Understories

This week we’re talking to Daisy Dier James, founder of House Law, a legal consultancy that specialises in intellectual property and trademarks for creative businesses. What is so incredibly fascinating about her work is how so few creative businesses understand why protecting their intellectual property matters. Many of us, myself included, are generally happy to do what we do, but to be totally honest, the idea of protecting my intellectual property has always been on the back burner. This is why people like Daisy are so amazing - they are passionate about helping creatives protect their creativity.  Lastly, a quick disclaimer that I need to make is that nothing is this podcast is to be considered legal advice - but if you are thinking that your IP is vulnerable, definitely speak to Daisy, she really knows her stuff.  Find Daisy on Instagram and LinkedIn

This week we’re talking to John Sewell, founder of Cosimo, an online marketplace for early career and emerging artists whose mission to put artists in control of the sale of their work and make art more accessible.  John’s background feels very familiar to me - we both studied art history but now find ourselves on the commercial side of creativity. Cosimo is the manifestation of his passion for supporting artists embracing the business side of their practice and leveraging their creative skills as entrepreneurs. The business aims to bridge this gap supporting artists who want to sell their work, but in addition focusing on the democratization of art, making it accessible and affordable for a wider audience. John’s ultimate goal is to create a world where more artists can sell their work and more people can have art on their walls. Find Cosimo on Instagram or LinkedIn

This week we’re speaking to Lauren Gonzalez, an educator and graphic designer based in Vancouver, WA. Lauren is the founder of 4 The Creatives, a YouTube channel and educational platform that provides guidance and resources for freelance designers, and she also is the co-founder of Principium Studio, a design studio she founded with her husband that specialises in branding for e-commerce brands.  Lauren started her entrepreneurial journey 8 years ago, which coincided with the birth of her first child. After much hard work, learning and lessons, Principium is now a flourishing six-figure business and 4 the Creatives has almost 120k subscribers.  Lauren’s story and experience is a great example for anyone trying to balance all the things all at once. She’s learned lessons the hard way, and now runs two solid businesses that allow her the time for her family. Ultimately, she built a business that was right for her. Lauren is smart, ambitious and focused, and I can’t thank her enough for spending her time with me.  Find out more about Lauren here: YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/4thecreatives 4 The Creatives: https://4thecreatives.com/ Earning by Design podcast: ⁠ https://4thecreatives.com/podcast/⁠ Principium Studio: ⁠https://www.principiumstudio.com/⁠

This week we’re speaking to Julia Jelinska, a Lego Serious Play Facilitator. We talk to her about her love of Lego, and how she’s come from the corporate world to creative entrepreneur.  This episode is slightly different in that we’re giving you the opportunity to experience your own breakthroughs using the Lego Serious Play method. While Julia takes me through my own journey, what’s amazing about it is you can follow along with your own Lego pieces to find your own light bulb moments. So go grab a handful and settle in. It's such a fun episode! Find Julia on Instagram + LinkedIn

This week we're in conversation with Emanuel del Rosso, a communication specialist and award-winning political cartoonist. He is currently Head of Communications with the European Press Prize, and organiser of the European Cartoon Award and has published his cartoons in several magazines and online newspapers. This was such a fun, meandering conversation that touches on work, life, politics and so much more. Emanuele is an fascinating, intelligent and thoughtful person and always a delight to speak to. He didn’t always want to be a cartoonist though…let’s just say he was looking for higher orders.  Find Emanuele on Instagram

Season 2 kicks off with a chat with Matt Dixon, owner of TallBoy interiors, an antique and vintage retailer, and Form by Tallboy, where he designs his own pieces. Matt has such passion for vintage furniture and the unique character and stories that come with each piece. He values craftsmanship and quality in both vintage and modern furniture and is quick to emphasise the sustainability and value of antique furniture compared to mass-produced modern pieces. And while his love of antiques and vintage is at the heart of TallBoy and Form, his approach is modern and future-focused. Matt is ambitious and his business has grown over the past 10 years, since he founded it at the ripe age of 20. His long-term plans are to move into designing entire spaces, which feels like the natural progression for his skills and style. Tallboy Website TallBoy Instagram

This week is our last episode before we take a break for the summer. It’s been a really fun season and we’ve met some really inspiring and brilliant creatives who’ve been so generous with their time and shared their story of becoming entrepreneurs.  As a final send off, this week is a catch up between Linds and Kat. We’ve had quite a wild journey these first 6 mons of 2024, so we talk about that, we go into why we’re going to try to de-ickify the term ‘consultant’ and then we go off on tangents that range from Kat’s love of mantrailing with her dog Siccario, to crockery that is made out of poo.... We’re back 3rd September with new episodes and some brilliant new guests.  @cloudfields.cc Cloudfields

This week we're speaking to Kim Pepper, an art consultant and advisor from Philadelphia. Kim is warmth and passion incarnate, and her enthusiasm for what she does permeated our entire conversation. Kim shares her journey from working in the arts to founding her own art consulting business, Avec, a year ago. In the early days of her business, she doubled down on reaffirming and building relationships, the latter she attributes to her growth over the last 12 months.  What I loved about what Kim does, in a somewhat meta way, is her own creative art practice. Through connecting clients with artists and using storytelling as a tool for curating shows, she is practicing her own art form.  And out of that, she's building a business that works for her. Kim on Instagram Kim on LinkedIn Avec Art Consulting

This week we're speaking to Heather Crank, a motion designer and graphic designer, based in Linds' home state of Oregon, USA. This was a fantastic conversation with Heather discussing her work in generative AI and her ability to integrate language and visual art.  There’s so much fear around AI taking creative jobs, and they talk about the challenges and opportunities that AI presents, why embracing AI as a tool is crucial, and why it’s so important stay ahead of technological changes. As an antidote to the digital, for Heather, staying connected with her communities to navigate the evolving landscape is the key to moving beyond the nervousness of what AI represents, and instead sees it as a way galvanising the creative force, to empower creatives into the future.  Heather Crank (personal) Crahmánti Cloudfields

This week we're speaking to Isabelle Poirier, a brand architect and designer from Ottawa, Canada, who shares her journey from working in the Canadian government, where she encountered a toxic work environment, to becoming a creative entrepreneur, launching her own brand design business. For Izzy, community building is at the epicentre of what she does. She founded the Ottawa Design Club and its speaker series, which aims to highlight local creatives and foster collaboration between them. It also creates a space for networking with others in the industry, which, as we all know, is not always the easiest thing do, especially as creative entrepreneurs.  Izzy is so open about her experiences, particularly when she was steeped in an awful office culture. While most of us have experienced our colleagues treating us like shit at one time or another, not many talk about it that openly. Most of us just chalk it up and quietly move on, but it can leave lasting scars that often take years to get over. Follow Izzy on Instagram

This week we're speaking to Ihor Hulyahrodskyy, founder and creative director of Ochi Design, based in Vancouver, Canada. Ochi Design is a presentation agency that helps startups and companies raise funds, sell products, explain complex ideas, and hire great people.  Ihor hails originally from Ukraine, and his story is incredible. He’s so open about the specific challenges of running his own creative business, but what’s more amazing is that he’s faced these challenges under the shadow of war and migrating to a new country. To say he’s resilient, and adaptable is an understatement, but that experience has shifted his focus: now he looks to prioritise projects that align with his values above all. Follow Ochi on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow Ihor on Instagram and LinkedIn

This week, Linds talks to Nataliya Volosovych, a portrait and event photographer based in Rotterdam. Nataliya’s personal story is not only incredibly interesting, it also highlights the power of the mid-life career pivot. Nataliya had the first sparks of her love of photography early on via her father, who was a photography hobbyist, but she didn’t act upon it until well into her professional career climbing the corporate ladder. She took the leap and hasn’t looked back. For her, while she encourages women to follow their passions, she also is a huge proponent of building support systems and having a community to support you on your entrepreneurial journey. No entrepreneurial journey is the same, and while each of us face challenges that are unique, having others nearby to cheer and commiserate with can make all the difference between giving up and resilience. Linds and Nataliya get into the tricky parts of balancing the creative parts with business, how to define success, why the creative industries are screaming for business training and much more. Profile Studiohttps://www.profilestudio.nl/InstagramLinkedIn FotoDelrayhttps://www.fotodelray.com/InstagramLinkedIn Cloudfields https://cloudfields.cc/ Instagram Linkedin

This week Linds catches up with Susann Eva Goerg, founder first of Happy Homes, which will soon be transitioning to her eponymous Interior Design Studio. German-born and based in New York, her art-forward approach is interesting as so often art consultants tend to be brought in later in the design process - to add the finishing touches, as it were.  For Susann, it’s not so. To her it’s crucial to consider the art from the beginning of the design process, not only because it enhances it, but also because deepens the client’s story and connection to their space overall.   Linds and Susann get into how she’s running her business, the power of delegating to others, and how personally passion is a core part of selling her service. Also, how essential boundaries are and her way of balancing business and creativity.  Instagram / LinkedInAssessment/Quiz: Is Your Home Living Up to Its Potential? Website

This week, Linds speaks to Maria Sundqvist, fashion stylist and blogger, and fellow Amsterdammer.  Maria lives and breathes colour - her passion of styling and fashion is bright, energetic, and ultimately about helping her clients feel amazing. Styling plays a big role in boosting her clients' confidence and helping them discover their unique style. To Maria, the transformative power of fashion and the importance of embracing one's personal style is the ultimate self-expression that leads to true comfort in being in one's own skin. https://www.fashionandrepeat.com/ @fashionandrepeat @cloudfields.cc

In this podcast, we speak to Keir Regan-Alexander, architect and founder of Arka Works, a creative consultancy specialising in the Built Environment and AI. He discusses the impact of AI on the architectural profession and the need for architects to embrace AI to adapt to the changing landscape. Keir and Lindsay discuss the importance of staying informed and keeping up with new AI developments, while encouraging architects to focus on their unique value and specialise in specific areas to differentiate themselves in the market. Lastly, he shares his own journey of starting Arka Works and as well as his interest in blending product design and architecture, his iterative approach to building his business, and his future plans. Keir talks openly about the challenges and rewards of running his own business and how he defines success. @arka.works.london Find him on LinkedIn @cloudfields.cc

In this conversation, Lindsay and Karel-Oscar Van Hengel, an industry expert in cold calling, discusses the importance of overcoming fear and taking action, especially in the context of cold calling. He also talks about his early career in arts and theatre and how he transitioned to sales and cold calling. He shares his approach to creating a persona for cold calling and how he discovered and signed comedians. Lindsay and KO discuss importance of sales skills and building relationships with clients. He also provides advice on detaching from money and fear and building a pipeline while overcoming rejection. @bettercallko @cloudfields.cc Karel-Oscar van Hengel (LinkedIn)

In this conversation, Lindsay interviews Giorgia Molinari, a brand designer and graphic facilitator. She's the founder of the eponymous Giorgia Molinari Studio. They discuss Giorgia's journey into design, starting her own studio, and the surprises she encountered in entrepreneurship. They also explore the concept of imposter syndrome and how Giorgia overcame it. The conversation then delves into graphic facilitation, its process, and its impact on clients. Giorgia shares highlights from running her studio and the importance of peer support. They also discuss the balance between creativity and business and how Giorgia views her studio as an enterprise. @giolinari @cloudfields.cc

In this conversation, Tom Bell, co-founder of Freehaus, discusses the ethos and approach of the architectural studio. Freehaus aims to architect fairly to shape real lives, working with end user clients and focusing on civic-facing projects. Tom emphasises the importance of shared values in the founder relationship and the need for constant communication and empathy with clients. He also discusses the transition from being a hands-on architect to a business owner and the challenges and opportunities that come with it. Tom shares the future plans for Freehaus, including expanding into residential projects and collaborating with larger practices. @freehausdesign @cloudfields.cc

In this conversation, Lindsay and Lorna discuss the importance of embracing playfulness and creativity in life. They highlight the value of engaging in activities without expectations and allowing oneself to be creative for the sake of creativity. They also emphasize that everyone has a form of creativity within them and that it is part of being human. The conversation then shifts to the challenge of balancing creativity with the business side of freelancing. Lorna shares her experience of struggling with the administrative tasks and the need for structure in managing her freelance work. They also discuss the importance of supporting neurodivergent employees in the workplace and the resources available for employers to better understand and accommodate their needs. Finally, they explore the concept of success and how it is not solely defined by external achievements, but also by personal fulfilment and acceptance. www.lornaallan.com @lornaallanad https://cloudfields.cc @cloudfields.cc

In this conversation, Daniel Nelson of October Communications discusses his PR and marketing agency that works with architects and designers. He emphasizes the importance of supporting original thinkers and helping them differentiate themselves in a crowded market. Daniel shares strategies for attracting clients through SEO and creating sales-focused websites. He also explores the challenges of balancing growth and client fit, as well as the potential for productization in the architecture industry. Daniel suggests tailoring strategies based on the stage of a practice and discusses the future of small practices through partnerships. In this conversation, Lindsay and Daniel discuss the opportunities for agile approaches in bigger architecture practices and the attractiveness of smaller practices to other studios. They explore the concept of a franchise model for architecture practices and the potential benefits of collaboration among independent agencies. They also discuss the resistance some architects have to joining a bigger organization and the challenges of implementing pre-designed visions. Daniel shares his plans for the future, including the development of online courses and a community for smaller practices. They also touch on the importance of finding the story in architecture projects and the role of AI in content generation. October Communications @octobercomms cubisly.com @cubisly Online Marketing Courses Tailored for Creative BusinessesCubisly, founded by Daniel Nelson of October Communications, offers specialised, flexible online marketing courses for architects and designers, focusing on practical strategies to enhance online presence and lead generation.  https://downloadfor.press/ Global service for creatives to help the mediaDownload for Press is a global service for architects and designers, offering a platform to create newsrooms for media assets and a concierge service for writing and distributing press releases, all at a low cost to level the playing field for smaller practices. cloudfields.cc

This week is the last week before we all disappear for the holidays, so just for fun, we turned the tables and my brilliant colleague Kat interviewed me.  We dive in to the last nine months of working together, the challenges of 2023, how I work, what my plans are and what the future just might hold. It's always great to chat with Kat, and was fun to reflect on the year together and our experiences so far. www.cloudfields.cc @cloudfields.cc

Find out more about Fettle: https://fettle-design.co.uk/ @fettledesign Find out more about Cloudfields: https://cloudfields.cc/ @cloudfields.cc Summary Andy and Tom discuss their journey of starting Fettle Design, an interior architecture and design studio specialising in hospitality design. They talk about the challenges of managing a split between London and LA, structuring the business, and balancing creativity with the demands of running a business. They emphasize the importance of staying current in the industry and the need to delegate responsibilities to allow for growth. They also discuss the impact of family life on their work and the future plans for the studio. Tom and Andy discuss their diverse range of projects and the excitement of coming to the end of a cycle. They also talk about how they negotiated the pandemic and the challenges and benefits of hybrid working. They share their strategies for managing remote communication and the software tools they use. They also discuss the decision to not name their studio after themselves and where to find their work. Takeaways Starting a business in multiple locations requires effective communication and collaboration Hospitality design offers more creative freedom and a dynamic workflow compared to residential projects Balancing creativity and business is a challenge, but delegating responsibilities can free up time for creative pursuits Staying current in the industry requires proactive research and attending industry events Maintaining a work-life balance is essential for long-term success and personal well-being. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background01:09 Split between London and LA03:30 Starting the Business in Two Locations04:10 Structuring the Business05:32 Team Collaboration06:53 Focus on Hospitality Design09:02 Challenges of Building a Business13:27 Balancing Creativity and Business16:20 Staying Current in the Industry19:15 Work-Life Balance21:18 Managing Highs and Lows23:35 Impact of Family Life27:16 Delegating Responsibilities31:43 Hiring and Nurturing Talent34:02 Future Plans34:54 Coming to the end of a cycle36:13 Diverse range of projects36:38 Negotiating the pandemic39:26 Hybrid working41:47 Managing remote communication44:49 Working remotely and software tools46:10 Naming the studio46:59 Where to find their work

In this episode we talk to Brand Strategist Emma Keyte, founder of Free Projects, to talk about her journey from working in house to building her own business, how she turns her love of words into impactful outcomes for clients, about how to see competition a bit differently and how getting the core elements in a business can lead to clarity. You can read more about Emma's work via her website https://free-projects.co.uk/ or follow her on Instagram @freeemmaldn or on LinkedIn.

In this episode we speak to Elle Bytautaite, of Studio Elle. She's an architect who set up her practice about a year ago, based in Surrey, in the UK. We talk about the ride that is the first year of business. Elle is incredibly thoughtful, ambitious, and a refreshing voice in the world of creative entrepreneurship. You can check out Studio Elle's website (https://www.studioellearchitecture.com) and be sure to follow Elle on Instagram @studio.elle.architecture.

Welcome to Understories, a podcast about the inner workings of creative business, hosted by Lindsay Faller. An understory is an ecological term for the layer underneath the tree canopy and above the forest floor. It’s teeming with life and creativity but it also doesn’t get much sunlight. It is a wonderful way to describe creative business. If we only look at what creatives create, their outputs, we miss all the hard work and graft and ingenuity it takes to make a living from creativity - all the bits that don't get much sunlight. That's the interesting part and what Understories is all about.