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Visuelle & OPX Studio

Create great.

A Design and Arts podcast

#15 in Design · 🇿🇦 #34 in Design · 🇦🇪
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About the show

Welcome to ‘Create Great’. This podcast series features conversations with creative people from different backgrounds, from different disciplines and different schools of thought. This podcast is hosted by David Bennett, Creative Director at OPX Studio & Visuelle. The best creatives will always strive to create something great, and we delve into how they go about this, what it means to them, their clients. This is a chance to explore what drives these talented individuals (and their studios) to create great.

Newest episodes

Episode 22 —Liza Enebeis – Studio Dumbar DEPT®

31 min

In this, the 22nd episode, I speak with Liza Enebeis, Creative Director of Studio Dumbar DEPT®, about a career shaped by curiosity, collaboration and an enduring passion for graphic design. From studying in Paris and London at the Royal College of Art to working alongside David Hillman at Pentagram, Liza reflects on the people, places and projects that influenced her journey. She shares her early inspiration from Tibor Kalman, Neville Brody and Studio Dumbar, and how an internship at the Dutch studio eventually led to a return five years later. The conversation explores Studio Dumbar’s evolution into motion and sound, the creation of DEMO Festival and why experimentation, collective thinking and a strong sense of identity continue to shape the studio today.

Episode 21 — James Sommerville ATTIK

47 min

Recorded in my attic with ATTIK founder James Sommerville, this episode explores his remarkable four-decade journey in design from launching ATTIK with Simon Needham in Huddersfield to becoming one of the industry's most influential creative leaders. James reflects on the early struggles of building a studio, receiving support from The King's Trust, and embracing emerging technologies such as the Apple Mac. We discuss the legendary Noise publications, the evolution of agency culture, and why today's creative businesses need to remain agile, collaborative and open to change. The conversation also delves into his thoughts on AI, the future of design education, and his latest venture, KnownUnknown a global network of creative talent built around flexibility, experimentation and the power of bringing diverse minds together. I really enjoyed this one, as it brought back memories from when I first saw ATTIK talk back in 1997.

Casey Martin

41 min

Episode 20 explores the unconventional journey of Casey, founder of Play, from aspiring athlete to leading a global design studio. Casey shares how persistence, curiosity, and hands-on learning shaped his path into the creative industry. From late nights formatting decks at Leo Burnett to building a 30-person studio spanning San Francisco, London, and beyond, the conversation reveals the realities of design, business, and growth. It highlights the value of embracing mistakes, rejecting perfectionism, and learning by doing. Honest and inspiring, the podcast offers insight into creativity, entrepreneurship, and building a modern, design-led studio. A massive thank you to Casey for taking the time to talk to me.

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All episodes

Episode 22 —Liza Enebeis – Studio Dumbar DEPT®

31 min

In this, the 22nd episode, I speak with Liza Enebeis, Creative Director of Studio Dumbar DEPT®, about a career shaped by curiosity, collaboration and an enduring passion for graphic design. From studying in Paris and London at the Royal College of Art to working alongside David Hillman at Pentagram, Liza reflects on the people, places and projects that influenced her journey. She shares her early inspiration from Tibor Kalman, Neville Brody and Studio Dumbar, and how an internship at the Dutch studio eventually led to a return five years later. The conversation explores Studio Dumbar’s evolution into motion and sound, the creation of DEMO Festival and why experimentation, collective thinking and a strong sense of identity continue to shape the studio today.

Episode 21 — James Sommerville ATTIK

47 min

Recorded in my attic with ATTIK founder James Sommerville, this episode explores his remarkable four-decade journey in design from launching ATTIK with Simon Needham in Huddersfield to becoming one of the industry's most influential creative leaders. James reflects on the early struggles of building a studio, receiving support from The King's Trust, and embracing emerging technologies such as the Apple Mac. We discuss the legendary Noise publications, the evolution of agency culture, and why today's creative businesses need to remain agile, collaborative and open to change. The conversation also delves into his thoughts on AI, the future of design education, and his latest venture, KnownUnknown a global network of creative talent built around flexibility, experimentation and the power of bringing diverse minds together. I really enjoyed this one, as it brought back memories from when I first saw ATTIK talk back in 1997.

Casey Martin

41 min

Episode 20 explores the unconventional journey of Casey, founder of Play, from aspiring athlete to leading a global design studio. Casey shares how persistence, curiosity, and hands-on learning shaped his path into the creative industry. From late nights formatting decks at Leo Burnett to building a 30-person studio spanning San Francisco, London, and beyond, the conversation reveals the realities of design, business, and growth. It highlights the value of embracing mistakes, rejecting perfectionism, and learning by doing. Honest and inspiring, the podcast offers insight into creativity, entrepreneurship, and building a modern, design-led studio. A massive thank you to Casey for taking the time to talk to me.

Jonathan Ellery

37 min

The 19th podcast features Jonathan Ellery. We sat down in his beautiful London studio to talk about the origins of Browns and explore the fascinating overlap between his work as both a designer and an artist. Jonathan reflects on the early days of Browns, which he founded in 1998 with two partners. The studio quickly built an international reputation through magazine features and word of mouth, long before the era of social media. Over time, Jonathan continued to develop the studio into the independent and respected practice it is today. He also shares the inspirations behind his creative journey, from growing up in Cornwall studying art and design and discovering the possibilities of a creative career. The conversation moves through studio culture, publishing, and the relationship between design and art, highlighting Jonathan’s passion for thoughtful, independent, and meaningful creative work. I really enjoyed my conversation with Jonathan and the whiskey that followed. A huge thank you to Jonathan for taking the time to share his stories, perspectives, and experiences so openly. It was a genuine pleasure spending time in his studio and hearing about his journey. Browns Editions

Episode 18 with Oskar Lübeck

49 min

The 18th podcast features the wonderful Oskar Lübeck, Founder / Chief Creative Officer of Bold Scandinavia, the international brand consultancy which unites strategy, creativity and design to create meaningful impact. We talk about Oskar's journey into design which began unexpectedly during his military service, where creativity became an escape from structure. Inspired by Swiss typography and timeless logos, he pursued studies in Gothenburg, Japan, New York, and London, culminating in a master’s degree in typography at Central Saint Martins. After stints at Pentagram and Brand Union, he returned to Stockholm to found Bold, a branding agency now celebrating its 15th anniversary with studios across Scandinavia and a new London studio. Under Oskar’s leadership, Bold has grown from a small studio into an 80-person agency known for its strategic creativity, collaborative process, and Scandinavian clarity. Highlights include the award-winning Mojang Studios rebrand, which evolved into a full franchise identity for their number one game, Minecraft. Oskar’s approach balances storytelling, strategy, and joy in the creative process championing kindness, curiosity, and psychological safety as essential ingredients for bold design.

Episode 17 — Tom Hingston

50 min

This episode was recorded at Tom’s London studio, a beautiful space that perfectly reflects the creativity and craft of his team’s work. As always, we begin with Tom’s journey into design before diving into the story behind his iconic Massive Attack cover a piece that remains as striking and relevant today as when it was first released. We hope you enjoy listening.

Episode 16 — Tom Crabtree

34 min

In this episode Create Great, I catch up with Tom Crabtree Co-founder & Creative Director of his studio Manual, Tom reflects on the studio’s ethos and origins. We speak candidly about the studio’s evolution, from early experimental projects to more refined, purpose-driven work. We hope you like this episode, thanks for taking time to listening.

Episode 15 — Tyler Eide

50 min

Welcome to Episode 15 of the Visuelle: Create Great podcast. It’s been a little while since our last episode, but I promise this one is well worth the wait. In this episode, I chat with Tyler Eide, Principal Creative Director of Parker Studio, which he founded in 2018. Based in Seattle, Tyler shares his journey into design, the influences that shaped his path, and as always we touch on a few recurring themes like soundtracks, Sonic, and AI. I hope you enjoy the episode.

Episode 14 — Mark Bloom CoType

47 min

In this, the 14th episode of Create Great, I catch up with Mark Bloom, founder of CoType Foundry and Mash Creative. We talk about his journey into design, setting up CoType Foundry as well as his prized 1971 Mini, rave flyers and more.

EP13 — James Kape

41 min

In this episode, I got to talk to James Kape founder and co-creative director at https://www.omse.co – A creative studio combining strategy and design to craft simple, striking brands. We spoke about his design journey the different decisions made along with the ups and downs of owning and running a studio. I'd like to thank James for his honest and open conversation, so great insights and stories were shared.

EP12 — Mike Abbink

55 min

This edition of Create Great features the wonderful Mike Abbink, In August 2020, Mike joined IBM Software as Executive Creative Director and focused on the ⁠Carbon Design System⁠ which we talked about and also looked back at his design journey and the studios he's worked in and helped set up a truly inspirational conversation. I had a great time talking to Mike and I hope you enjoy the conversation and insights.

EP11 VUCKO

36 min

I caught up with Andrew Vucko founder and CD of motion studio VUCKO, a global studio that builds transformative motion identities, systems, and applications for leading brands. We spoke about his design journey and some of the recent brand-led motion projects and processes. I'd like to thank Andrew for the great conversation – really enjoyed this one.

EP10 North

44 min

So it's been a while since my last podcast, but time flies when you're having fun. This podcast was on the cards for a while but I was so pleased to be able to head to North to record the conversation in person. A massive thank you to Sean, Stephen & Jeremy for this episode, we cover the start of North some projects that I still hold up as a massive influence on me, (RAC Identity Programme) and talked about the last project I featured here Factory International a collaboration between North and Peter Saville

EP09 DixonBaxi

56 min

Today’s podcast guests are the creative duo of Simon Dixon & Aprova Baxi and otherwise known as DixonBaxi. A global brand agency, the team at DixonBaxi use creativity to design a better future for brands that seek to challenge convention. This includes the likes of Hulu, AT&T, ViacomCBS, British Land, V&A, IMAX, Channel 4, Netflix and AC Milan. DixonBaxi believe In a world that’s moving faster than ever before, the stakes for brands have never been higher. 

EP08 Giles Duley

57 min

Today’s podcast guest is Giles Duley – CEO of the Legacy of War Foundation and an activist for the rights of those living with disability. Giles is a portrait and documentary photographer, writer, and presenter. Duley also cooks, and writes about food and food politics, under the name The One Armed Chef. The first time I got to know Giles, was when he kindly came into the studio to talk about his humanitarian work. It was a very powerful and challenging experience that will stay with me forever. Storytelling and compassion is key to his work, and it’s reflected in everything he creates.

EP07 Thomas Kurppa

46 min

Welcome to the first episode of 2023! Today’s podcast guest is Thomas Kurppa, Chief Creative Officer & Co-founder of the superb Kurppa Hosk.Kurppa Hosk is a brand agency with 80+ employees and offices in Stockholm and New York. We solve complex business problems by combining the sharpest strategic minds with the best designers in the industry. They collaborate with brave organisations – from early stage startups, to some of the world's most admired companies.The first time I got to know Kurppa Hosk was probably 10 years ago, I remember even to this day how great the work was. Whether it's branding work or typography there’s always the perfect balance between serious and fun.

EP06 Rejane Dal Bello

48 min

Today’s podcast guest is Rejane Dal Bello, an amazing designer with over 20 years of experience in graphic design and branding, including stints at renowned agencies such as Wolff Olins (UK) and one of my favourites, Studio Dumbar (NL), and recently she wrote the ‘Citizen First, Designer Second‘ book published by Counter-print. The first time we met was at a typo circle talk, and what I loved about her work was how playful it was. Rejane is the founder of (SRDB), a design studio, creating work that is meaningful, engaging and lasting to address society’s diverse needs and the possibilities of design as a visual language, ‘to make something visible, worthy of time, attention, and engagement’.

EP05 Anthony Burrill

50 min

My guest joining me today on the 5th episode of create great is graphic artist - Anthony combines a knack for simplicity that packs a punch with analogue craft skills and powerful, positive messages. Burrill frequently collaborates with other forward-thinking creatives across disciplines spanning music, architecture, curation, education and more; pushing his traditional discipline of choice, letterpress printing, into bold new territories. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York, and has been exhibited in museums around the world, including the Barbican Art Gallery, the Walker Art Center and the Design Museum, London.

EP04 Mouthwash Studio

43 min

My guest joining me today is Abraham Campillo, Co Founder of Los Angeles based Mouthwash Studio. Mouthwash Studio are a creative company rooted in narrative and built on collaboration.Their work has been featured a lot on Visuelle, for me it was great seeing your work, it felt new and exciting and is a constant source of reference.I believe the first feature was back in August 2020 for Waka Waka who focus on wood furniture and functional objects designed and handcrafted by Shin Okuda.

EP03 Studio.Build

58 min

My guest joining me today is Michael C Place, founder and Creative Director of Studio Build.  Studio Build is an award-winning creative agency with an international reputation for creating strong visual narratives.  Michael has worked with Nike, Made, The Stow Brothers and Generation Press, amongst others.  I first met Micheal at an ‘twitter meet up’ in Shoreditch London probably back in 2015? It was the first time we had met, and found out that we both really like Duval, which is probably one of the best beers and beer logos out there.  He’s worked with many talented clients such as Gary Hustwit who directed such great creative films from Objectified, Urbanized and Helvetica to name a few. 

EP02 dn&co

47 min

My guest this week is Joy Nazzari, founder of the creative brand and design consultancy dn&co. dn&co are a dedicated team of experts, specialising in culture and place who work closely with corporate clients, museums and neighbourhoods. Joy not only runs dn&co, but also has a tech startup called Showhere and a publishing imprint called Place Press She is also a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and a trustee at Design South East. Together we talk about how she got into placemaking, her many achievements and how she set a 100% employee owned consultancy.

EP01 Studio Blackburn

59 min

My first guest is somebody I’ve got to know recently, Paul Blackburn. Paul is the founder of Studio Blackburn, an international brand strategy and design studio. They inspire desire for brands and businesses that improve peoples' lives. Recently Studio Blackburn rebranded SO Energy and their great print and digital campaign called ‘We mean Green’ which ran for eight weeks used to promote the environmental benefits of rail travel during COP26… which when posted on Instagram few ‘creatives’ reacted to. Together we talk about his journey into design, the ups and downs of running a successful studio and share advice for all of us creatives. 

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