Shows
UnderstoriesDaisy Dier James: Protecting CreativityThis 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 cr...
2024-11-121h 03
UnderstoriesJohn Sewell: The Business of ArtThis 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 se...
2024-10-2956 min
UnderstoriesLauren Gonzalez: Transforming a Business through Persistence and LearningThis 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.
2024-10-1554 min
UnderstoriesJulia Jelinska: Unlocking Creativity with LEGOThis 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...
2024-10-011h 00
Earning by Design: Graphic Design, Freelancing, Business Marketing StrategiesEp. 34: Overcoming Challenges in Creative Entrepreneurship with Lindsay FallerText us your questions, and we'll address them in the show!In this episode of Earning by Design, I welcome Lindsay Faller, a seasoned business strategist with over 20 years of experience helping creative entrepreneurs build successful and profitable businesses. Lindsay shares her unique approach to balancing creativity with business strategy, emphasizing the importance of protecting your creative passion while constructing a solid operational foundation around it.We delve into common challenges faced by creatives, such as pricing your work appropriately, fostering patience in growth, and standing out in a crowded market. Lindsay also introduces the...
2024-09-2433 min
UnderstoriesEmanuele Del Rosso: Visual Metaphors in a Political WorldThis 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.
Fi...
2024-09-1756 min
UnderstoriesMatt Dixon: Antique Passion, Modern ApproachSeason 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 i...
2024-09-0352 min
UnderstoriesLinds + Kat: Understories Season 1 Wrap UpThis 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 r...
2024-06-2555 min
UnderstoriesKimberly Pepper: Creating a Business for your LifeThis 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 c...
2024-06-1156 min
UnderstoriesHeather Crank: Disruption and Opportunity with AIThis 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 commu...
2024-05-2857 min
UnderstoriesIsabelle Poirier: The Power of Community BuildingThis 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...
2024-05-1451 min
UnderstoriesIhor Hulyahrodskyy: Finding Joy to Make a DifferenceThis 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...
2024-04-301h 01
UnderstoriesNataliya Volosovych: Passion and Connection on the Creative JourneyThis 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 propon...
2024-04-161h 00
UnderstoriesSusann Eva Goerg: Closing the Gap between Art + DesignThis 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 connect...
2024-04-0255 min
UnderstoriesMaria Sundqvist: The Transformative Power of FashionThis 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
2024-03-1955 min
UnderstoriesKeir Regan-Alexander: AI and the Future of ArchitectureIn 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...
2024-03-0553 min
UnderstoriesKarel-Oscar van Hengel: Cold Sales without FearIn 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...
2024-02-201h 07
UnderstoriesGiorgia Molinari: Building a Career through CuriousityIn 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.
...
2024-02-0642 min
UnderstoriesTom Bell: Know Your Value and Your ValuesIn 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.
2024-01-2353 min
UnderstoriesLorna Allan: Neurodiversity and Living a Creative LifeIn 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...
2024-01-161h 05
UnderstoriesDaniel Nelson: Differentiation in a Crowded MarketIn 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...
2024-01-091h 00
UnderstoriesLinds + Kat: Q&A with CloudfieldsThis 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
2023-12-1953 min
UnderstoriesAndy Goodwin + Tom Parker: Growing an International StudioFind 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...
2023-12-1948 min
UnderstoriesEmma Keyte: On the Power of WordsIn 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.
2023-12-0559 min
UnderstoriesElle Bytautaite: On Choosing Independence And Being AuthenticIn 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.
2023-11-2849 min
UnderstoriesUnderstories TrailerWelcome 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...
2023-11-2600 min
Beyond CodingPersonal Values, Creative Entrepreneurship and Process with Lindsay FallerConnect with Lindsay Faller:
https://cloudfields.cc
https://www.instagram.com/cloudfields.cc
https://www.lindsayfaller.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-faller-2277243
Full episode on YouTube ▶️
https://youtu.be/1vPDA54Yg9k
New episodes every Wednesday with our host 🎙Patrick Akil!
Big shoutout to Xebia for sponsoring this episode!
OUTLINE00:00:00 - Intro00:00:23 - Podcasting experiences00:02:10 - Comparing yourself to others00:03:45 - Moving goal posts00:05:18 - Acting within your values00:06:57 - Lindsay's core values00:09:12 - How to find your core values00:13:08 - Self development00:15:27 - Sharing career...
2023-09-2757 min