025•19 min•Season 9Ep. 146
Are we in a phase where all design looks the same? In this thought-provoking episode, host Katy Cowan is joined by Michael Johnson, the founder of Johnson Banks , to explore the creeping sameness in today’s visual landscape. From swirling animations to hyper-minimalist logos, we unpack why charities, fintechs, and universities now often look indistinguishable. Is it the influence of AI, digital platforms, or a case of designers chasing trends too quickly? Or is it the ongoing economic uncertaint...
Apr 27, 2025•57 min•Season 9Ep. 145
'Twas the night before deadline, and all through the house, not a keyboard was silent, not even the mouse... Welcome to a very festive edition of The Creative Boom Podcast. As another year draws to a close, it's time to wrap up projects, reflect on your achievements, and embrace the magic of the holiday season. In this special episode, founding editor and podcast host Katy Cowan invites some favourite past guests to share their holiday plans, personal traditions, and playful answers to questions...
Dec 19, 2024•3 hr 39 min•Season 8Ep. 144
In this final episode of the season for The Creative Boom Podcast, host Katy Cowan is joined by the inspiring Jessi Brattengeier , Creative Director at The New York Times. This engaging conversation takes a closer look at the world of design, storytelling, and the culture behind one of the world's most iconic publications. Jessi shares what it's like to shape and innovate within the established identity of The New York Times. From the annual State of the Times event to internal branding initiati...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 8Ep. 143
Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to carry you through the week. Whether you need motivation or insights, we've got you covered! This week, we welcomed Joseph Parsons to the podcast. By day, Joseph is a freelance graphic designer, and by night, he takes to the stage as a stand-up comedian. His dual career path sparked a fascinating...
Dec 12, 2024•11 min•Season 8Ep. 142
This week on The Creative Boom Podcast, our host Katy Cowan welcomes Joseph Parsons , a graphic designer by day and stand-up comedian by night. In this lively and candid conversation, they explore Joseph's unconventional journey from the structured design world to the unpredictable comedy stage. Joseph opens up about how his dual careers have shaped his creative path, shedding light on the challenges of juggling freelance graphic design with the demands of stand-up. They discuss the resilience n...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 8Ep. 141
Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to carry you through the week. Whether you need motivation or insights, we've got you covered! This week on the podcast, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting Christopher Doyle , who brightened up the winter gloom with his Aussie warmth and charm. He opened up about something we don't talk about ...
Dec 05, 2024•9 min•Season 8Ep. 140
This week, The Creative Boom Podcast brings a ray of sunshine with Christopher Doyle, the award-winning founder and creative director of Christopher Doyle & Co. , based in Sydney, Australia. Over nearly two decades, Christopher has built an impressive career filled with accolades, global talks, and a reputation for bringing a candid and refreshing perspective to the creative industry. In this episode, Christopher shares his reflections on what he calls "The Great Unknown", an honest explorat...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 8Ep. 139
Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast. Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to carry you through the week. Whether you need motivation or insights, we've got you covered! This week, we were joined by Barrington Reeves , founder and creative director at Too Gallus , a Glasgow-based studio shaking up the traditional agency model. We looked into the evolving landscape of crea...
Nov 28, 2024•11 min•Season 8Ep. 138
In this week's episode, we explore what it takes to shake up the traditional agency model with Barrington Reeves, founder and creative director of Too Gallus , a Glasgow-based studio that's rewriting the rules of the creative industry. Barrington has carved out a niche by building a lean, culture-driven studio that thrives in an increasingly fast-paced sector. Through our conversation, he shares how Too Gallus has embraced the disruption of traditional agency structures, demonstrating that small...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 8Ep. 137
Welcome to The Spark—your weekly creative pick-me-up from The Creative Boom Podcast . Every Thursday, we bring you a shorter, snappier episode filled with inspiration, creative news, and practical tips to carry you through the week. Whether you need motivation or insights, we've got you covered! This week, host Katy Cowan sat down with Khyati Trehan , a designer and 3D visual artist currently based at Google Creative Lab in New York. Khyati shared a glimpse into one of the most innovative creati...
Nov 21, 2024•12 min•Season 8Ep. 136
In this episode, host Katy Cowan welcomes Khyati Trehan , a designer and 3D visual artist at Google Creative Lab in New York, to share a glimpse into one of the most innovative spaces in the design world. Known for her unique balance of intense creative work and personal projects, Khyati shares the intricacies of her role at Google, a place synonymous with cutting-edge technology and endless experimentation. While she can't disclose everything, Khyati's stories provide an inspiring look at what ...
Nov 18, 2024•58 min•Season 8Ep. 135
