Creative Capes

How can design create impact at a systems level, across business, government and the planet? Cat Drew has spent a large part of her career answering exactly that question.Chief Design Officer at Design Council, the UK's design body, set up nearly 80 years ago to help rebuild the post-war economy. Cat works at the intersection of design, business, policy and sustainability.Cat is also faculty member of our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4vsrYWRAs In our conversation, we explored how designers can better communicate their value, why sustainability belongs in every designer's toolkit, and what it takes to influence entire systems. What you'll learn:► How to build design's influence inside a large organisation, and make the business case for it, from Decathlon to Impossible Foods► Why sustainability and "skills for the planet" now belong in every designer's toolkit► How design can shape government policy, not just products👤 Who this episode is for: Chief Design Officers · Design Leaders · Heads of Design · Policy Makers · Sustainability Leads · and anyone curious about design's role in business, government and the planet00:00 Meet Cat Drew, Chief Design Officer at Design Council2:04 80 Years of Design Council: From Post-War Product Awards to Design for Planet6:45 Why Governments and Businesses Still Misunderstand the Word Design9:39 Design Speaks a Different Language Than Business 12:10 How to Build Design Influence Inside a Large Organisation14:33 Five Business Arguments for Design, With Case Studies From Decathlon to Impossible Foods19:04 What Governments Actually Care About: Design Economy vs Design for Policy23:54 Measuring Impact in the Public Sector From Vulnerable Families to Mental Health Access29:54 Salford Wetlands: A Design Solution That Solves Five Problems at Once32:34 Should Designers Even Use the Word "Design"?36:44 Introducing Skills for the Planet and the Weight of Design's Responsibility45:58 How Can Designers Advocate for the Planet49:31 Judging FLA's Executive Programme & What Design Leaders Are Building Next52:03 Q&A: B Corp Certification vs Measurable Regenerative Impact53:42 Q&A: Why Designers Need Hands in Soil and Feet in Rivers56:49 Q&A: Fixing Design Education for the Next Generation01:03:45 Q&A: Designing for Systems When Work Is Project-Based01:06:08 Q&A: Building a Business Case for Retainer-Based Sustainability Work01:10:35 Q&A: Who Kat Thinks We Should Invite Next to the Podcast & Why01:12:21 Q&A: Bridging a Career Into Purpose-Led WorkMore about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4vsrYWR

How design leaders build influence, navigate conflict, and lead across cultures. In this episode, Ekaterina sits down with Julia Whitney, executive coach and former General Manager and Executive Creative Director at the BBC, where she led a 150-person UX and design team.Julia spent over 20 years as a design leader across the UK and US before turning her experience into a coaching practice that helps design leaders at companies like Condé Nast, AWS, the Financial Times, and IDEO perform at their best.Julia is also a teacher at our Executive programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4fDlOirWhat you'll learn:► Why self-limiting beliefs about leadership are the hidden barrier for most design leaders► How to build sponsorship at the next level up — and why empathy is the first step► How cultural differences shape communication, hierarchy, and trust — and what to do about it► The four types of workplace conflict and why identifying them early changes everything👤 Who this episode is for:Design Leaders · Heads of Design · Creative Directors · UX Leaders · People Managers · Anyone going for a senior or C-level role · Anyone who's been passed over for promotion and wants to understand why00:00:00 Welcome, Julia Whitney, Executive Coach and former Executive Creative Director at BBC00:02:05 What design leaders most commonly struggle with00:04:20 Self-limiting beliefs and the leader you think you have to be00:07:25 How introverts can build influence without performing extroversion00:12:00 Levels of zoom: how leadership shifts at every career stage00:17:25 Why candidates get rejected for senior roles — and what to do instead00:20:00 How to build sponsorship at C-level using empathy00:27:25 Generational differences at work: what the research actually says00:36:20 Multi-hyphenate careers and the future of work00:40:25 Remote vs in-office: why it's more nuanced than you think00:46:55 The SCARF Model and why people resist change00:49:30 Leading multicultural teams and the Culture Map by Erin Meyer00:54:35 High-context vs low-context cultures and remote communication00:59:30 How to handle conflict: the broken record technique and four conflict types01:07:05 Centralising design in a broadcaster organisation01:13:45 Final thoughts and who Julia recommends we speak to next

By 26, Ivy Ross had jewellery in the permanent collections of 12 international museums, including the Smithsonian and V&A. She went on to hold executive roles at Calvin Klein, Swatch, Mattel, Gap, and Disney before arriving at Google, where her hardware design team has since won over 240 global design awards and helped Fast Company name Google the most important design company in the world in 2018. Her book Your Brain on Art, co-authored with neuroscientist Susan Magsamen, became a New York Times bestseller. She is one of the most creatively accomplished people working in business today. Future London Academy spent a day with her in London, during which Ivy has shared And if you are curious about our Executive Programme for Design Leader that Ivy teaches on, you can find more information here: https://fla.wiki/4evyOFI

How can designers reach the executive level, and what are their responsibilities and the impact they get to create?To find out, join our Design Executives Series with Tim Greenhalgh, Founder and Creative Director at Like a Moth and former Chief Creative Officer at Landor & Fitch, one of the most iconic creative agencies in the world.Tim is also faculty member of our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3RTKnxHOver more than 30 years, Tim has led a team of over 1,200 curious minds across 20 countries, creating award-winning brand experiences for clients including Apple, LEGO, and Adidas. During our live interview, Tim will share his mistakes and learnings, along with insights into leading at executive level.What you'll learn► How to create and maintain high-quality design standards, and motivate the team to "destroy the ordinary"► The value of design and creativity for business performance► Tim's journey from creative director to chief creative officer00:00 Meet Tim Greenhalgh — 40 years leading global creative at Fitch and Landor, now founder of Like a Moth02:00 What Tim learned from Rodney Fitch about the value of design05:15 How to justify the value of design to clients13:00 How to present bold creative ideas so clients say yes19:25 Why most creative briefs are just agendas and how to fix them23:35 What nobody tells you about being a chief creative officer33:10 Dealing with underperformers in creative teams without burning the culture35:30 Why there's no such thing as a bad project45:20 How Tim uses sight, insight, foresight to start every creative project52:40 Destroy Ordinary: the creative framework that united 26 global studios57:45 The future of craft, ideas and creative leadership01:06:00 How to sell the value of an idea (not just the design) to business leaders01:08:45 Has hybrid working destroyed studio culture?01:12:20 If you could change one thing in the world👤 Who this episode is for: Design Leaders · Creative Directors · Heads of Design · Agency Founders · Brand Strategists · Innovation Leads · and anyone curious about creativity, leadership, and businessTim is also faculty member of our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3RTKnxH

How IDEO uses play to solve real business problems. In this interview, Ekaterina sits down with Michelle Lee, IDEO Partner and Executive Managing Director of IDEO San Francisco. Michelle Lee began her career as an aerospace engineer, working on satellites, wondering why it took so long to launch one. A friend's room full of toys changed everything. What followed was a winding path through the toy industry: an internship at IDEO in 2004, a startup she spun out and left, and a return to lead the Play Lab. Over two decades, she brought over 250 products to market with Hasbro, Mattel, and Sesame Workshop, and today, she is Partner and Executive Managing Director of IDEO's San Francisco studio.In a recent conversation with Future London Academy, Michelle shared what she's learned about creativity, leadership, ambiguity, and why play is one of the most underestimated tools in business.What you'll learn:► Why play is a serious business tool, not a frivolous one► How to design a non-linear career by following curiosity rather than chasing titles► How to move from individual contributor into leadership without losing the craft► Why clients are partners, not customers, and how generosity builds trust► How to prove the ROI of design, play, and creativity using IDEO's POWER framework► How to use AI as a sparring partner without losing your creativity👤 Who this episode is for: Design Leaders · Product Designers · Heads of Design · Service Designers · Experience Designers · Creative Directors · Agency Founders · Innovation Leads · and anyone curious about creativity, leadership, and businessChapters:00:00 Welcome and why play matters in business05:30 How to design a non-linear career by following curiosity10:30 From individual contributor to leader without losing the craft17:00 Heart vs dollar sign: balancing creativity and business as a senior professional20:30 Why clients are partners, not customers24:30 How to step into senior leadership without going it alone29:30 The IDEO IQ framework and the ROI of play41:30 How to sit in ambiguity and why good friction matters48:30 How to convince business leaders that play drives results53:30 Cultivating IDEO's culture: concrete floors and rough prototypes01:01:30 AI at IDEO: rough, rapid, right prototyping in the AI era01:10:30 Earning design a seat at the table and more curiosity in the world

Nearly 30 years ago, James Hilton answered an ad in Creative Review, met a stranger named Ajaz Ahmed, and they signed Virgin as their first client. That was the beginning of AKQA.AKQA went on to win Grand Prix Cannes Lions, James was named the UK's number one digital creative director three times, and they were acquired by WPP for around $550 million. He also made the Creativity 50 alongside Jonathan Ive and Lady Gaga.What followed was a design studio, a custom motorcycle brand featured by Netflix and Top Gear, a Chief Creative Officer role at Native, and now a position inside Abbott, helping a 100,000-person healthcare company grow.James invited Future London Academy to his home outside London to chat about his journey. And if you are curious about our Executive Programme for Design Leader that James teaches on, you can find more information here: https://fla.wiki/42jCun400:00:00 — Meet James Hilton — The Design Leader Who Built AKQA Into a 6,000-Person Agency00:01:00 — Selling AKQA for £340M00:04:00 — What made AKQA succeed: obsession, craft & hiring people smarter than you00:09:00 — The founder's paradox: staying in the work vs. scaling a creative business00:11:00 — Building a Culture of Honest Feedback as a Creative Leadership Strategy00:16:00 — Over-delivering as a growth strategy: how AKQA became a trusted advisor00:28:00 — Life after AKQA: leaving, fear, and starting over from scratch00:37:00 — Imposter syndrome, catastrophic thinking & using data to fight anxiety00:44:00 — Stoicism as a leadership practice: the philosophy that changed everything00:49:00 — Design with a capital D: transforming organisations at scale (Abbott case study)00:53:00 — Why design leaders are a business value lever, not a visual service01:00:00 — AI as a design tool, post-scarcity futures & final advice for design leaders#designleadership #agencyfounder #

How Bompas & Parr built a creative agency that stands out.In this interview, Ekaterina sits down Sam Bompass. Nearly 20 years ago, Sam Bompas quit his job in property PR to make jelly. Since then, as co-founder of Bompas & Parr, Sam has cooked on molten lava, built a breathable cloud of gin and tonic, and founded the British Museum of Food. His studio works with governments, global brands like Coca-Cola, Johnnie Walker, and Mercedes, and major cultural institutions including the V&A, the Design Museum, and The Met. In a recent conversation with Future London Academy, he shared his remarkable hard-won wisdom about creativity, leadership, and what it really takes to build something lasting.What you’ll learn► How to turn a creative experiment into a scalable experiential agency► Why systemising ideas strengthens creativity rather than limiting it► How to pitch bold concepts while protecting budgets, feasibility, and client trust► What it takes to lead multidisciplinary teams across food, design, strategy, and making► How to use history and culture as a source of commercially powerful innovation► Why AI will not replace human creativity, and what founders should focus on instead👤 Who this episode is for:Design Leaders · Product Designers · Head of Design · Service Designers · Experience Designers · Brand Designers · Agency founders · Creatives · Creative Directors · and anyone interested in creativity and business Chapters: 00:00 Welcome introduction and the origin of Bompas and Parr06:37 From jelly experiments to building a global experiential agency13:01 Creative risk safety lessons and scaling ambitious ideas18:48 Finding inspiration in London and using history as creative fuel30:22 Systematising ideas from studio archives to client-ready concepts35:43 What makes a strong idea clarity impact, feasibility and business value42:32 Pitching bold work, presenting multiple routes, and winning client trust49:43 Leading multidisciplinary teams culture rituals and hybrid working56:41 Co-founder dynamics long-term partnership, and complementary strengths01:03:51 PR visibility and rescuing projects under pressure01:09:54 Food, drink, design inspiration and the power of service01:13:57 AI: The future of creativity and discovering new cultural possibilities

With so many AI tools flying around, it’s easy for creative teams to feel overwhelmed. Which tools actually matter? And more importantly, what stays uniquely human in design leadership as technology evolves?In this episode of Design Leadership in the Boardroom,Ekaterina sits down with Cal Thompson, VP Design at Headspace and curator of Future London Academy’s Product Design Strategy course. Cal shares how AI is changing the strategic power of design (not replacing it), where these tools genuinely help guiding roadmaps, measuring product signals, prototyping visions, and where they don’t belong at all, especially when it comes to anchoring human stories.Joining as a special guest, Rachel Arredondo , Senior Product Designer at Headspace, offers a practical, grounded view of AI as a thought collaborator. She shows how she uses Claude to expand her reach without outsourcing judgment, and why designers must shape tools just as much as tools shape us.Expect a conversation rooted in empathy, culture, and creative responsibility, plus a clear, usable framework for deciding where AI fits in your design process.What you’ll learn Why design’s strategic influence can grow in an AI-enabled worldWhere AI helps most across the process of guiding roadmap, synthesising measurement signals, prototyping future visions, navigating crowded marketsWhy human observation and interviews can’t be replaced by synthesis toolsHow to build a design culture that fuels collaboration, trust, and imaginationWhat AI means for junior talent, and how leaders should rethink career pathwaysWhy the next “design movement” will be collective, not solo-AI drivenWho this episode is forDesign Leaders · Product Designers · Head of Design · Head of UX / UX Director · Product Design Lead · UX Design Lead / Design Lead · Design Managers & Senior ICs navigating AI adoption · Solo/In-house designers · Creatives and cross-functional partners (PMs, researchers, engineers) shaping AI-enabled products

With so many AI tools flying around, it feels overwhelming for any creative team to choose the ones that will make a difference. This is why last week, we decided to have a conversation with Charles Migos, Chief Product Officer, Founder of Intangible.ai, Design Leaders faculty member and one of the most exciting voices in design today. He is a design executive who has spent 30 years building tools for creatives, working alongside the industry’s brightest minds like Steve Jobs and in companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Unity.What we got is a powerful conversation with Charles about how designers play an important role in the age of AI, from problem-solving and aligning teams to improving collaboration. Timecodes:00:00 Introduction to design and AI with Charles Moberly (ex Apple, Microsoft, Unity)03:04 How the AI shift compares to the internet, Photoshop, and touchscreens06:12 The fundamentals of design that stay the same in the AI era08:23 How to choose AI tools for designers without feeling overwhelmed14:07 How to test and adopt AI tools in a design team16:36 Why creativity still works best as a team sport19:49 What design leaders should focus on in the AI era25:51 Balancing design and engineering cultures at scale32:20 Building Intangible AI and rethinking generative 3D workflows38:46 Copyright, IP, and ethical risks in generative AI45:08 Trust, privacy, and data choices when using AI tools45:26 A realistic look at the future of AI for creatives46:42 How designers can actively shape the future with AI50:19 New opportunities for designers using AI tools well54:09 Practical Figma Make tips for faster high fidelity prototyping01:02:04 Gender bias in AI and what design leaders can do01:22:22 Empathy and pragmatism as core design leadership skills54:09 Practical Figma Make tips Prototyping faster in high fidelity01:02:04 Gender bias in AI How design leaders respond01:22:22 Empathy and pragmatism in design leadership

What does it really take to protect creativity inside large organisations, and why do some CEOs champion design while others struggle to?In this episode of Design Leadership in the Boardroom, Jim Prior, former Global CEO at WPP and Chair at Design Bridge & Partners, Superunion shares 25 years of experience leading some of the world’s most influential creative companies.Hosted by Future London Academy, this warm, honest conversation explores how creativity drives business performance, and what every designer should know to influence decision-makers at the highest level.🎙️ About the guest Jim Prior is a global brand leader and creative business strategist who has spent over two decades as CEO of The Partners, Superunion and Design Bridge & Partners (WPP). He has advised executive boards worldwide on brand transformation, creativity in leadership, and building future-ready organisations.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3LNPYCM💡 You’ll learn: ► How CEOs think about creativity and business value ► How to pitch creative ideas to leadership teams ► How agencies can help clients sell creativity internally ► Leadership habits, decision-making frameworks & lessons from a CEO ► How AI and automation change the creative landscape — and what designers should do now⏱ Chapters 00:00 Welcome – Ekaterina & Jim Prior02:36 How CEOs value creativity and design07:00 Why big companies struggle with innovation10:22 How to pitch creative ideas to CEOs and boards14:40 Selling creativity in the boardroom – tips from a CEO19:42 Creativity in leadership teams vs the boardroom22:07 How agencies help clients sell ideas internally26:25 What makes a creative agency truly valuable28:30 From knowledge economy → creative economy31:29 Inside the CEO mindset – decision making36:32 Making smart decisions with imperfect data43:25 Time management for creative leaders47:45 Why CEOs prefer talking over email51:52 Leading through hard times & crises55:30 Reconnecting with your company vision57:00 The evolving role of design in leadership1:03:00 Tech hype vs real change for design leaders1:07:00 AI & creativity – how designers can adapt1:12:30 Running creative workshops with leaders1:17:00 Balancing creativity and business1:21:00 If Jim Prior could change one thing in the worldIdeal for:Design leaders • Creative directors • Senior designers • Strategists • CEOs who value design • Anyone aiming to grow their influence in business and boardrooms.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3LNPYCM

In the second episode of Design Leadership in the Boardroom, we’re joined by Christophe Egret — visionary architect, artist, and co-founder of Studio Egret West, to explore how creativity, spirituality, and leadership come together to shape cities and the people who build them.🎙 Hosted by Future London Academy, this episode dives into architecture with soul, exploring what it means to build meaningful spaces, lead with empathy, and balance creative vision with commercial success.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4a3iU3E💡 What you’ll learn: ► How to keep creativity alive while running a thriving design business ► Ways to lead teams with empathy, purpose, and sou, not just strategy ► Why sketching, storytelling, and intuition still matter in the age of AI ► How to design spaces (and studio cultures) that connect people and purpose✨ A conversation about imagination, courage, and what it means to build a better world, one soulful design at a time.About Christoph Egret:Christoph is one of the UK’s most respected architects and urban thinkers. As co-founder of Studio Egret West, he has helped redefine placemaking through landmark projects such as Mayfield Park in Manchester, Clapham Library, and the Earl’s Court Masterplan. Known for blending architecture, landscape, and urban design into a seamless practice, Christoph brings a deep sense of spirituality and purpose to his work. Today, through his new platform Soul in the City, he explores how the emotional and spiritual dimensions of urban life can inspire more connected, human-centered cities.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4a3iU3E

Join us for the first episode of our Design Leadership in the Boardroom series, where we speak with executive leaders across architecture, product, AI, branding and psychology to unpack the strategies, practices and frameworks that help them succeed at the highest level.This time we’re joined by neurodiversity coach Emma Wee to learn how to create environments where neurodivergent talent thrives, and how to lead authentically with your own neurodivergent identity.From ADHD and Autism to Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, Emma shares practical, humane tactics leaders can use today to help every brain do its best work.What you’ll learn how to:► Navigate ADHD at work► Leverage dyslexia strengths► Dismantle autism myths► Build inclusive teams► Implement meeting hygiene► Handle tricky moments🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4oRvYhjTimecodes:00:00:00 – Intro & why neurodiversity matters in creative leadership00:01:06 – Meet Emma Wee, Neurodiversity Coach00:03:50 – Emma’s journey: from theatre design to Neurodiversity coaching00:06:22 – Masking explained (code-switching, cost, and relief in naming it)00:16:19 – ADHD 101: attention selection, hyperfocus arcs, RSD, boom-and-bust00:21:28 – Finishing & focus: define “done,” emotional tags, pick tasks by brain-state00:31:25 – Dyslexia strengths & tools: pattern spotting, dictation, read-aloud, color contrast00:40:32 – Autism realities: sensory seesaw, clarity over small talk, change vs. variables00:45:11 – Leading Neurodiverse teams: briefs, check-ins, inclusive defaults, “Manual of Me”01:00:12 – Disclosure & safety: when to share (or not), alternatives to get support01:06:11 – Rapid-fire coaching: brainstorms, missed deadlines, interruptions, feedback clashes01:15:40 – Closing & big question: one change Emma would make in the worldAbout GuestEmma Wee — Neurodiversity Coach working with organisations from Universal Music Group to the UK FCDO, EY and PwC, helping teams adapt working practices for neurodivergent professionals. Emma is faculty member at Executive programme for Design Leaders.🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4oRvYhj

Join us for the fifth episode of our Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers from the most forward-thinking companies. This time, we are joined by Sean Carney, former CDO of Philips. At Philips, Sean led a team of 700+ designers and helped generate over $800 million in sales pull-through.Sean shared a powerful case study of how design contributed directly to business transformation and aided a positive change in the world.Watch to learn how to:- Drive real business impact with design- Calculate and communicate ROI on design- Balance creativity with business strategy at the C-level- Build a design team that influences revenue and strategy00:00 — Welcome to the CDO Series: Why Design Belongs in the Boardroom00:49 — Meet Sean Carney: Former Chief Design Officer at Philips02:55 — Sean’s Unplanned Path to Becoming a Chief Design Officer04:42 — From Solo Creator to Strategic Leader: The Power of Diverse Teams07:43 — Why Today’s User Research Isn’t Enough: Designing for the Future10:24 — Philips' Visionary Design Approach13:24 — 📍 Case Study: How Philips Built the NICU of the Future20:05 — 📍 Case Study: Embedding Strategic Design into Business Strategy at Philips35:00 — Tracking the ROI of Design: From Vision to Measurable Business Impact43:11 — Using Real-Time Data and Predictive Modelling in Hospital Design44:35 — Designing Capabilities for the Future: Strategic Foresight in Action45:01 — 📍 Case Study: Smart Toothbrushes and the Rise of Connected Health48:00 — How Philips Prioritised Innovation Opportunities Across 30+ Units48:48 — Turning Design Ideas into Strategic Investments with Cross-Functional Teams53:26 — 📍 Case Study: The Vacuum That Failed — and What It Taught the Business55:34 — What It Takes to Design in Healthcare: Compliance, Innovation & Risk55:53 — Building the Case for Prototypes: Value Beyond the Aesthetic01:01:40 — Bridging Creative Vision and P&L: Design at the Executive Table01:03:55 — How Design Drove Business Transformation at Philips01:10:31 — Empathy Across Departments: The Secret to Influencing at C-Level01:11:18 — Budgeting for Innovation: Where to Find (and Protect) Funds01:14:46 — The Future of Design Leadership: From Systems to Strategy01:21:48 — Design for Good: Applying Creative Leadership to Global Impact01:23:28 — Final Reflections: Building a More Joyful, Impactful World with DesignLearn about our Design Leaders programme: https://fla.wiki/4kDuFPT#ChiefDesignOfficer #DesignLeadership #ROIonDesign

Learn about our Design Leaders programme 👉 https://fla.wiki/4dm4cVcPatou Nuytemans, CEO EMEA of Ogilvy, one of the world's most iconic creative agencies. Discover how she went from being an "unlikely candidate" from Belgium and rose through the ranks by embracing diverse roles across three continents, pioneering digital transformation, and turning around challenging regions.In this interview, Patou shares her unexpected journey to becoming a CEO, her leadership philosophy, how she drives creative excellence across a global organisation. and how to talk your CEO to justify investment in design. 00:00 – Welcome Patou Nuytemans03:17 – The brave career moves that turned her into a leader 07:53 – Why Patou never chased titles—and what she chased instead 12:31 – “If you don’t communicate your wins, they don’t exist” 18:06 – How creatives should talk to their CEO (and be taken seriously) 22:41 – The structure that keeps 50+ teams aligned (you need this) 30:20 – What actually builds team culture (it’s not what you think) 35:44 – The 5 business metrics Ogilvy tracks 42:54 – “Creativity is a shortcut to big business impact—here’s how to prove it” 50:03 – Want a bigger budget? Say this to your CEO 55:29 – Why junior talent is more valuable than ever (even with AI) 57:49 – “Growth is my religion”: Patou’s personal philosophy on success 1:00:50 – Her wish for the world? More curiosity, more connection Learn about our Design Leaders programme 👉 https://fla.wiki/4dm4cVc#CreativeLeadership #OgilvyCEO #BusinessOfCreativity #DesignLeadership #GlobalTeams #BorderlessCreativity #FutureLondonAcademy #PatouThains #CreativeAgency #LeadershipJourney #WomenInLeadership #AIAndCreativity #TeamCulture #CommunicationSkills #CreativeROI #BrandDifferentiation #ContinuousLearning #GlobalExperience #AwardRecognition #InternationalBusiness

Don Norman, the legendary designer who coined the term "User Experience" and served as Apple's VP, shares insights from his remarkable career. At 89, he reveals why most designers fail to reach the C-suite, how AI will reshape design (not replace it), and his mission to revolutionise design education. Grab a cup of tea and settle in, this conversation might change everything you do from now on. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more here👉 https://fla.wiki/4hKKZxs #DonNorman #Design #UserExperience #Innovation #FutureLondonAcademy

Janaki Kumar is Chief Design Officer at JPMorgan Chase & Co., a thought leader, innovator, and author who was named a Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2016. Janaki is a proven leader in building, coaching and inspiring high performance design teams, leveraging design-thinking, customer empathy, and co-innovation. She is the co-author of Gamification at Work – Designing Engaging Business Software. She was a co-instructor at Stanford’s Graduate School Business LEAD course and inventor on over 20 patents. During our interview, she shared how she became CDO, how to prove your value to C-suite executives and what skills to develop to become CDO. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more 👉 https://fla.wiki/3EaHsKf #leadership #cdo #mba #designleadership#leadership #cdo #mba #designleadership

Jeri Ellsworth is an inventor, entrepreneur and founder of Tilt Five, the world’s first augmented reality gaming system. During our interview, she shared where her passion brought her to an amazing career plot twists: from building race cars and running computer stores to creating aerospace navigation systems and leading hardware innovation at Valve Corporation. When her first AR startup failed, an unexpected call from Atari's founder helped her bounce back to create Tilt5, launching the largest AR Kickstarter in history. Check out our courses: https://fla.wiki/4giVnw5

Chief Design Officer Series: Episode 2Mark Kawano, Chief Design Officer at Zoom, shared his 25+ years of experience in companies like Apple, Slack, and Adobe and the importance of influencing Design beyond the design organisation.Join us for the third episode of our Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers from the most forward-thinking companies.  https://fla.wiki/41fznNE

Chief Design Officer Series: Episode 2 Travis Isaacs, Chief Design Officer at Webex Collaboration at Cisco, shared his perspective on the unique superpowers designers can bring to the boardroom and the essential skills needed for success in executive roles. Join us for the second episode of our Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers from the most forward-thinking companies. https://fla.wiki/3ALA1rx

Chief Design Officer Series: Episode 1 Claudia Abt, Chief Design Officer at citizenM hotels oversees design and space planning for new hotel developments. She shares her perspective on being a designer at the C-level, what she had to learn when she became a Chief Design Officer and what value she brings to the business through design. Join Future London Academy for the first episode of Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers of the most forward-thinking businesses. https://fla.wiki/4fbtJ3f

In our new interview, Stefan Sagmeister legendary designer, typographer and co-founder of Sagmeister & Walsh shares thoughts on the evolution of his career, design agencies and creative process. Watch the full interview to hear more about: 👉 Why scaling is not the best way 👉 What is the future of creative industry 👉 How to create purpose-driven work This episode is a must-watch for creative leaders and changemakers seeking inspiration and practical wisdom from one of the industry's greats. 00:00 Stefan Sagmeister: A Design Legend 00:44 Balance Productivity and Creativity 02:45 The Shift from Commercial to Self-Initiated Projects 03:38 Exploring Long-Term Perspectives in Design 06:14 How to work with clients? 12:25 The Evolution of Stefan's Design Career 18:19 Advice for Designers 22:04 Reflections on Running a Design Company 26:16 The Future of the Design Industry and Final Thoughts For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more and Apply 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1 #leadership #design #designinspiration #designleadership

In this engaging conversation, Timothy Goodman shares his journey from working with top brands like Apple, Nike, Google, Samsung, MoMa, Netflix, YSL, Time, The New Yorker to his passion for public art, personal expression, and tackling societal issues through his work. Learn about his creative process, the balance between commercial and personal projects, and the challenges and risks he has faced along the way. During our interview Timothy shared how to balance commercial and passion work, how he hires team, why he never was a freelancer and why it is important to create artworks for people. Watch the full interview to find out: 👉 How to balance passion and commercial projects 👉 How to create art and design that make impact 👉 How to find the right people for projects 👉 Timothy's unique philosophy behind creating his art TIME CODES 00:00 Who is Timothy Goodman? 01:05 Timothy Goodman on self-Expression 02:21 Evolution of Timothy's Creative Process 03:54 Creative career challenges 06:52 Balancing Personal and Commercial Work 08:36 Creative Team Dynamics and Finding the Right Fit 18:19 Taking Risks and Personal Projects 25:36 Current Work Philosophy 35:08 Final Thoughts For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more and Apply 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1 #designleadership #leadership

Join us in a conversation with Veronica Fuerte, Creative Directress and Founder of Hey Studio, a Barcelona-based creative agency known for its colourful, playful geometric designs. Hey Studio worked with many clients worldwide, including Google and Apple. During our interview, Veronica shared insights from her 16-year leadership journey why it's important to hire a coach, keep your team small, and how to succeed by working in your own unique style and build confidence as a leader. 💎 00:00 Meet Veronica Fuerte, Founder oh Hey Studio 01:26 Veronica's Early Career Journey and Agency Vision 03:50 Expanding Hey Studio: Side Projects and Merch Store 06:45 Managing Growth and Team Dynamics 11:38 Why to hire a coach? 21:31 Women at Work: Insights and Challenges 23:28 Authenticity and Personal Style 29:40 Final Thoughts #designinspiration #leadership #design

In this engaging conversation, Talia Cotton shares her journey from working at Pentagram to starting her design studio — Cotton Design. She talks about the challenges of the first year of being an agency founder, the main leadership lessons she learned and insights on building and managing a team. Watch the full interview to find out: 👉 Three things you must do when starting an agency 👉 How and who to hire during the first year 👉 How to build your network and find new clients 👉 What Talia will never ever do with her team 👉 Where she goes for inspiration 00:00 Hello Hello Hello 01:16 Leaving Pentagram and starting a design studio 03:30 What you need to do before starting an agency 05:58 Winning creative work or how to find clients as a creative agency founder 08:06 How to pitch yourself in the creative industry 09:25 Hiring and Building a Team 12:23 Teaching and how it helps to hire design talent 13:10 How to hire talent during the first year 15:30 Two key lessons on hiring from Michael Bierut, partner at Pentagram 17:35 Inside look into how Pentagram works 22:53 The most important thing in the first year of running an agency 25:53 What you need to consider before you take a project 27:04 Things you need to do to get more clients 28:45 Working from Office VS Remote team 29:15 Where to look for inspiration when you are an agency founder 33:49 If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more and Apply 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1

This month we had an inspiring conversation with Martin Raymond, Co-Founder of Future Laboratory. He shared his insights into the future and how we can prepare for what awaits us in the coming years. We discussed the skills leaders will need in the future, the role of impact metrics in business and how creatives can succeed in the boardroom.

How do you succeed as a start-up? How do you grow your agency from 20 to 100 people? How can you carve your niche in the market?  In our last episode of Agency Growth Stories, Emily Heyward, co-founder of Red Antler – the leading creative agency for startups and new ventures, including Hinge, Prose and AllTrails – shares her insights on these questions and more.  Emily was named among the Most Important Entrepreneurs of the Decade, a Top Female Founder and one of the Most Powerful Women of 2019 by Inc. Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine.🔥 Here is what we covered in our chat with this creative legend:  00:00:00 - Intro: Who is Emily Heyward?  00:01:15 - Rapid Fire Questions 00:03:30 - Red Antler: How It All Started 00:14:25 - Defining Your Clients & Revenue as a Start-Up 00:18:53 - Growing Beyond 2 People: InHouse vs. Freelance 00:21:50 - Bringing In Clients in the Early Days 00:26:30 - Hiring & Establishing and Effective Team Structure  00:35:34 - Pricing Projects as an Agency  00:40:15 - What You Need to Change as a Leader to Grow 00:44: 22 - Where is Red Antler now? 00:46:05 - The Future of Small & Mid Agencies  00:47:15 - Opportunities in the Current Market 00:50:27 - Transparency within the Agency 00:52:15 - What Keeps You Going as a Founder? 00:56:24 - How a Project-Based Business Works: Hiring vs. Freelancing 00:59:03 - Helping Clients Understand the Importance of Brand  01:04:28 - Marketing and Community as Part of Your Brand Strategy 01:08:08 - AI in the Creative Industry: Uses and Shortcomings  01:12:00 - Key Things to Define for a Client’s Strategy  01:14:02 - How Do You Keep Key People Without Giving Equity Away? 01:17:50 - Can You Growth Without Expanding Your Services?  01:20:10 - Final Thoughts For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: https://fla.wiki/3TBeTLq Get more inspiration from us on other channels:  ➤ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurelondonacademy ➤ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/FLondonAcademy ➤  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/school/future-london-academy/

What is the key to rapid growth? When is it time to expand your team? How should you approach a global expansion?  In this episode of Agency Growth Stories, Natalie Graeme, Co-Founder of Uncommon – Europe’s fastest-growing start-up in advertising history, answers these questions and more, as she shares her experience of growing Uncommon from 0 to over 200 employees, working with global brand partners – including ITV, WWF, British Airways and SiriusXM –  and creating a memorable brand identity through ingenious PR strategies.  Here is what we covered:  00:00:00 - Intro: Who is Natalie Graeme?  00:01:11 - Rapid Fire Question 00:06:11 - Early Days: The Formative Years of Uncommon  00:09:55 - Uncommon’s Studio Model 00:14:35 - Uncommon’s Rapid Growth & Secret to Success 00:23:40 - Uncommon’s Global Expansion &The Strategy Behind It 00:32:23 - Growing Beyond 30 People: When to Hire and How to Structure Your Team 00:44:45 - From 70 to 240 People and How Your Role as a Founder Changes Questions from the Audience:  00:52:20 - What are the Most Common Mistakes of Agency Start-ups in The Early Days? 00:53:50 - How do you Control Quality and Production during Growth in a Joint Venture? 00:54:53 - How do you Manage Client-Side Delays and Keep Things Running?  00:56:20 - How do you Balance Hiring Full-Time Vs. Freelance? 00:58:39 - How did you Secure Funds at the Start? 01:01:53 - How do you Select Clients?  01:03:33 - Do you work with Retainers or on a One-off Project Basis? 01:04:29 - What was Uncommon’s PR Strategy at the Beginning?  01:05:34 - What is the difference between your Studio Model and an Advertising Agency? 01:08:28 - How do you Get New Clients without Word of Mouth?  01:12:13 - How Important is the Agency’s Brand? Final Advice  01:15:08 - What Can You Do to Look After Yourself as a Founder?  01:16:50 - If You Could Change One Thing in the World, What Would It Be? For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: https://fla.wiki/435hkc4 Get more inspiration from us on other channels:  ➤ https://www.instagram.com/futurelondonacademy ➤ https://twitter.com/FLondonAcademy ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/school/future-london-academy/

How do you grow from 6 to 1000 people? From £0 to £232 in revenue? When is it time to step down as CEO? Steve Bell, former Iris Co-Founder, and now CEO at Team17 Group managed over 1000 employees in 14 offices around the world and oversaw Iris' work with some of the biggest, most creatively driven and technologically advanced global brands.  Here is what we covered in the second episode of Agency Growth Stories with Steve:  00:00:00 - Intro: Who is Steve Bell?  00:02:56 - Fire Round Questions 00:11:50 - Iris’ Early Days and Fast Growth 00:16:14 - Culture over Money: Creating Meaningful Equity & Working with the Right Clients at Iris  00:21:35 - Multiple Founder Dynamic and Hierarchies   00:24:50 - Scaling Iris Globally & Tough Wake Up Calls 00:34:00 - Maturing Iris, Outside Investments, Mergers & Acquisitions 00:59:00 - Stepping Down as Founder and Becoming a CEO at Team17 01:04:50 - How Should You Start an Agency in 2024? 01:09:00 - The Future of Creative Consulting Services in the Age of AI 01:11:24 - Determining Who to Work With in the Early Days 01:13:45 - How to Keep & Grow Clients  01:18:25 - Pitching & Winning Business 01:22:18 - Last Words For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme:https://fla.wiki/4byNd0p Find us on: https://www.instagram.com/futurelondonacademy/  https://www.linkedin.com/school/future-london-academy/  https://twitter.com/FLondonAcademy 

How do you design a fail-proof hiring process? How do you balance purpose and profit in the early days? And how do you find your first clients? Get your answer in our first episode of Agency Growth Stories – a series where we talk to the founders of the world's leading agencies about what's on every founder's mind. Our first guest was the wonderful Abi Freeman — Co-Founder of Brink — an international consulting agency which uses Behavioural Innovation to advise on new ways of working to change the world. Here is what we covered: 00:00:00 - Intro: Who is Abi Freeman? 00:02:52 - Fire Round Questions 00:04:54 - Why Abi Co-Founded her Company Brink 00:08:01 - How to Find Your First Clients 00:12:17 - How and When to Grow Your Team 00:20:20 - Services to Keep External Rather than In-House 00:22:05 - How to Hire and Manage an International Distributed Team 00:29:12 - Brink’s Failproof Hiring Process: Hiring for Ways of Being Not Just Doing 00:34:21 - How to Build Intimacy with Your Team 00:39:00 - Purpose Vs. Profit, Finding Balance in the Early Days 00:48:18 - How to Measure the Impact of Your Projects 00:56:32 - Common Blinspots in Founders 00:58:01 - How to Get Clients through Networking 01:04:04 - How to Take the First Step to Start Your Agency 01:06:35 - How to Navigate Procurement Processes 01:14:05 - Behavioural Change and Climate Change 01:17:01 - Last Words For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: https://fla.wiki/4byNd0p Get more inspiration from us on other channels: https://www.instagram.com/futurelondonacademy/ https://twitter.com/FLondonAcademy https://www.linkedin.com/school/future-london-academy/

Without any computers or a bank loan, Stuart Trevor launched his first collection at the age of 28, reaping £1.5M. Today, the founder and former CEO of AllSaints has three successful brands under his wing, loved by the likes of Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, and Justin Timberlake.Join us for our third episode of Creative Legends to hear all about how Stuart made it and what fashion was like before Zara. Join us for our third episode of Creative Legends, the series where we talk to creative industry icons, and get inspired to continue growing as a design expert. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: ⁠https://fla.wiki/47PS6j8

Maria Giudice founded the iconic design agency Hot Studio and sold it to Facebook after an unexpected chat with Mark Zuckerberg. Now, Maria shares the top lessons from her time at the media giant, running her own agency and teaching leaders to embrace creativity for maximum success. Join us for our second episode of Creative Legends, the series where we talk to creative industry icons, and get inspired to continue growing as a design expert. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: https://fla.wiki/47PS6j8

How can creative leaders thrive? And how does AI come into play? John Maeda is here to answer your pressing questions. In our first episode of Creative Legends, the series where we talk to creative industry icons, we interviewed Microsoft’s VP of Design and AI. He shared his lessons on how to be a great leader, become an excellent communicator and navigate design in the age of AI.  𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡 John Maeda is a world-renowned artist, computer scientist, educator and investor currently serving as VP of Design and Artificial Intelligence at Microsoft. John is a TED speaker, industry influencer and author of books The Laws of Simplicity, Creative Code, and Redesigning Leadership. He was called the “Steve Jobs of academia” by Forbes and named one of the "75 most influential people of the 21st century" by Esquire. For more than a decade, John has worked to integrate technology, education and the arts into a 21st-century synthesis of creativity and innovation. He taught media arts and sciences at MIT for 12 years and served as the Associate Director of Research at MIT Media Lab. He is the first-ever recipient of the White House’s National Design Award for algorithmically-generated visualisations informed by data and AI. For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more: https://fla.wiki/3R7M8Dr

In our last episode of this Design Leadership series, we talked to Tiffany Rolfe, Mom & Global Chief Creative Officer at R/GA. Tiffany shared insights on how to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry, fight imposter syndrome, step out of your comfort zone, get to a C-level position as a Creative and the skills you need to become a successful Chief Creative Officer while also being a parent. Tiffany leads a team of over 200 cross-disciplinary designers, thinkers and makers that create work at the intersection of storytelling and technology. R/GA’s clients include Nike, Verizon, Samsung, Airbnb, Slack, ESPN, and Instagram.   For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders.  Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1

In our fourth episode of Design Leadership webinars, we talked to Kate Stanners, Global Chairwoman & Global Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi. She has played a key role in the transformation of the agency post the acquisition of the digital agency Outside Line, successfully combining digital, social and design into the creative offering. She has won numerous awards for clients including Carlsberg, T-Mobile, Pampers, Holsten Pils, Lurpak, Nurofen and Cadbury. She is also part of the committee at the V&A museum and is President of D&AD. Kate shared insights on being one of the first creative women in the Advertising Industry, her journey and tips for getting to the top, the importance of asking for help and coaching, and the skills you need to become a successful Chief Creative Officer and how to get there. For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1

In our third episode of our Design Leadership webinars, we talked to Josh W Higgins, VP, Executive Creative Director for Atlassian leading multi-disciplined Creative, Design, Ops and Production teams who work across all consumer touch points. Previously, Josh was the Global Chief Creative Officer for Reality Labs at Meta and Design Director for President Obama’s 2012 historic political campaign. Josh shared insights on how design can change the world, how to create the role of CCO at global companies like Meta, how to implement users' feedback and how designers can learn about the influence of business has on their work. For more leadership insights check out our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1 Chapters 00:00 - Welcome to our Design Leadership webinar 02:00 - Josh X Barack Obama: Trust 06:14 - The Value of Design: Design can change the world 10:30 - Josh X Meta: Rebrand, Branding Marketing, Brand Book 15:30 - Dynamics of CCO + CMO: Does your business need both? 19:13 - From Exec Creative Director to First CCO of Meta 23:40 - Creating the role of CCO: How to talk to top management 28:22 - Meta - Oculus Quest: How Design changes Product/Brand Awareness

In our second episode of Design Leadership webinars, we talked to the wonderful Fede Garcia, Global Chief Creative Officer at PR agency BCW Global. Fede shared insights on how to motivate teams to create bold ideas, what is the future of advertising, how cancel culture influenced creativity, what it means to be creative and what are the main qualities of a good leader. For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1 Chapters Welcome to our Design Leadership webinar Social Media, Creativity and Impostor syndrome The infinite game Brand marketing: promoting yourself and the brand on Social media Creative career: from Creative Director to Chief Creative Officer What does a Chief Creative Officer do? How to build a creative culture, empower bold ideas and creativity How to prove the value of creativity and design, taking the risk Balancing high-quality work and mental health Self-awareness, happiness, and enjoying life / how to become happy in life Future of advertising: Transmedia storytelling Power of emotions in creativity Q&A - Qualities of a good leader What is the difference between being creative and being a creative Who can become a good leader? Creativity VS Business How to sell ideas and be a confident leader Being a quick learner and having the growth mindset Time management skills and workload prioritisation Is resilience important? Creating a vision

In this interview, Justine Lançon, CCO at modern jewellery brand Mejuri, will share everything you need to know about being a Chief Creative Officer. What does it mean to be a creative leader? How Mejuri branding was created? What qualities and skills do you need to grow from the creative director to CCO? How to build and hire a design team?    For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders at bauhaus.futurelondonacademy.co.uk 

Our fourth guest in our Leadership Series was Sinead Keenan, Business Psychologist at SpencerStuart – a global leadership consultancy firm with 57 offices in over 30 countries. We discussed what are the future skills Business Leaders need to have. Sinead also gave advice on how to find your purpose and how to give and receive feedback.  Sinead will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here

We were super inspired speaking to Ariel Ross, a creative operations expert with over 15 years in scaling agency processes. Her expertise lies in developing operational frameworks for creative agencies, making projects run smoothly and keeping teams happy. We chatted about what three qualities every great project manager should have. Also, the biggest mistake every company makes on creative operations that we can learn from. If you want to see their faces, check out this chat on our YouTube 📺  Ariel has also curated all her tools/frameworks into an online course – Creative Ops 👉 https://bit.ly/3gK3hBB

We loved how honest Max Ottignon was in our chat. Max is the Co-founder of Ragged Edge – a fantastic London-based branding agency working with some of the fastest-growing startups such as Mindful Chef, Bulb, to name a few. We discussed mistakes Ragged Edge made throughout the 14 years it has been running. What makes its company culture so special, and what makes a bad haircut. For those who want to see their faces, you can watch this chat on our YouTube Channel 📺

We were super inspired by our interview with Ilenia Notarangelo, Co-founder, CEO and Creative Director of Illo TV. The Turin-based creative agency specialises in Illustration and motion design and has created some remarkable work for the likes of Google, Airbnb and Samsung. We talked about how Ilenia started her career from a not-so-creative place. Also, the importance of picking the right business partner, and overcoming the psychological struggles of running your own company. For those who want to see their faces, you can watch this chat on our YouTube Channel 📺 

We learnt so much speaking to Aporva Baxi, founder and ECD of branding agency, DixonBaxi. Aporva has an amazing career working as a creative director across the world and is now running the agency for more than 18 years. We chatted about what it was like to drop the career of a creative director in high demand to start your own agency. And how important it is to always stay creative. If you're a visual listener, watch this conversation on our YouTube Channel 📺 

Our final guest in our Leadership Series was the legend that is Buzz Pearce, SVP of Design at checkout.com. Buzz has over 20 years of experience in the design industry, leading teams at Skyscanner, Skype, and Microsoft, to name a few. We discussed how to communicate the value of design to your leadership team. Also, he explained how to build a safe, company culture to give honest feedback.  Buzz will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here 

Obsessed with branding? Then listen to these great tips from Campbell and Robyn Butler, Co-founders of Lovework Studio. Together they have worked with some of the best brand agencies around. From Wolff Olins, Design Studio, Dragon Rouge and many more. In our chat, they explained why ugly logos are a good thing, and how to present your ideas to clients in an unconventional way. If you're a visual listener, watch this on our YouTube Channel.  Campbell and Robyn also curated The Ultimate Course on Brand Design & Strategy, Branding Now. Learn more here.

The third guest in our Leadership Series was Guy Duncan, Chief Technology Officer at Tide – one of the fastest-growing FinTech companies in the UK. Guy has over 20 years of tech leadership, previously as a CTO of BMW and other large organisations like Valtech and PayU. Be prepared to get really practical insights on how to convince your leadership team to launch your idea, how to reduce your work stress and how to prioritise your time as a C-level executive.  Guy will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here 

In our second interview in our Leadership Series, we were joined by Fura Johannesdottir, Chief Design Officer of Huge Inc. Fura has over 20 years of experience in the industry, working for brilliant companies like R/GA, Publicis Sapient and loads more. We discussed her approach to design leadership and the best way of talking to business leaders about the power of design.  Fura will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here 

Our first guest in our new Leadership Series is Bidisha Sinha, Senior Associate at the legendary Zaha Hadid Architects. We chatted about the need for a new Bauhaus, what it was like to work with Architecture pioneer, Zaha Hadid, and the challenges and rewards of being a design leader.  Bidisha will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here

We had a great chat with Sébastien Van Laere, Founder of Superframe – an agency using insight and foresight to develop brand-, innovation- and business strategy for some of the biggest global brands. We discussed why thinking about the future is important in our lives, some of his favourite trends of 2021 and whether Clubhouse is a trend or just a fad.  Sébastien also curated our Innovation Strategy Course – A practical course for Senior Strategists who want to level up their strategic thinking 👉  

In a Design Hotline edition of the Creative Capes Podcast, we sat down with Mike Reed and Sam Russell of Reed Words – chatting about all things brand language, played some quick-fire, brand writing games and answered our special guests' burning questions on brand writing and language.   Mike and Sam are also curated our Building A Brand Language course –  learn how to write for brands consistently and with impact 💥 more info here 👉 https://bit.ly/3jHJByN

On episode 16 of the Creative Capes Podcast, we had a great time speaking with Christopher Bahry, Co-founder and Creative Director of Tendril - a design-driven animation, VFX, and digital innovation studio with offices in Canada and Brazil. Christopher shares how important creative partnerships are in growing as a designer, human and a business. We also discuss his learnings from co-founding Tendril 10 years ago to now, as well as what's the next big thing in motion design. If you want to see Ekaterina's and Christopher's faces, head over to our Youtube Channel @futurelondonacademy  Christopher is also one of our industry experts on our Creative Business Masterclasses 👉 Learn how to run and scale your design business