Revision Path

With over 220 million worldwide subscribers across over 190 countries, it's hard to imagine pop culture without the media juggernaut that we know as Netflix. But how do they manage to distribute and create so much, while also maintaining a top-class user experience for so many people? It's thanks to geniuses like this week's guest -- Husani Oakley.Husani talked about stepping into his role as Director of Creative Practices during the pandemic, and shared how his team helps define the art and science of great creative work at a huge scale. He also spoke about how his previous stints as CTO of online investment platform Goldbean and CTO of advertising firm Deutsch NY helped prepare him for the biggest role of his career. It takes a lot of work and nuance to create experiences for global and local audiences, and Husani is the right person to make those experiences happen!LinksHusani Oakley's 2014 InterviewHusani Oakley's WebsiteHusani Oakley on InstagramHusani Oakley on TwitterFor extended show notes, including

If Austin, Texas had a contest for "Hometown Design Hero", I think Russell Toynes would definitely win the grand prize! Russell is the founder and creative director of Studio Dzo, a multi-disciplinary design-build studio that works with developers, architects, interior designers, and other business owners to elevate their work and help bring it to life. On top of that, he's also an adjunct professor covering portfolio development at Austin Community College, and is a core team member of African American Graphic Designers, the largest collective of African-American and Black visual communicators. Talk about being active in your community!Russell talked about rebounding and rebuilding during the pandemic, sharing how his team adjusted and how he changed his business focus to keep productivity high and focus on his employees' mental health. He also spoke on growing up in Austin, working as an art director at Dell, and his love for giving back and helping the next generation of designers. Russell is living proof

Can you believe we're almost a quarter of the way through 2022 already? I think now might be a perfect time for a creative tune-up, and this week's guest is a true instigator of inspiration -- Kevin Carroll. As a founder, author, and public speaker, Kevin's words and his work have influenced hundreds of thousands of people all over the world to tap into their creativity and accomplish epic tasks.Our conversation touches on a number of topics, including success, longevity, curiosity, and perseverance. Kevin talked about growing up in Philly, being a linguistics expert in the Air Force, his time at Nike, and talks about how you can find your own “red rubber ball.” Kevin’s words were just what I needed to hear right now, and I hope they will encourage you as well. Trust me, you’ll want to listen to this episode multiple times!LinksKevin Carroll’s WebsiteKevin Carroll on InstagramKevin Carroll on LinkedInKevin Carroll on TwitterFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revision

Running your own design studio is no small feat, but design professionals like Rob Martin make it look easy. As the founder and creative principal of Majorminor, he and his team have done branding and digital work for a number of clients for over a decade, including ICA, Complex, and Sony. On top of that, Rob is a talented musician and producer who goes by the name RCA. That guitar you see in the photo ain't just for show!We started our conversation with a quick 2022 check-in, and from there Rob talked about the ins and outs of running Majorminor, working with clients, and the types of projects he wants to branch out and tackle. Rob also spoke about growing up in the Bay Area, attending Sacramento State University and working for a few companies before striking out on his own. We even chatted about his music and his upcoming gig at SXSW this year! Rob is proof that being true to yourself is the real key to success!>/p>LinksMajorminorMajorminor on InstagramMajorminor on TwitterRCAFor extended show notes, inclu

With a name like Magnus Atom, I had a feeling I was going to be talking with someone extraordinary. This award-winning motion graphics designer and commercial artist has an impressive roster of clients, including Headspace, Viceland, Playboy, MTV, and Lil Uzi Vert. On top of that, he recently received a coveted Young Guns award! Very impressive!I caught up with Magnus a few months after his win, and he talked about working as an animation director with Strange Beast and settling down in upstate New York after a recent stint in Miami. He also spoke about going to the "Fame" high school in NYC, how his father inspired him to be an artist, and what he's got his sights set on for this year. With a name like Magnus Atom, I've got a feeling we'll definitely hear more from him in the future!LinksMagnus Atom's WebsiteMagnus Atom on InstagramFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Follow and SubscribeLike this episode? Then subscribe to us on Apple Podca

It's no secret that stories from comic books and graphic novels have dominated the pop culture landscape since the early 2000s. However, the heroes in those stories that you see often don't represent the true diversity out there in the real world. That's where Manuel Godoy comes in. As the CEO of Black Sands Entertainment, he is the engine behind one of the most exciting and barrier-braking publishing houses in the nation. And with over 5,000 investors and over 200,000 books sold, it's easy to see why!We started our conversation fresh off of Manuel's recent Shark Tank appearance, and he talked about how his company stands apart from other indie publishers, and how he's leveraged social media to build a massive base of supporters and investors. Manuel also spoke about his time in the military, how he's scaled Black Sands Entertainment over the years, and where he wants to take the company in the future. Hollywood, watch out -- Manuel has created a movement that has no signs of stopping!LinksManuel Godoy on Lin

It's our anniversary! For this special episode, I dug way back in the archives and talked to one of our early guests, Joe Blau. He was a software engineer then, but seven years have passed, and now he's an angel investor and the founder and CEO of his own company -- Atomize.We started chatting about the past seven years, and Joe talked about his time working for Uber and how that experience got him involved in crypto. We also talked about smart contracts, Web3, the metaverse, and a lot more. Stay tuned for the story I give near the end!Thank you all so much for allowing me to bring these amazing interviews to you since 2013!LinksJoe Blau's 2015 InterviewJoe Blau on TwitterAtomizedeploy.capitalFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========28 Days of the WebSince 2014, 28 Days of the Web has featured a different web designer, graphic designer, or web developer every day for the month of February in conjunction with and celebration of Black History Month

Azeez Alli-Balogun came highly recommended by several former guests, so I knew that a great conversation was going to happen. Azeez currently works as a lead product designer on the globalization team at Netflix, and he's also a co-founder of Design to Divest. But if you think that's all there is to Azeez's story, then think again!We started off with a quick 2022 check-in, and then he talked about his plan to work on more Black-focused design projects, and also gave a glimpse at what it's like working at Netflix. From there, Azeez spoke about growing up in Louisiana, becoming a jewelry designer, and how he transitioned into product design. We also spent some time talking about Design to Divest and Azeez shared what he wants the organization to accomplish in the future. Everyone has the power to make change with design, and Azeez is a prime example of this!LinksAzeez Alli-Balogun on InstagramAzeez Alli-Balogun on LinkedInDesign to DivestFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, vi

If you're in the know about the DC design scene, then this week's guest probably needs no introduction. Reece Quiñones is a force for good when it comes to design, whether it's in her role at The Hatcher Group as executive VP and creative director, or by teaching the next generation of designers as an adjunct professor at George Mason University. And she doesn't stop there!Reece talked to me about an average day for her at The Hatcher Group, and talked about growing up in DC and being exposed to architecture and art at a young age. She also spoke on her work experiences before The Hatcher Group, and gave some great perspective about being a long-time design educator, including what she feels design students want from the design industry these days. As a designer, you can never stop learning, and Reece Quiñones is a prime example of how you can use your skills to give back to your community!LinksReece Quiñones' WebsiteReece Quiñones on LinkedInThe Hatcher GroupFor extended show notes, including a full transcri

February is our anniversary month, and we're kicking things off with an interview with design educator and researcher Omari Souza. Longtime listeners of the show may remember Omari's first appearance on Revision Path back in 2017, and let me tell you, a lot has changed in four years!We start off talking about Omari's latest venture, the State of Black Design conference, and he went into the ins and outs of organizing it, and even gave a sneak peek on what to expect from this year's event. He also spoke about teaching at Texas State University, his latest research focus, and the state of design education and how he's grown as a designer. Revision Path is proud to work with State of Black Design, so you can definitely expect to see more of Omari's contributions in the future!LinksOmari Souza's 2017 interviewOmari Souza on InstagramOmari Souza on LinkedInFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========28 Days of the WebSince 2014, 28 Days of the Web has fe

After years of asking questions to designers and developers all over the world, now I'm in the hot seat! For this special mailbag episode, I answer your questions about Revision Path that you sent in from our website and via social media. (And I have to say, you all definitely asked me some hard questions!)How long does it take to put together a podcast episode, and have I ever had to take an episode down? What happened to our design anthology RECOGNIZE? Why did we have Facebook as a sponsor? What are my thoughts on AIGA? And why do we charge for job listings? Listen to this episode for the answers to these questions, and several others. Keep sending us your questions, and I may do another one of these episodes in the future!For extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========28 Days of the Web is back for it's 9th installment! Since 2014, 28 Days of the Web has featured a different web designer, graphic designer, or web developer every day for the month of

We're headed to the Great White North this week to meet someone that I learned about while doing a deep dive on Nigerian artists. Emmanuel Nwogbo is a visual artist based out of Montréal, and to me, his work reminds me so much of the creativity and fun that design can create.We chatted right around his first anniversary of moving to Canada, and we discussed his day job as a graphic designer, and how his passion for the arts inspired him to leave Lagos. We also talked about his 365 James Bond Characters project -- a series of designs and compositions paying homage to characters in the 007 Universe. Emmanuel's quiet confidence is one of his biggest strengths, so don't be surprised if you see his work in a gallery near you one day!LinksEmmanuel Nwogbo's WebsiteEmmanuel Nwogbo on FacebookEmmanuel Nwogbo on InstagramFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Sponsored by Brevity & WitBrevity & Wit is a strategy and design firm committed to desig

In the early 90s, there was this show on ABC called Phenom about a tennis prodigy. If Hollywood were to reboot that for the digital age, Xalavier Nelson Jr. would no doubt be the star of the show. His body of work rivals those of people in the gaming industry for decades!We kicked off our conversation talking about his studio, Strange Scaffold, and he spoke about several of the games he's either worked on or created, including An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs and the popular 90s Internet nostalgia title Hypnospace Outlaw. Xalavier also talked about his newest game, Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator, and he shared how his work as a pre-teen game journalist helped him become a narrative designer. Xalavier's prudent vision for finding better, faster, cheaper and healthier ways to make video games is so important, and I think that if he's making waves like this now, just imagine what he'll do in the future!LinksStrange ScaffoldStrange Scaffold on PatreonStrange Scaffold on YouTubeXalavier Nelson Jr

If you've been a longtime listener of Revision Path, then you probably already recognize this week's guest, Harrison Wheeler. Along with being a senior design manager at LinkedIn, he's also a podcaster with his own show called Technically Speaking. (And I've been a guest twice!)Our conversation started off with a peek into life at LinkedIn, and he talked about working and managing remotely, as well as about how he's changed as a manager over the years. We also talked shop about podcasting, the metaverse, the future of design in business, and Harrison shared some of the best career advice he's received. I love checking back in with guests and seeing just how they've grown over their career, and Harrison is proof that hard work and dedication pays off in the long run!LinksHarrison Wheeler on LinkedInHarrison Wheeler on TwitterTechnically Speaking with Harrison WheelerTechnically Speaking on LinkedInTechnically Speaking on TwitterFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revis

The introduction of the metaverse to the general public was one of the biggest topics in tech last year. As we all learn more about the metaverse and what it means for the future of the Internet, I thought it would be a fantastic idea this year to talk with some of the folks out there who are involved with the metaverse in some capacity.Meet Charlene Atlas, an interaction designer for undoubtedly one of the biggest companies to stake their claim in the metaverse -- Meta. We started off our conversation talking about her resolutions for this year, and she spoke about her work on the Reality Labs team. From there, we discussed the metaverse and some of Meta's plans, and Charlene shared how she became interested in technology, gaming, and eventually got into the AR/VR space.Charlene is just one of many people who are helping to create the future of the Internet, so I hope you get inspired by her work and discover a way to chart your own course!LinksCharlene Atlas' WebsiteCharlene Atlas on LinkedInCharlene Atlas

2021 has been quite a year for us all, including this week’s guest Alanna Flowers. This year, she became a full-time creative and launched her own business, AGF Design Studio, and I had the chance to talk to her in the midst of her very busy holiday schedule.Alanna gave me the rundown behind why she started her studio, how she plans to expand her services next year, and also gave some insight into her creative process. She also talked about growing up in NYC, the pros of art licensing, and how she builds her brand through social media.Thank you all for listening to Revision Path this year — onward to 2022!LinksAGF Design StudioAGF Design Studio on InstagramAGF Design Studio on YouTubeAlanna Flowers on InstagramAlanna Flowers on TwitterFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Sponsored by Brevity & WitBrevity & Wit is a strategy and design firm committed to designing a more inclusive and equitable world.We accomplish this through graphic d

Networking is a valuable skill for designers and creatives to have, which interestingly enough is how I met this week's guest: André Smith! His career has touched several fields -- advertising, music, education -- and now he runs his own firm called Appendix where he offers strategy and branding services for companies from all over the world. We talked about his recent shift back into agency life, and he shared a bit about his day-to-day work and gave a peek into his creative process. André also spoke about his time at Morehouse, his early post-grad career, attending NYU, and his forays into art curation and being a university lecturer. André's advice to Black creatives is simple: learn to think wider and deeper, and you'll find many opportunities to succeed. How will you expand your horizons? Happy Holidays from all of us here at Revision Path!LinksAndré Smith on InstagramAndré Smith on LinkedInAndré Smith on TwitterAppendixFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisio

When you think of people who are masters of their craft, there's no doubt that Vida Cornelious would be part of that list. Her 25+ year career in the advertising industry reads like a who's who of agency titans -- GlobalHue, DDB, Burrell Communications, Walter Isaccson...the list goes on. Now, Vida's latest role as VP of Creative for New York Times Advertising will allow her work to reach a global audience. After a quick end-of-year check-in, Vida spoke about her work at the Times and the launch of their first ever creative franchise called "Soul of Us." From there, she talked about growing up in New Jersey and being surrounded by the arts, attending the venerable Hampton University, and dove deep into some of the campaigns she created over the years before landing her current role. For Vida, the importance of mastery is key to her success, and it's definitely paid off in a big way!LinksVida Cornelious' WebsiteVida Cornelious on InstagramVida Cornelious on LinkedInVida Cornelious on TwitterFor extended show n

I think my conversation with this week's guest -- artist, musician, and designer Chris Burnett -- is probably the most chill interview I've done this year. Don't be fooled though -- Chris is a creative dynamo, and someone you should definitely keep your eyes out for in the future. We start off with a quick talk about the creative scene in Los Angeles, and from there he talks about being an artist at heart and how his current editorial design projects have been keeping him active. Chris also talked about growing up as a skate kid, attending Cal Arts, and scoring lucrative gigs including a stint with Nike, as well as designing for Odd Future. Chris calls himself a creative superhero, and if you trust your heart and spirit, so can you!LinksColibiri StudiosChris Burnett on SoundcloudFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Sponsored by Brevity & WitBrevity & Wit is a strategy and design firm committed to designing a more inclusive and equitab

November ends with a fantastic conversation with Matshoshi Matsafu, and let me tell you...she has lived. Lived, I tell ya! She currently works as a senior UX designer at Microsoft on their Flipgrid product, but that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what she does and what she's experienced. Matshoshi talked about growing up in South Africa and attending college in Johannesburg, relocating to South Korea to teach for a few years, and about her most recent move to Minneapolis and how life has unfolded in the years since then. She also spoke about being a Black creative in flux (and how to embrace it), the joys of embracing being a generalist, and shared what keeps her motivated and inspired as a creative. According to Matshoshi, being a Black creative is a myriad of things. So why not explore them all?LinksMatshoshi Matsafu's WebsiteMatshoshi Matsafu on InstagramMatshoshi Matsafu on TwitterAbolition Science, Matshoshi's podcastFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview,