From Fan Art to Published Illustrator: DeAndra Hodge on Storytelling, Style & Standing Out in KidLit
🎨 New to the channel? Subscribe and turn on notifications:👉 /@artschoolgraduate_podcastDeAndra Hodge is an illustrator, graphic designer, educator, and soon-to-be author based in Washington, D.C., best known for her vibrant children’s book illustrations, cultural storytelling, and joyful, people-centered art. She’s illustrated over ten books, including the acclaimed Beyond the Game series and Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark, with clients ranging from Nickelodeon and Café Bustelo to Puzzles of Color.In this inspiring and heartwarming episode, DeAndra shares her journey from studying fine art to becoming a published illustrator, why Procreate is her creative soulmate, and how she blends design thinking into her illustration process. We also talk about drawing influence from West African and Greco-Roman art, using Tumblr-era fandoms for inspiration, and why knowing who you are makes all the difference in the publishing world.Whether you’re a student, a creative entrepreneur, or a fellow children’s book illustrator, this episode will fill you with creative fuel and a deeper appreciation for the intersection of art, culture, and joy.✨ This episode is for you if:🔗 Connect with DeAndra Hodge:🛠️ Tools & Topics Mentioned:You want to break into children’s illustration or graphic novelsYou’re navigating the freelance world with creativity and purposeYou’re curious about blending design and illustration in your workflowYou want to use storytelling to make your art more impactfulYou’re inspired by joyful, culturally rooted visuals🌐 Website: https://www.deandrahodge.com📸 Instagram: @deandrahodge_🎧 More Podcast Episodes:https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcastProcreate vs. Adobe FrescoCultural and historical influences (West African, Art Deco, Bauhaus)Working with art directors and optimizing for printBuilding confidence through personal storytellingTransitioning from design student to professional illustrator#DeAndraHodge #ChildrenBookIllustrator #ProcreateArtist #DesignThinking #BlackIllustrators #CreativeJourney #WomenInPublishing #FreelanceLife #IllustrationPodcast #ArtSchoolGradPodcast
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Stephanie Brown on Identity, Colorism & Building a Sustainable Creative Career
🔥 New to the channel? Subscribe and turn on notifications:👉 / @artschoolgraduate_podcast🎨 Stephanie Brown is an interdisciplinary artist and host of IN BTWN ARTIST, a podcast about sustainable creative careers. Rooted in her Jamaican and Black American heritage, Stephanie’s work spans photography, installation, and writing, interrogating identity, colorism, and the global impacts of systemic racism. With degrees from SCAD and the University of Michigan, she creates powerful work that educates, sparks empathy, and challenges us to think critically about who we are and who we choose to become.💼 In this episode, Stephanie shares how her time on a cruise ship opened her eyes to global colorism, why she pursued an MFA, and how she built a career that bridges art, education, and entrepreneurship. We delve into what it means to be creative.Whether you’re exploring your identity, building a freelance career, or simply searching for belonging in your creative work, this conversation will move you.🔗 Connect with Stephanie Brown:Website: https://www.stephaniebphotos.com/Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@stephaniesquared/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniesquared_/🎧 More Podcast Episodes:https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast📚 Resources Mentioned:– IN BTWN ARTIST Podcast– Museum Studies + MFA experience– Interdisciplinary Art practices– Creative sustainability + financial stability– Tools: Photography, installation, creative writing📌 This episode is for you if:You’re exploring identity as a Black or Brown creativeYou want to understand what “interdisciplinary artist” truly meansYou’re curious about sustainable creative careersYou’ve faced colorism or systemic barriers in your journeyYou’re ready to build agency and critical thinking through your art#StephanieBrown #InBtwnArtist #BlackCreatives #CreativeEntrepreneur #ArtWithPurpose #InterdisciplinaryArtist #Colorism #ArtAsActivism #DesignPodcast #CreativeProcess #ArtSchoolGradPodcast #IdentityAndArt #BlackArtistsMatter
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Designing with Purpose: Bria Alexander on Inclusive Leadership, AI, and Thriving at Adobe
🎙️ New to the channel? Subscribe and turn on notifications:/ @artschoolgraduate_podcastBria Alexander is a powerhouse creative leader at Adobe serving as a Design Program Manager, inclusive design advocate, AI strategist, and public speaker. In this dynamic conversation, Bria takes us through her inspiring journey from sales enablement to the heart of design operations, proving that where you start isn’t where you’ll end up.We unpack how Bria navigates complex design systems, embraces inclusive language, leads with empathy, and uses AI tools like ChatGPT and Firefly to supercharge her work and personal life. We also dive into how she sets boundaries, builds community, and why she believes in opening doors for the next generation of creatives.Whether you're in tech, creative leadership, or transitioning into a new role, this episode is full of gems you don’t want to miss.🎯 This episode is for you if...✔️ You’re pivoting into tech or design from a non-traditional background✔️ You want to use AI tools responsibly and creatively✔️ You care about inclusive design and community building✔️ You’re navigating burnout, boundaries, or balance✔️ You lead or work on a multidisciplinary creative team🔗 Connect with Bria AlexanderLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/briaalexanderInstagram: https://instagram.com/briaismynameTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@briaismynameWine + Spirits Business: https://instagram.com/somali.aidOffice Hours: Book via her LinkedIn!🎧 More Podcast Episodes:https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast📚 Resources Mentioned:– Rosenfeld Design Ops Summit– Book: Digital Feudalism– CAA Internship– The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho– ChatGPT, Aura Ring, Apple Watch, and health tracking tools#BriaAlexander #DesignOps #InclusiveDesign #WomenInTech #CreativeLeadership #AdobeFirefly #BlackInTech #AIandDesign #CommunityOverCompetition #ArtSchoolGradPodcast #HowardUniversityAlumni #DesignProgramManager #CreativeCareerPath #LifeWillLifeYou
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Logo Lessons, Icon Design, and AI Hot Takes with Scott Fuller
🎙️ New to the channel? Subscribe and turn on notifications:/ @artschoolgrad_podcastScott Fuller is the founder of The Studio Temporary, a branding and illustration studio known for its bold simplicity, blue-collar work ethic, and vintage-inspired soul. A longtime favorite at Creative South, Scott brings both humor and honesty to every conversation, unpacking 20+ years of lessons in logo design, identity systems, and creative resilience.In this episode, Scott shares how he transitioned from drawing on napkins in the breakroom to launching his own studio, working with notable brands such as Coca-Cola, the Atlanta Braves, and Johnnie Walker. We discuss creative discipline, the art of storytelling through design, why hand sketching still matters, and what it truly means to grow as a designer over time.Whether you’re building a design career from scratch or looking to reconnect with your creative roots, this episode will inspire you to trust your gut, do the work, and design with purpose.This episode is for you if:You want to learn how to evolve as a designer over the decades.You're building a freelance or studio practice from the ground up.You're passionate about logo design, iconography, or identity systems.You’re curious about how to blend analog and digital in your process.Have you ever been told you “shouldn’t” go out on your own🎧 Listen now — and if you're a creative educator, student, or logo nerd, this one’s a must.Connect with Scott Fuller:Website: https://www.thestudiotemporary.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiotemporary/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thestudiotemporary/🎒 More Podcast Episodes:https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcastResources Mentioned:– The Studio Temporary– Creative South– Sketchbooks & analog process– Icon design workshops– Client red flags & favorite winsHashtags:#ScottFuller #TheStudioTemporary #LogoDesign #BrandIdentity #CreativeSouth #DesignPodcast #ArtSchoolGraduate #IconDesign #DesignEducation #SketchToScreen #DesignWithPurpose #CreativeEntrepreneur #DesignStudioLife #ArtSchoolGradPodcast
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From the Army to Award-Winning Designer: Joseph Bullard on Branding, Teaching & Creative Growth!
New to the channel? Subscribe and turn on notifications: @artschoolgradpodcast.Joseph Bullard is a designer, educator, podcast host, and creative storyteller—known for his bold identity work, thoughtful brand strategy, and commitment to shaping the next generation of designers. From serving as a U.S. Army Sergeant to teaching Visual Communication at Austin Community College, Joseph’s path proves that creativity can come from anywhere. He’s built a portfolio that spans clients like Dungeons & Dragons, The New Yorker, and Studio Dzo—all while hosting Students of Design, a podcast dedicated to elevating design voices and conversations.n this inspiring deep dive, Joseph shares how he transitioned from military life to the creative world, why cultural heritage shapes his work, and the lessons he’s learned from both his own projects and his podcast guests. We explore his design process, his approach to teaching, and how he bridges the gap between professional practice and student creativity.Whether you’re:Navigating the leap into the design industryLooking to strengthen your creative processInterested in no-code web tools and identity designReady to balance teaching, client work, and personal projectsCurious about building a design-centered podcast and communityIn This Episode:Intro — Who is Joseph Bullard?From the U.S. Army to the design worldEarly lessons from Marc English DesignTeaching at Austin Community CollegeBuilding the Students of Design podcastWorking with clients like Dungeons & Dragons and The New YorkerRebranding Horse Creek ResortBARKSwag: from passion project to businessDesign pricing transparency and valueThe role of cultural heritage in creative workBalancing personal projects with professional demandsBurnout, reset routines, and finding inspirationWhat success means to Joseph now#JosephBullard #DesignPodcast #GraphicDesign #BrandIdentity #BlackCreatives #CreativeProcess #StudentsOfDesign #DesignEducation #VisualCommunication #NoCodeWebsites #CreativeBusiness #ArtSchoolGradPodcast
🎙️ Welcome to The Art School Graduate Podcast — your go-to art podcast for creative minds. I'm Justin, a proud Black art school grad exploring the world of visual art, street art, graphic design, and creative careers.
Each week, I sit down with artists, illustrators, and designers to talk about their journey, creative process, and real-world advice. Whether you're into typography, freelance design, or just looking for creative inspiration, this is your space.
🎨 Subscribe for weekly artist interviews, design tips, and creative podcast content that fuels your passion.
Ireland