Revision Path

Kevin White calls himself a "UX strategist", but that title barely scratches the surface of what he does. Aside from his work as a senior experience designer, he's also a talented illustrator, a design educator, and a devoted family man. But according to Kevin, his origin story as a design professional is an example of what not to do. (Naturally, I had to know more about this.) We started off talking about the ubiquity of UX in today's modern design industry, and from there Kevin goes into the early days of his career, and we take a slight detour to discuss social media, sound design, branding, and even the historical archives of the Internet! We touched on a lot of topics in our conversation, but I think what stands out the most is that there is no one true path to becoming a designer. Learn more about Kevin in this week's interview! Kevin White's Website Kevin White on Twitter Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-

Jarrett Key creates works that transcend multiple boundaries. As a fine artist, Jarrett uses hair -- like, literally painting with their entire head of hair -- to make pieces that are full of life, passion, and tension. Speaking of tension, I just happened to have the chance to talk to Jarrett during a particularly tense time in life right now -- graduate school! We started off talking about what it's like adjusting to being back in Providence, Rhode Island, and Jarrett spoke about the decision to return and what they hope to gain from this experience. Jarrett also listed their artistic influences, remembered life growing up in the South, explained what people tend to get wrong about art, and more. According to Jarrett, everyone has a story to share if they take the time to dig deep and discover what it is. Hopefully this interview inspires you to do just that! Jarrett Key's Website Jarrett Key on Instagram Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll

Leah Gilliam is a force. As an award-winning artist, she uses technology to tell stories, bring awareness to issues, and to ask questions about important topics. And as a design strategist, she lends her expertise with building inclusive spaces to organizations like Out in Tech and Girls Who Code, where she currently serves as VP of strategy and innovation. Did I mention she's also a creator who has made everything from 16mm films to interactive installations to board games? Like I said, Leah Gilliam is a force. We sat down to talk about how she first got involved in design strategy, and from there we explored her work as an artist and a teacher, and dove into topics surrounding creativity, finding balance, solving projects, and the notion of a Black queer design aesthetic. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to share Leah's story and her work with you, so make sure you take a listen! Leah Gilliam on Wikipedia Leah Gilliam on Twitter Leah Gilliam at Out in Tech Help support Revision Path by becoming

Thanks to engineers like Courtney Wilburn, your favorite sites can stay online even when they're getting slammed with visitors. And as the lead DevOps engineer for the popular product review site Wirecutter, she definitely knows her stuff when it comes to the Web. During our conversation, we talked about how she first got interested in DevOps, and Courtney shared some of the tools she uses, and how she took a non-traditional path into tech after college. She also discussed some skills that designers can hone to help out DevOps engineers, and she spoke about how bringing your full self to work helps with creative freedom. So the next time you're browsing the web and you think about what it takes to keep websites running smoothly, think of Courtney! Courtney Wilburn's Website Courtney Wilburn on Instagram Courtney Wilburn on Twitter Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-o

The multitalented Courtney La Prince is a true go-getter! Her focus on delivering the best experiences she can for users goes through all her work, and you'll definitely pick up on that during our conversation. We started off with Courtney talking about her current work at The Home Depot, and she talked about what brought her back to Atlanta to continue her career. Courtney also runs Inspire. Motiv8. Design. Creative Studio, so we spoke a bit about entrepreneurship in Atlanta and what she hopes to achieve in the next five years. No matter the obstacle, Courtney's drive and passion to succeed will get her through! Courtney La Prince's Website Courtney La Prince on Twitter Courtney La Prince on Instagram Inspire. Motiv8. Design. Creative Studio BITCON2018 takes place October 11-13 in Minneapolis, and it's the premier event for Black professionals in the tech industry! There's over 40 speakers, two dozen workshops, networking parties, a career fair, a pitch competition for startups, and more. You don't wa

I first met Jordan in our Slack community, and ever since then, he's been a part of helping foster Revision Path's community. Currently, Jordan works as a research coordinator for the MyPEEPS project at the University of Washington, and helps use his skills in UX design and research to help social impact organizations and projects. We talked about his current work at UW, and Jordan shared how he fell into UX design and research by accident after years of work in public health. From there, we talked about our experience meeting at XOXO this year, and had a great discussion about the importance of queer people in design. Jordan is committed to creating great design for social change, so definitely keep an eye out for more of his work in the future! Jordan Green's Website Jordan Green on Twitter Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future epis

I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the end of this year's HBCU Month on Revision Path (as well as this year's World Interaction Design Day) than with a conversation with Marcus Mosby. Marcus is a senior interaction designer at Fjord in Austin, TX, and his passion lies in designing and creating experiences that help improve the lives of users everywhere. We started off with an introduction to interaction design, and Marcus talked about the processes and tools he uses, and gave tips for other designers looking to get into the field. From there, we talked about his time at Clark Atlanta University, and he shared what it's like to design for different cultural considerations, and even gave us a peek at his photography work! There are a lot of paths you can take to get into design, and Marcus wants you to know that the sky's the limit! Marcus Mosby on LinkedIn Marcus Mosby on Instagram Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-t

When I stumbled across Cary Michael Robinson's work, I knew I had to have him on the show. He's got his hands in a lot of different aspects of art and design, and has even turned that into a series of entrepreneurial ventures in the DMV area. We started off talking about Cary Michael's day job with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and he gave a breakdown as to the importance of patents, trademarks and copyrights for creative makers. From there, Cary Michael shared his story of learning art at FAMU, and even shared some tips for designers on how to nail their own personal brand. Cary Michael is a true testament to living your life's purpose through your passion, and I hope his story helps you pursue your inspirations! Cary Michael Robinson's Website Cary Michael Robinson on Facebook Cary Michael Robinson on Instagram Cary Michael Robinson on Twitter Artbae Online Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes acc

As a working artist, it can be a constant battle between unchallenged freedom of expression and doing what you need to do to survive and put food on the table. Artist and designer Kendrick Daye has successfully found a way to bridge this divide, and I'm glad to have a chance to talk with him about how he manages that balance in the city that never sleeps. We talked about Kendrick's vibrant mixed media collage style and he shared where his inspiration comes from for his work. We also talked about what his time was like as a student at Morehouse, and how those experiences shaped him into the artist he is today. Kendrick wants his work to inspire others to do their own thing, and at this rate, I think he's well on his way to make that happen! Kendrick Daye's Website Kendrick Daye on Instagram Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future episode

As a creative, Delanie West contains multitudes. She has over 20 years of experience in the design industry across product development, packaging, experience design, and creative global sourcing. She's lead creative teams, served on executive committees, and has been influential in mentoring designers and developers from all over. Delanie is also the brains behind BeSuperCreative, a consultancy that helps people and organizations bring their creative ideas to life. We talked about how she got her start in design from an ad in The New York Times, what she looks for when hiring for creative teams, her time at Hampton University, and a lot more. Delanie's goal is to help designers evolve their career past just delivering on a creative brief, so make sure you pay attention to her advice in this week's episode! Delanie West's Website Delanie West on Instagram Delanie West on Twitter BeSuperCreative Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behi

When I first had the idea to do a month dedicated to Atlanta's art scene, Sean Fahie's name immediately came to mind. Sean really does it all -- he's a designer, an artist, an illustrator, an author, a film maker, a podcaster, and more. I knew that this conversation was really going to be a good one, and Sean did not disappoint. Sean started off talking about the release of his third book, Chocolate Covered Honey Buns, and he spoke about what it's like for him as a working artist. Sean also talked about what drew him to Atlanta, how the city has changed over the years, and we take some questions from the Revision Path audience as well! He even shared some of the Atlanta artists we should all look out for, and talked about his upcoming book tour (coming to a city near you). Thank you Sean for representing Atlanta and for sharing your talents with the world! Sean Fahie's Website Sean Fahie on Instagram Sean Fahie on Twitter Sean Fahie on Facebook The Influencers Present podcast Things About Women and Oth

Atlanta is a city full of possibilities, and Lisa Babb is the kind of person who not only sees them all, but encourages others to see them as well. As an educator, Lisa teaches the next generation of designers that there is room for the table for them in this industry. And as assistant director at Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), she also helps bring design and art into the local community. Our conversation started off with a closer look at MODA and talking about how Lisa got her start as a designer and what eventually drew her to Atlanta. From there, we discussed the state of the design community here in the city, as well as how design education has changed over the years. If you're ever in Atlanta, head on down to MODA and say hi! Lisa Babb on LinkedIn Lisa Babb on Instagram Museum of Design Atlanta Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to f

Fahamu Pecou and his art push boundaries, challenge classic representations, and have solidified his place as one of the most important contemporary artists of the 21st century. His work combines observations on hip-hop, the fine art world, and pop culture, and this is expressed through paintings, performance art, and academic work as well. I was really lucky to get a chance to talk with Fahamu fresh off his most recent accomplishment -- earning his PhD from Emory University! Our conversation started with Fahamu giving a retrospective on his work, and talked about his multidisciplinary practice and hinted at his next project. Fahamu also talked about his journey to Atlanta, how the city helped shape him as an artist, and how he sees Atlanta as a city for the arts. I also asked how his work has been perceived as his public profile has grown, and I think you'll definitely want to hear Fahamu's answer about that. If you haven't heard of Fahamu Pecou before now, I guarantee you'll come away from this interview wi

Atlanta's own Goldi Gold describes himself as a "blue collar" digital illustrator, but his hustle and quality of work are top notch. As a fixture of Atlanta's art scene, Goldi makes sure he's out there making sure people see art in person. We talked about how he got started as an illustrator, and what inspires his unique style. From there, Goldi talked about what drew him to Atlanta, and what follows is a candid discussion about how the city treats art and artists, and talks about what motivates him to create day after day. Goldi is a true working artist, y'all -- support your local artist! Goldi Gold's Website Buy Goldi Gold's Work Goldi Gold on Instagram Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future episodes, and a lot more! Join today! We're on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher! Visit https://revisionpath.com/iTunes, https:/

Creative director Ida Woldemichael is definitely someone to keep your eye on! Currently she's working for Everytown for Gun Safety, but before that, she served as design lead for Hillary for America and even coined the campaign's widely-used catchphrase "I'm With Her"! Our conversation began by talking about Ida's current role, and from there we went into her work for the Hillary for America campaign and what she learned during that time. Ida also teaches at NYU, so she shared what she's learned from her students and where she design going into the future. Thank you Ida for showing how design has a huge impact on the world around us! Ida Woldemichael's Website In our new advice column Ask Siedah, designer, writer and entrepreneur Siedah Mitchum answers your questions about career, design and more! Send your questions to asksiedah@revisionpath.com and we'll answer them in a future column! Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive be

One thing that can be hard for new designers to grasp is that users are the most important part of design. Shaw Strothers is a huge advocate of this, and it's reflected in his work at UX lead at User Insight in Atlanta, GA. Shaw started off talking about how he got into UX after a start in computer science and an early start as an industrial designer. From there, he talked about Hue Design Summit, an annual event put on by Shaw and the Hue Collective for design professionals of color, and we spoke about the Atlanta design scene and how it's evolved over the years. Thanks to Shaw for not only a great conversation, but for bringing a design event like Hue Design Summit to the city! Shaw Strothers' Website <li><a href="https://twitter.com/designershaw">Shaw Strothers on Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/designershaw06/">Shaw Strothers on Instagram</a></li> <li><a href="https://huedesignsummit.com">

So there's a bit of history behind this interview with the mononymous Toronto-based designer Nuff. He was one of the first people I reached out to over five years ago when Revision Path began, and while we've kept in touch since then, it's only until now that I've been able to get an interview with him. And let me tell you...it was worth the wait. We touch on a lot of different topics during our interview, including the Toronto design scene, his creative process behind his digital and physical works, staying creative in the face of impostor syndrome, and more. It's a pretty comprehensive look at someone who has been forging his own path in this industry while staying true to his ideals. Nuff's Website Nuff on Twitter Nuff on Instagram Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates, early access to future episodes, and a lot more! Join today! In our new advice column

For our 250th episode, I'm so honored to bring you this conversation with creative director, graphic designer, and entrepreneur Julian Alexander. Julian may be most well known for designing the album cover for 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Trying, and his design work on the Miles Davis box set The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions even earned him a GRAMMY for art direction! Even with those huge accolades under his belt, Julian is a really humble guy, and I think that really comes through in the interview. We talked about how he got his start in design, his time as a design director for Sony Music, and I asked how his career changed for him after winning the GRAMMY. We also discussed the relationship between design and music, some of his current projects through his studio Slang Inc., and gave some really great advice for designers of all levels. Julian is a true champion for design and designers, and I'm so glad to be able to share his story with you all. Cheers to 250 episodes of Revision Path! Slang Inc. Slang

There's no single way to becoming a designer these days, which I suppose is one of the most interesting things about this industry. Mikell Fine Iles, for example, grew up in San Francisco around art and design, went to Clark-Atlanta University for school, studied more design in Denmark, and worked for agencies Noise and JWT before his current position at Bloomberg as design director. And there's more! We started our conversation talking about Mikell's day-to-day work at Bloomberg, and from there talked about his time in Atlanta as a student and young professional, discussed what HBCUs can do to prepare the next generation of designers, and he talked about his time studying design in Denmark! Mikell's talent, drive and hustle have really helped propel him to success. Mikell Fine Iles' Website Mikell Fine Iles on LinkedIn Help support Revision Path by becoming a monthly patron on Patreon! For just $5 per month, you’ll receive behind-the-scenes access to Revision Path, including special patron-only updates,

If you have followed me and Revision Path since at least 2015, then you'll hopefully recognize how powerfully significant this week's guest is. Cheryl D. Miller holds many titles -- visual artist, designer, author, writer, and theologian. Her trailblazing 1985 graduate thesis at Pratt Institute helped fuel the conversation about diversity in design for Black designers and designers of color -- a conversation we're still continuing over 30 years later. Cheryl and I talk about her multicultural upbringing, her time as a student at MICA and Pratt, and she shared her memories of life as a designer in NYC during the 80s and 90s. We also spoke about the latest chapter of Cheryl's design career -- the acquisition of her personal work archive by Stanford University! Cheryl is living design history, and I'm so glad to be able to share her story here with you all! Cheryl D. Miller's Website <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CDHolmesMiller/">Cheryl D. Miller on Facebook</a></li>