Art School Graduate Podcast

The Design World Ignored This Visual Culture for Decades | Shantanu Suman

What happens when a designer leaves a successful advertising career to explore the deeper meaning of design? In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with graphic designer, educator, filmmaker, and creative director Shantanu Suman for a powerful conversation about design, culture, identity, and visual storytelling. Born and raised in India, Shantanu worked at some of the world’s leading advertising agencies before moving to the United States to pursue his MFA at the University of Florida. His journey transformed the way he thought about design—from simply creating visual solutions to asking deeper questions about culture, communication, and human experience. Together, Justin and Shantanu discuss: • Growing up as a creative in India• The differences between Indian and American design culture • Why design is more than problem solving • The importance of documenting overlooked visual cultures • His award-winning documentary Horn Please and Indian truck art • Hindi typography and cultural identity in design • Building Studio 165+, a student-run design studio at Ball State University • Mentorship, collaboration, and preparing the next generation of designers • The responsibility designers carry when their work enters the world This conversation is packed with insights for graphic designers, creative directors, design students, educators, and anyone interested in the intersection of culture and creativity. If you’ve ever wondered how design shapes the way we see ourselves and the world around us, this episode is for you. Based on the interview transcript. 🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with artists, designers, educators, and creative leaders from around the world. #GraphicDesign #DesignPodcast #DesignEducation #VisualCommunication #CreativeCareers #Typography #DesignThinking #CreativeLeadership #ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast #ShantanuSuman

How African Typography Is Changing Global Design | Chisaokwu Joboson

How do you build a design career when the path doesn’t exist? In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with Nigerian brand designer, type designer, and founder of Udi Foundry, Chisaokwu Joboson, to discuss his journey from studying civil engineering to becoming one of the leading voices in African typography. Chisaokwu shares how he taught himself graphic design, discovered type design, and ultimately created Ojuju, the groundbreaking Google Fonts typeface that supports hundreds of languages and helps bring African stories, culture, and identity into the global design conversation. Together, they explore the challenges of building a creative career without formal design education, the lack of documentation surrounding African design history, and why typography is much more than letters—it is the voice of a culture. This conversation is a must-watch for graphic designers, brand designers, typography enthusiasts, creative entrepreneurs, students, and anyone interested in the future of African design. ⸻ 💡 In This Episode: • How Chisaokwu transitioned from civil engineering to graphic design • Teaching yourself design without a traditional design school • Why African typography matters • The story behind Ojuju and Google Fonts • Building Udi Foundry and TypeAfrica • The relationship between brand design and type design • Why typography is the voice of a brand • Preserving African languages through design • Creating opportunities when no roadmap exists • The future of African typography and design education ⸻ 🎙 About Chisaokwu Joboson Chisaokwu Joboson is a Nigerian brand designer, type designer, and founder of Udi Foundry. His work focuses on creating culturally relevant typefaces that support African languages and storytelling. He is the creator of Ojuju, a typeface featured on Google Fonts, and an advocate for making type design education more accessible across Africa. ⸻ 📌 Topics Covered African Design African Typography Type Design Graphic Design Brand Identity Design Google Fonts Creative Careers Design Education Visual Identity Typography Design African Creatives Design Culture Brand Strategy Self-Taught Designer Creative Entrepreneurship ⸻ Subscribe for more conversations with designers, artists, illustrators, creative directors, educators, and cultural leaders shaping the future of creativity. #AfricanDesign #Typography #GraphicDesign #TypeDesign #BrandIdentity #GoogleFonts #CreativeCareers #DesignPodcast #AfricanCreatives #DesignEducation

How Maurice Woods Went From Pro Basketball to Microsoft Design Leader

In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin Robinson sits down with designer, educator, and founder Maurice Woods for a powerful conversation about creativity, identity, representation, and building purpose through design. Maurice Woods is a Principal Designer at Microsoft, a former professional basketball player, and the founder of Inneract Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating access and opportunities for underrepresented youth in design and tech. From growing up in Richmond, California, to playing professional basketball overseas, to becoming a leader in the design industry, Maurice shares the real story behind his journey and the lessons he’s learned navigating sports, creativity, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and representation in corporate America. This conversation dives deep into: * The transition from basketball to graphic design * What it means to be a Black designer in tech * Building Inneract Project from the ground up * Why representation in design matters * The importance of mentorship and community * Creativity, purpose, and identity * How design shapes culture and society * AI, the future of design, and staying relevant * Entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for others If you’re a creative, designer, student, educator, entrepreneur, or someone trying to find purpose in your work, this episode is filled with wisdom, honesty, and inspiration. ⸻ 🔗 Learn more about Inneract Project: https://www.inneractproject.org 🎙️ Subscribe to The Art School Graduate Podcast for more conversations with artists, designers, educators, and creative leaders shaping culture and the future of creativity. #MauriceWoods #GraphicDesign #DesignPodcast #BlackDesigners #MicrosoftDesign #UXDesign #CreativeCareers #InneractProject #DesignEducation #ArtSchoolGraduate #ProductDesign #CreativeJourney #DesignLeadership #RepresentationMatters #PodcastInterview

From PowerPoint Designs to Creative Director | Jaye Thompson on Creativity, Culture & Storytelling

How do you go from making things in PowerPoint as a teenager… to building creative worlds for brands like Netflix, ESPN, and MasterClass? In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin sits down with creative director and director Jaye Thompson to discuss his journey through design, advertising, storytelling, and creative identity. From growing up outside Philadelphia to navigating the competitive world of visual communication, Jaye shares how curiosity, experimentation, and relentless creative growth shaped his path into the industry. This conversation explores the realities of agency life, the pressure to prove yourself, the transition into directing music videos, and what it truly means to create work that people feel. ⸻ Jaye opens up about the early struggles of breaking into the industry, couch surfing while chasing opportunities in New York, learning how to balance creativity with sustainability in Los Angeles, and why collaboration is essential to building meaningful work. The episode also dives deep into world-building, creative philosophy, cultural impact, and the future of storytelling across design, film, and music. ⸻ In This Episode: * Discovering graphic design through PowerPoint and visual experimentation * Transitioning from athletics into a creative career * The realities of agency life and creative burnout * Building campaigns rooted in emotion and cultural insight * Why storytelling matters more than aesthetics * Creative direction, music videos, and world-building * The importance of collaboration in modern creativity * Developing confidence and finding your creative voice * How design can move beyond advertising into culture * What creative longevity actually requires ⸻ About Jaye Thompson Jaye Thompson is a Creative Director and Director whose work lives at the intersection of design, film, and culture. His projects span advertising, motion design, music videos, photography, and visual storytelling, with work connected to brands including Netflix, ESPN, MasterClass, The North Face, and more. Through his creative collective Wish You Well, Jaye is focused on experimentation, collaboration, and building emotionally driven creative experiences. ⸻ Subscribe for More The Art School Graduate Podcast features conversations with artists, designers, filmmakers, and creative leaders sharing real stories about building careers in art, design, culture, and creative industries. ⸻ Follow Jaye Thompson Website:  Jaye Thompson Official Website Instagram: @jayethompson

Dan Lee From Chemical Engineer to Artist: Why He Risked Everything for Creativity

What does it really take to walk away from a “safe” career and build a creative life? In this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast, Justin sits down with artist, designer, and hand lettering specialist Dan Lee, also known as DanDrawnWords. From earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemical engineering to leaving it all behind, Dan shares the honest story of choosing creativity over stability. They talk about the tension between security and passion, the mindset required to pursue a creative career without a traditional path, and how Dan built his voice through lettering, storytelling, and community. This conversation also dives into the deeper side of creativity—why human-made work still matters in the age of AI, how craft connects us to meaning, and why the most impactful work is often slow, intentional, and imperfect. If you’ve ever questioned your path or felt pulled toward something more creative, this episode is for you. 💡 In This Episode:🎙️ About The Podcast • Transitioning from engineering to a creative career • Choosing creativity over stability • Building a design career without art school • The power of hand lettering and storytelling • Creativity vs algorithms and AI • Finding meaning through craft and community 🎙️ About The Podcast The Art School Graduate Podcast explores the real journeys of creatives—sharing the wins, struggles, and breakthroughs behind building a life in art and design.