Revision Path

Every designer or artist wants to be able to make a living from their work, and this week’s guest embodies that desire. Generally, Kamar Thomas splits his time between being a design educator at two institutions — Centennial College and VCAD — but outside the classroom, he’s a prolific artist who specializes in vibrant oil paintings filled with deep meaning. He also just finished his first book, The Artist’s Creative Vision, which publishes this winter. Very nice!Kamar started off talking about his teaching career, which also includes stints in the U.S. and Jamaica, and he talked about getting into art and painting as a kid before attending college at Wesleyan. He also spoke on the themes of the Black figure, masks, and abstraction in his work, his first gallery show this year, and what he ultimately wants to convey in his paintings. For Kamar, you can make art from wherever, and also have a great career!LinksKamar Thomas’ WebsiteKamar Thomas on InstagramKamar Thomas on TwitterThe Artist’s Creative VisionFor

I became familiar with Gusto several months ago through my last gig, and I was so pleased with the user experience that I had to find out who some of the folks were behind it. And wouldn’t you know it — one of them happens to be a former 28 Days of the Web honoree. Meet Jeff Jean-Baptiste!After a quick check-in to see how things are going, Jeff talked about his role as a product designer and gave some info on his behind-the-scenes design work at the company. From there, Jeff shared his origin story of growing up in Miami, how anime became his gateway to art, and talked about his interest in architecture and how that drives his current design focus. He even gave some insight into the Orlando design community and talked about finding success at this point his career.For Jeff — and for all of us, really — anything worth having is worth working hard towards. So get out there and make it happen!LinksJeff Jean-Baptiste’s WebsiteJeff Jean-Baptiste on InstagramJeff Jean-Baptiste on LinkedInJeff Jean-Baptiste on Twitt

I love when interviews sometimes bring out unexpected connections. Take this week’s guest, Corey Jones. As creative director at Forum One, Corey specializes in branding, animation, and interactive design. But as you’ll find out from our conversation, he got his start from a Black design studio we featured back in 2016! It’s a small world!Corey and I talked at length about his work at Forum One, and he shared his story of growing up outside of Pittsburgh and studying design in college. We also talked about his early career, his YouTube channel, creative burnout, and his line of barbecue sauce with his twin brother. Corey is proof that with hard work and determination, you can make a career out of creativity for yourself!LinksCorey Jones’ WebsiteCorey Jones on LinkedInCorey Jones on TwitterCreative Director StudioJones’en BBQFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Apply to Join The Tenth CollectiveAre you a Black designer looking for work? Join Th

Avid listeners of the podcast know that whenever I have a Black design educator on the show, eventually I’m going to bring up my alma mater, Morehouse College. And while I’ve had a few Morehouse alums on the show in the past, I’m really excited to have an actual Morehouse faculty member — Dr. Perry Sweeper — as a guest this week. Has Morehouse leveled up since I was a student there *cough cough* years ago?After a quick summer check-in, we talked about Morehouse’s software engineering major, and about how it feels teaching at a school with such a historic reputation. From there, Dr. Sweeper told the story about growing up in Baltimore, attending Morgan State University, and how his post-grad career led him into education. With great minds like Dr. Sweeper teaching the next generation, I think we’re going to be in good hands for the future!LinksDr. Perry Sweeper on LinkedInFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Join The Tenth CollectiveAre you a

When I tell you I have wanted to have this week’s guest on the show for years? LISTEN. I’m so glad to bring you this conversation with the one and only Agyei Archer — typographer, design director, and all-around creative powerhouse.We touched on a number of different topics, including his brilliant type design work, and how he built two businesses during the pandemic. He also shared how his motivation to succeed comes from his connection to the Caribbean, and talked about how he balances design, tech, his work with Unqueue, and exploring new type design projects. There are a lot of things to fix in this world, but if you’ve got skills like Agyei, then that just means your next project is right around the corner. Get on it!LinksAgyei Archer’s WebsiteAgyei Archer on InstagramAgyei Archer on TwitterUnqueueUnqueue StudioFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Apply to Join The Tenth CollectiveAre you a Black designer looking for work? Join The Tenth

I don’t know about you, but that whole “they sleep we grind” mentality of working is not the move. There can be a lot of external pressure to constantly push yourself to the limit with your work, but there’s also payoffs from doing work at a pace that makes sense to you. That’s what drew me to talk with this week’s guest, Traci L. Turner.We started our conversation on building creative momentum after big life changes, and she talked about her new focus on portraiture as well as her current artistic process (including doing a podcast). She also spoke on growing up in DC, attending college, and the challenge of balancing her art with a 9-to-5 job in her early career. Traci also shared some of her goals for this next chapter of her journey as an artist. It can be easy to get caught up with trying to compare yourself to what others are doing, but take Traci’s advice: just feel comfortable with doing what you want to do!LinksTraci L. Turner’s WebsiteTraci L. Turner on InstagramTraci L. Turner on TikTokTraci L. Tur

Our paths have crossed several times over the past couple of years, but I finally managed to sit down and chat with the one and only Dr. Lesley-Ann Noel. Along with being an author, design educator, and community builder, she is one of the editors behind The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Expression & Reflection, a compilation of essays from over 70 Black designers, artists, curators, educators, students, and researchers.Our conversation began with some good news about a recent grand that she won, and from there we talked about her areas research and what she teaches. Dr. Noel spoke about growing up in Trinidad and Tobago and studying design in Brazil, including becoming a Fulbright Scholar and arriving at North Carolina State University. She also talked about motivation, ambition, and about the importance of finding your own community.Take Dr. Noel’s advice — the world of design is a lot bigger than you think!LinksDr. Lesley-Ann Noel on LinkedInDr. Lesley-Ann Noel on TwitterFor extended show notes

The thing I love most about doing Revision Path is that I’m able to talk with people doing truly amazing work, and I get to share that conversation with the world. Such is the case with this week’s guest, Yao Adantor. Along with being an avid product researcher, he’s the founder of two companies: a technology service firm called Analog Teams, and Research Bookmark, which has been dubbed “the Google for UX researchers.” And that’s not all!We talked about how 2022 has unfolded for him so far, including his UX research work at Bolt and how he balances his time between work, his companies, and his growing family. Yao also spoke on how companies are feeling the need for UX researchers, and from there he shared his story about growing up in Togo before coming to the U.S. and being a record-holding track and field athlete. We also spoke about his work as a professor at MICA, and how he’s working on achieving work/life harmony with everything he has going on right now. If you’re looking for inspiration to begin your

Summer is here, and with the start of a new month, I’m bringing you my conversation with Treavor Wagoner, senior product designer, author, and quite the avid traveler! We spoke just as Treavor wrapped up his latest trip and right before the launch of the ebook version of his latest book, “So Much Trouble”.Treavor talked about what drew him to working at Redfin, and from there he spoke about life growing up in a small Texas town. Treavor also went into his college days at University of North Texas, and shared how his love of writing drew him to teaching himself HTML and CSS. We also touched on a number of different topics after that, including how he’s unlearning harmful habits and how his non-linear career path has allowed him to indulge in a lot of his personal passions. According to Treavor, being Black and queer in tech is hard, but navigating it is possible — keep going!LinksTreavor Wagoner’s WebsiteTreavor Wagoner on TwitterFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit rev

We’re closing out Pride Month with the second part of my conversation with Rebecca Brooker! (If you missed the first part, check it out here.)We talked about Rebecca’s relocation to Argentina (after a stint back in Trinidad), and how she’s adjusted and found community in Buenos Aires. Rebecca also went in depth about Queer Design Club, the Queer Design Count, and the upcoming Queer Design Summit taking place on July 7.Rebecca is proof that building community and staying true to yourself is a surefire way for personal and professional success!LinksRebecca Brooker’s WebsiteRebecca Brooker on InstagramRebecca Brooker on TwitterQueer Design ClubFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Visit our new job board!Great news -- we have upgraded our job board! Now you can sign up for regular updates on new job listings, and find positions based on your preferences. We even have a new URL for it! Visit us at revisionpathjobs.com, and find your next opportuni

Sometimes, the conversation is so good and so wide-ranging that I can't contain it in just one episode. For the first time in over five years, we have a two-part episode on Revision Path, and it's with the one and only Rebecca Brooker. She is perhaps most well known as the co-founder of Queer Design Club, but Rebecca is also an art director at Ghost Note Agency and founder of her own freelance practice Planthouse Studio.In the first part of this interview, Rebecca talked about her "year of hustle", including her work at Ghost Note Agency and the rewards and challenges that come with that. She also talked about growing up in Trinidad, LGBT representation in the Caribbean, and moving to NYC to attend college and study design.Tune in next week for Part 2 of our conversation!LinksRebecca Brooker's WebsiteRebecca Brooker on InstagramRebecca Brooker on TwitterQueer Design ClubFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Visit our new job board!Great news -

Virtual reality used to be a science fiction trope in the 90s, but now, virtual reality is actual reality! Take it from this week’s guest: the one and only André Elijah. His work building games and doing marketing projects as an immersive director is sought after by brands and celebrities worldwide, including Google, Meta, Snap, Drake, and Beyoncé. And that’s not all!Our conversation began with a slight nerd-out moment about VR Troopers — shout-out to Michael Hollander! — and then André gave a rundown about AR, VR, the metaverse, and the ins and outs of immersive experiences. He also shared a bit of his origin story as a child actor, Ryerson University grad, and becoming one of the first people in Canada to use RED cameras (which are now a worldwide industry standard). André also gave some great advice for people looking to get into the immersive space.There’s more than one way to success, and André proves that you don’t have to chase VC funding to do it!LinksAndré Elijah’s WebsiteAndré Elijah on TwitterFor e

How do you define yourself? It's a question a lot of us will wrestle with at some point in life, and according to Raven L. Veal, PhD, understanding the answer to this is a critical part of design. She speaks from experience, too -- as both a design lecturer and a strategic design lead, she definitely did not get to this level of success without understanding her truth at a deep level.We started off with a brief introduction about her work at Citi Ventures, and then explored her lecture work at the University of Texas and what she learns from her students. Raven also talked about her mom as her source of creative inspiration, and shared her thoughts on design research, future tech, the role of art, moral imagination, and spirituality in designing technology. Trailblazers like Raven definitely let me know that we're in good hands for the future!LinksRaven L. Veal, PhD's WebsiteRaven L. Veal, PhD on LinkedInRaven L. Veal, PhD on TwitterFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit

Atlanta is a city known for many things: the food, the music, the culture. The traffic! But I don't know if Atlanta's really ever been seen as a design city like one would see New York or Chicago. That reputation is rapidly changing though, and that's thanks to Chip Gross. Chip is the managing director for Work & Co's newest office in Atlanta, and with over 20 years of experience under his belt, he's helping the city be recognized as a destination for design talent. We started off talking about his new position, including how it differs from his past roles, as well as the challenges of setting up a new office during a pandemic. Chip also spoke about growing up throughout New England and attending UPenn, starting his career in Chicago, and then moving to Atlanta for grad school. We also talked about Chip's experiences at IBM, iXL, Brighthouse, and AKQA, and how those prepared him for what he's doing now. Chip has put in the work and now it's time for him to take center stage!LinksWork & Co Atlanta Offi

The thrilling part about entrepreneurship is following your dreams while pursuing your passions. That's definitely the case for illustrator and creative director Alexandria Batchelor. As the head of her own company, Foxee Design, Alexandria uses her skills in graphic design, branding and illustration to not only provide killer work for her clients, but to also redefine standards in the industry within art and design that represents minorities (primarily Black women). Now that's change worth supporting! We kicked off our conversation talking about plans for the summer, and Alexandria talked about how she named her company, some of her notable clientele and collaborators, and the best kinds of clients for her to work with on projects. She also spoke about an upcoming book she worked on with noted authors Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, and shared some secrets and advice on creativity and self-motivation. If you're looking to get a dose of inspiration, then this episode is the one for you. Enjoy!LinksFoxee Des

I was introduced last year to Dr. Kenya Oduor through a Tech Circus panel we both participated in, and I’m really glad to have her on the show now so she can share her brilliance with you all! She is a human-centered designer, researcher, and strategist, and also runs her own consulting and staffing firm Lean Geeks. Very impressive!We dove right in and talked about her increased focus at this stage of her career, and from there we discussed how Lean Geeks works and what she want to accomplish with the firm this year. She also spoke about growing up in Queens, studying to become a physical therapist, and then pivoting into human factors and user experience design. According to Kenya, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is how you grow, and her path to where she is now certainly proves that!LinksDr. Kenya Oduor on LinkedInLean GeeksLean Geeks on TwitterFor extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath.com.==========Take our 2022 audience survey! We want to hear

It’s no secret that the tech industry has weathered the last few years better than a lot of others, and many people are trying to ditch their current jobs and start their careers in tech for big opportunities (and even bigger salaries). But working for companies like Google and Microsoft take more than just talent — it takes the helpful hands and heart of this week’s guest, Anthony D. Mays. As the founder of tech career coaching firm Morgan Latimer Consulting, Anthony uses his 20 years of experience as a software engineer and developer to help his clients to ace tech interviews and get real results.We start our conversation with a quick check-in, and he talks about starting his firm and finding a good work life balance. He spoke about growing up in Compton and learning BASIC on a VTech PreComputer 1000, studying computer science at UC Irvine, and shared how looking for growth opportunities, and his faith in God, helped him succeed throughout his career. So if you’re looking to work in tech, then Anthony is ju

We're off to the Caribbean this week to talk with the incredibly talented Ayrïd Chandler. Ayrïd is the head of her own studio, Ayrïd by Design, where she offers graphic design services with a focus on brand and identity design. She also teaches at the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, where she's helping to educate and inspire Trinidad and Tobago's next generation of designers.Ayrïd starts off talking about her goals for the year, and from there we get into the differences between being a designer in Trinidad vs. being a designer in America. She also spoke about what draws her to brand and identity design, and talked about entering Savannah College of Art and Design, moving back home, and how she's making a name for herself there. Ayrïd's path really shows us that as Black designers, we share a similar sense of community no matter where we are, so you're never alone. Huge thanks to Rebecca Brooker of Queer Design Club for the introduction!LinksAyrïd Chandler's WebsiteAyrïd by DesignAyrïd by Desi

It takes a lot of hard work and determination to be a successful entrepreneur, and sometimes, you can lose yourself in your path to success. But not Monique Jenkins! As the CEO of J.kins Creative, Monique bolsters the successes of Black and brown entrepreneurs by creating holistic brand identities with thought leaders who deserve to leave their mark upon the world. And she does it be being the best person for the job -- herself!Monique talked to me about what she started her own company, and talked about the varied processes she has to ensure clients receive top-class design work. She also spoke about growing up in Baltimore, how she juggles her studio with a full-time job (and a baby on the way!), and gave some insight on the type of legacy she wants to leave in the world. According to Monique, being an authentic version of yourself is a guarantee for living your best life!LinksJ.kins CreativeJ.kins Creative on InstagramAIGA Baltimore: Ink & Pixels — Portfolio Reviews & Workshops on April 30, 2022For

If you've been a regular reader of The New Yorker magazine, then you may already be familiar with this week's guest, Liz Montague. (But if you're not, then this conversation is a perfect introduction!) Liz is the first Black woman to have a cartoon featured in The New Yorker, and now she's an author with her first book set to hit bookstores everywhere in the Fall. Everything's coming up Liz!Our conversation begin with a quick life update, and from there Liz talked about starting her comic "Liz at Large" as a college student. She also talked about how she began contributing to The New Yorker, and spoke about representation, how that's reflected in her work, and her future books (plural!) that are on the way. Liz is proof that  self-determination and hard work definitely pay off in the future!Links"Liz at Large"Liz Montague on InstagramLiz Montague on TwitterLiz Montague at The New Yorker"Maybe An Artist, A Graphic Memoir"For extended show notes, including a full transcript of this interview, visit revisionpath