Creative Lives

On Creative Lives this week, we chat to Chrystal Genesis, the London-based journalist, cultural programmer and creator of acclaimed podcast Stance. We hear all about her career journey to date, from blagging her way onto a media course despite being under-age, to her varied experience at the BBC as a producer in both the UK and the US. On top of this, we also gain brilliant insight into the podcasting process, with advice on how to hone your idea, edit a story and – most importantly – how to monetise your show. ... This episode of Creative Lives was brought to you by Lecture in Progress; it was presented by Indi Davies, the editor was Ivor Manly, with production support from Laura Snoad. Lecture in Progress is made possible with the support of our brand partners – they include G . F Smith, Google, giffgaff, Colophon Foundry and The Paul Smith Foundation.

This week we chat to Wilfrid Wood, a London-based artist and sculptor who, through the medium of plasticine, transforms celebs and politicians into incredibly well-observed – and often very funny – versions of themselves. As well as being commissioned to create these portraits for editorial and commercial projects, Wilfid also runs workshops teaching people how to capture the essence of others in 3D. A Central Saint Martins graphics graduate, he worked a string of dull jobs before scoring a traineeship on 90s satirical TV show Spitting Image – an experience that shaped his whole career. Wilfrid shares his advice on nailing public speaking, the importance of having several strings to your bow, and how it’s ok not to have a clue what you’re doing in your twenties. ... This episode of Creative Lives was brought to you by Lecture in Progress. It was presented by Indi Davies. The editor was Ivor Manly, with production support from Laura Snoad. Lecture in Progress is made possible with the support of our brand partners – they include G . F Smith, Google, Sky Creative Agency, giffgaff, Colophon Foundry and The Paul Smith Foundation.

Our guest on the podcast this week is London-based art director, designer and illustrator Aries Moross. Best known for their energetic, joyful and colourful work for clients like MTV, One Direction and the Spice Girls, Aries has also earned a reputation for radical transparency, calling out poor employment practices, and being refreshingly open about subjects like money, diversity and their non-binary identity. Here Aries shares their advice on managing your money, working for free, being opinionated in your output and using social media, rather than letting it use you. ... This episode of Creative Lives was brought to you by Lecture in Progress; it was presented by Indi Davies, the editor was Ivor Manly, with production support from Laura Snoad. Lecture in Progress is made possible with the support of our brand partners – they include G . F Smith, Google, Sky Creative Agency, giffgaff, Colophon Foundry and The Paul Smith Foundation. *Please note: This podcast was recorded before Aries changed their name.

On the podcast this week, we’re joined by Yinka Illori, an artist and designer whose colourful, pattern-filled work brings a joyful approach to a broad range of disciplines from furniture design and architecture to exhibition design and graphics. Looking back over his career, Yinka tells us about the hustle he inherited from his parents, answering client emails from his job at Marks & Spencer and the point he nearly gave it all up. Listen in for his advice on dealing with money worries and tips on how to stay motivated when you’re waiting for your big break. ... This episode of Creative Lives was brought to you by Lecture in Progress. It was presented by Indi Davies. The editor was Ivor Manly, with production support from Laura Snoad. Lecture in Progress is made possible with the support of our brand partners – they include G . F Smith, Google, Sky Creative Agency, giffgaff, Colophon Foundry and The Paul Smith Foundation.

On this week’s podcast we sit down with Dem Gerolemou, a visual designer at Google Health. It was after graduating from Winchester School of Art’s graphic design course, that Dem came across his true passion – product design. He soon found himself working in healthcare at ustwo, as part of the team at AI company, DeepMind. Now based at Google’s offices in Kings Cross, we meet with Dem to talk about the highs and lows of working in health, the importance of embracing uncertainty and using design to solve real-world problems.