In this episode we speak with the extraordinarily talented Kayla Gray! Kayla is a Graphic Designer for American Structurepoint and alumna of the Indiana State University Graphic Design program. We discuss Kayla’s job working as a designer alongside engineers, Structurepoint’s fantastic onboarding, the Cracker Barrel logo, Mark finally watches It’s Always Sunny, Dan searches the Internet for Milk Steak, and why Kristen serves separate hams for the adults and children during the holidays....

Welcome to Episode 35: Designer Downtime! In this episode, the Team discusses what young designers can do with their downtime, whether that be from school or in off-work hours. We discuss how to find an internship and also and how to fill the experience holes in your résumé if you haven’t had a summer internship. We’ll go over ideas including mentorship, shadowing, networking, and in-person or digital events, culminating in a list of ideas to help you boost your design skills and experi...

In light of Google’s new video editor the Team tackles the topic of AI again. We talk about the pros and cons that could come from the extreme power of AI tools currently, diving into media production and consumption patterns, safe ways to interact with AI creations, and the over-saturation of the market. Discussions surround why people may shy away from the disingenuous and seek out real connections. Is AI media transitory? Will authenticity win out? Kristen doesn’t answer Mark‘s questions a...

Join us this episode as The Team chats with Project Manager, Designer, Researcher, and World Traveler Alissa Cook. We’ll discuss the benefits of taking a service-driven gap year after design school, using design expertise to understand the user in any situation, and really accepting experiences that open your eyes to all that design can be. Alissa demonstrates how stepping away from a traditional design path and following personal interests really shaped the unique design career she has today...

Welcome back! In this episode, Kristen and Lauren are joined by Trevor Minton, Chief Experience Officer at Openfield in Cincinnati. Join us as we discuss the ways we've seen the design industry narrow and focus on specialities, using design as a mindset and solving problems outside of your job, and the importance of being flexible and accepting new technologies in an ever-evolving landscape of design tools. We cover how to be a problem solver instead of a problem finder and important moments ...

In this episode, Mark, Dan, and Kristen field questions from the wonderful Graphic Design students of Indiana State University! The Q&A covers a multitude of subjects from imposter syndrome, the differences between art and creative directors, should you go to graduate school as a visual artist if you never intend to teach, and lots more! Host, Producer, & Editor - Mark Cela Host, Director, & Script Writer - Kristen Pericleous Host, Social Media Manager, Social Media Content ...

To celebrate the end of Season 3, Mark, Kristen, Dan, and Lauren visit the Okay Team! Lounge, where they have drinks and discuss everything BUT graphic design. Subjects include the upcoming Season 4 of the podcast, some movie reviews, a little bit of reality TV, and gaming. There is a lot of laughter and geeky content with this episode, but they'll back in Season 4 with more design news, guests, and possibly an episode with a class of college graphic design students asking questio...

In this episode, the Team chats with Haley Moore, VP of Design, about her career path from designer to manager and how she came to terms with embracing her natural ability to lead projects and being comfortable managing a team of very skilled designers. She discusses taking leaps in her career in order to not lean away from her natural skillsets, even if they are hard to recognize, and being ok with the concept of not being the best at something. Haley also discusses the traits and qua...

In this episode, The Team discuss costly mistakes they've made in their careers, how they addressed them, and how to you should address your own $10K mistakes when you make them (and you will). Host, Producer, & Editor - Mark Cela Host, Director, & Script Writer - Kristen Pericleous Host, Social Media Manager, Social Media Content Creator, & Editor - Dan Lawson Host, Website Director - Lauren DeMarks

In this episode The Team speaks with Highmark Health UX (User Experience) Researcher Autumn Gilbert! Host, Producer, & Editor - Mark Cela Host, Director, & Script Writer - Kristen Pericleous Host, Social Media Manager, Social Media Content Creator, & Editor - Dan Lawson Host, Website Director - Lauren DeMarks

Listen in as The Team discusses career pivots and offers insight for each step of the process. We cover advice for researching your intended field, seeking out opportunities to develop new and necessary skills, building up a refreshed portfolio and online presence, and ways to find a new network within the niche of design you hope to enter. Finally, we address many of the biggest concerns of pivoting and solutions for how to handle them as they arise! Host, Producer, & Editor - Mark ...

We're excited to have professional Photographer Todd Kuhns on this episode, where he talks about the state of photography as an industry, advice for young photographers and designers, and how design could learn from the last 20 years of how photography has evolved. Todd's work may be found at his website and YouTube channel:Studio12online.comTodd Kuhns on YouTubeHost, Producer, & Editor - Mark CelaHost, Director, & Script Writer - Kristen PericleousHost, Social Media Manager, So...

In this episode, Kristen, Dan, and Lauren discuss the importance and impact of soft skills in your design role and job hunting. The Team covers what soft skills are, how you can talk about them in interviews, and how you build on them throughout your career.Host, Producer, & Editor - Mark CelaHost, Director, & Script Writer - Kristen PericleousHost, Social Media Manager, Social Media Content Creator, & Editor - Dan LawsonHost, Website Director - Lauren DeMarks

EPISODE 23: Storytelling Your WorkOn this episode, the Team discusses tips and tactics for presenting your creative work and ideas in a storytelling narrative. We present ideas for ways to mesh verbal and visual cues to guide you and the audience through your work and how to present ideas in the most professional and goal-oriented manner. We give ideas for how to streamline your narrative, show off your creative process, set up your website, and, sometimes most difficult of all, how to verbal...

In this episode, the Team talks about professional mentorship in design. They discuss how mentor/mentee relationships are different from what you may have experienced in school, how those relationships form, and what it means to be a good mentor. Egg-timer news this week covers the team’s favorite features announced at Apple’s WWDC event. Digressions include how to pronounce “biopic,” business card design, and poorly drawn billboards. Host, Producer, & Editor - Mark CelaHost, Directo...

On this episode, the Team celebrates the start of season three by welcoming new, full-time host, Lauren DeMarks! Egg Timer News covers the launch and huge take off of artist-friendly social media site, Cara, along with our predictions for its future. We then dive into the dreaded world of group projects, focusing on working with other disciplines and their ways of problem solving, the importance of communication and speaking up, and also time management. We share tips on planning for successf...

Welcome to a special edition as we wrap up Season 2; the Ok, Team Lounge! In this episode, your hosts will cover a variety of topics outside the world of design and discuss their passions. Buckle up, as the Team covers Dan’s new podcast, horror movies, video games, tv shows we’re loving, D&D, Nicholas Cage’s acting prowess, and Kristen’s favorite cryptid; Bigfoot. We also have a special announcement; Lauren DeMarks will be joining us next season as a full time host! Host, Producer, &...

Indiana State University Professor Nancy Nicols-Pethick joins the team to talk shop and how she uses her unique experiences to push students to find passion in their work, learn how to address failures, and recognize how to aim for higher personal standards rather than settling for their current skill level. We cover mastering creative foundations, work/life balance, and, of course, her thoughts on AI. Join us and our wonderful guest as we discuss art, passion, and finding creativity in the s...

In this episode, the Team talks about accessibility and design. Guest host Lauren DeMarks talks about user experience (UX) design and the spectrum of use cases for ensuring equitable experiences regardless of temporary or long-term physical disabilities. Show Notes:Overall, what does it mean to have accessible design? Lauren, would you like to give us a definition or overview? OVERVIEW Accessibility is the practice of making sure a product, environment or service can be used by...

In this episode guest host Lauren DeMarks joins the Team as talks about ways to level up as a graphic designer. Show Notes:What does it mean to “level up?”More than just software skills, aesthetic, or even becoming more efficientHigher level of performance, thinking, innovating, systems thinking, etc…Tangible markers of successful leveling up:PromotionTitle changeRaiseResponsibilities change/increaseOn reflection, softer markers like just feeling more confident in doing something you wer...