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In our final episode of this series, Nat and I have the immense pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Robyn Bourgeois to learn from her heart-centredness practices, in the classroom and beyond. Dr. Robyn Bourgeois (Laughing Otter Caring Woman) is a mixed-race nehiyaw iskwew (Cree woman) whose Cree family comes from Treaty Eight (Lesser Slave Lake) territory. She is an associate professor in the Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies at Brock, where her scholarly work focuses on Indigenous feminisms, violence against Indigenous women and girls, and Indigenous women’s political activism and leadership. She is currently serving as the university’s Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement. In addition to being an academic, Robyn is also an activist, author, and artist. In this conversation, Robyn shares what it means to be heart-centred, inside and outside of the university system. She provides examples and actionable takeaways for becoming and remaining heart-centred through difficult situations. Robyn discusses how and why she sets boundaries when helping students navigate difficult situations, as well as her experience calling upon both mental health training and Cree cultural practices to lift the heaviness of others’ stories. Robyn provides a great example of the way heart-centeredness changes outcomes in challenging situations and how we all need community to survive and thrive. Let’s listen in… About Our Guest: Dr. Robyn Bourgeois (Laughing Otter Caring Woman) is a mixed-race nehiyaw iskwew (Cree woman) whose Cree family comes from Treaty Eight (Lesser Slave Lake) territory. She is an associate professor in the Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies at Brock, where her scholarly work focuses on Indigenous feminisms, violence against Indigenous women and girls, and Indigenous women’s political activism and leadership. She is currently serving as the university’s Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement. In addition to being an academic, Robyn is also an activist, author, and artist. Music: I Care - Loyalty Freak Music licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Episode Artwork: Canva (remixed) Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

My Dad’s favourite creative medium was audio. I have memories of my Dad pulling out blueprints, explaining a schematic of a sound system installation to my grade 2 peers (which, for obvious reasons, went over everyone’s head). I have memories of every floor of our house reverberating with rock and roll as his band practiced for an upcoming gig. I have memories of his rigorous sound checks before my wedding to ensure the audio was juuuuuust right. Music and sound were a huge part of his life. My first words were practically ‘mic check, mic check’. Today would have been his 69th birthday. Like a family heirloom, I’ve carried an audio recording of my Dad and I reading my favourite childhood book together, recorded in the late 1980s. I’ve always known — deep down in my creative intuition — that there would be more to its story. While he never got the chance to meet his youngest granddaughter born 4 years ago — having missed one another here on Earth by a short 27 days — we now have the chance to hear them read together for the first and last time. Here’s Put Me In the Zoo (Part 2!), uniting grandfather and granddaughter through the magic of audio. Happy birthday, Dad. The circus is the place for you. Music: A Kwela Fella by John Bartmann is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

This year’s Advanced Typography class at Toronto Metropolitan University had the chance to sit down with two talented voices in type, the first of whom (Jorge Gomez) you’ll hear in this episode. In the next 45 minutes, you’ll learn about Jorge and his work today, as well as his design origin story that started with graffiti. You’ll hear how he’s doubled down on setbacks in his life and used them as powerful catalysts for growth, including the ways in which he’s faced prejudice in his ascent through school and into industry. Jorge now works with BIPOC-owned brands (through his company, The Money Studio) to help them preserve their culture and he discusses the ways in which different types of projects (painting murals, brand strategy) have intersected and spawned new projects. Jorge shares his use of Design Thinking and math (math!) when painting murals, how he said “yes” before he was ready and the ways in which his family plays an integral role in his work. This episode is co-hosted by Advanced Type student, Katrina Javier. Let’s listen in… About Our Guest: Jorge Gomez is a brand strategist and graffiti writer based out of Inglewood, CA. With a keen understanding of urban landscapes, he's able to implement his design process to every surface he paints. http://themoneystudio.com/ Music: Weird Science - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Episode Artwork: Canva (remixed) Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

This year’s Advanced Typography class at Toronto Metropolitan University had the chance to chat with talented lettering artist and teacher, Aurelie Maron. In this episode, you’ll hear Aurelie’s story, including why neither agency life nor freelance work was the right fit for her creativity. You’ll hear accessible ways for beginners to get started in their lettering journey, as well as the way Aurelie uses lettering challenges to practice her craft, hone her style and scale her business. You’ll hear about her creative processes in approaching unfamiliar design challenges, as well as for designing an original typeface (and how to move forward if you feel stuck!). Finally you’ll hear about Aurelie’s desert island typeface choices (great minds think alike!), about her new Domestika course and about how she makes money as a lettering artist. This episode is cohosted by Advanced Type student, Katrina Javier. About Our Guest: I’m Aurelie, a passionate lettering artist from the Gold Coast, in Australia. Born in New Caledonia, I moved to Australia in 2010 and started studying a Bachelor of Digital Media at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. I have always loved drawing and writing, but while studying at University, I discovered the Art of Typography and have not stopped practicing since! Over the past few years, I have been incredibly lucky to speak at the Typism conference, start teaching typography at Griffith University and build my own creative design studio from my very own home studio! My mission is simple: produce the highest quality work for every client, on every creative project. I also thrive to share my knowledge with upcoming designers and hand letterers in my online courses. Website: academy.aureliemaron.com Instagram: @aureliemaron Email: aurelie@aureliemaron.com Music: Weird Science - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Episode Artwork: Canva (remixed) Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Welcome to the second episode in our Brand New series all about brand identity design. Today’s episode features the passionate and talented team at Loop who design for social good. Here you’ll meet designers Josh Layton and Emma Steele, learn what Loop does and how they see themselves as different from traditional agencies, as well as how Loop’s process is one of deep listening and unlearning, stemming from a place of curiosity and connection. You’ll learn what human-centred design means to Loop and how they approach their work through this critical lens, as well as all of the ways that equity, diversity and inclusion is baked into to Loop’s people and processes and is constantly evolving. Finally you’ll hear the ways that storytelling is used to build trust through design, helping to weave a common thread for supporters of the cause. This episode is part of a guest lecture series in Design as Communication, Bachelor of Brand Design Program, George Brown College School of Design. Let’s listen in… Loop's Visuals to Accompany the Episode: About Our Guests: Josh Layton is a multi-disciplinary social-impact designer based on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Territory (currently known as Vancouver, Canada). Having worked with some of the leading non-profit organizations at both grassroots and global scales, Josh enjoys exploring the intersections of design and social good. He is particularly passionate about creating brand and web experiences for changemakers addressing issues of 2SLGBTQ+ rights, criminal justice, and food security. Josh co-founded Loop: Design For Social Good in 2012, where he collaborates with an inspiring creative team and clients across the social impact spectrum. Outside of Loop, Josh is also the Creative Director at Living Hyphen Magazine and works on select creative projects and campaigns through his personal practice Studio JLAY. Emma Steele is a Senior Designer at Loop: Design for Social Good and has been with the company for over four years. She has a special focus on brand and layout design, and a particular passion for projects that tackle gender equity, climate justice and reconciliation. Emma received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing Painting from OCADU, followed by a Diploma in Graphic Design and Interactive Media at the Toronto Film School. She then spent 5 years as a freelance designer & illustrator for clients like the University of Toronto and Blue Door Communications, and was an in-house designer at a well-established Toronto architecture firm. When Loop came calling, Emma jumped at the chance to create work that was purposeful and meaningful to her - design for social good is what she was meant to do, and she hasn’t looked back! Music: Somewhere Nice - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

I am thrilled to introduce our guest in today’s episode: It’s Meg! Meg Lewis is a designer, illustrator, artist and all-around creative. In this conversation, Meg and I get delightfully weird! We discuss Meg’s approach to their work centred around making the world a happier place, Meg’s ‘no process’ process and their definition of success. You’ll hear about the dreamiest client project Meg’s ever worked on (it’s a good one!), including Meg’s wildest idea that they can’t get out of their head. You’ll also hear about Meg’s approach to finding their style, including why they’re not upset by copycat work. I invites Meg to play an improv game with her about the embodiment of fonts and it’s embarrassingly magical (you can practically hear the hives forming on my neck). Finally, you’ll learn about Meg’s awesome advice to their younger self, what happened when Meg decided to dance and you can’t forget the clowns and the mimes and circus stuff. It’s a fun one! This episode is part of a guest lecture series in Design as Communication, Bachelor of Brand Design Program, George Brown College School of Design. About Our Guest: Meg Lewis is a designer, public speaker, educator, and performer. Their mission is to make the world a happier place by helping brands and individuals embrace their uniqueness through personable design and fun education. At Meg Lewis Fun House, Meg and her team blend humor with design to create playful experiences to bring brands closer to their community. Through education, talks, and programming, Meg empowers individuals and teams to celebrate their individuality through workshops and classes on idea generation, personal style, career strategy, and more! https://meglewis.com/ https://www.instagram.com/yourbuddymeg/ https://twitter.com/yourbuddymeg Music: Mad Hatter Tea Party - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

This is the final episode in the Brand New series where you’ll hear from Richard Nalli-Petta of Parcel in Toronto chat about his work for the agency, including one very special project he’s been a part of recently. You’ll hear how Parcel defines branding, the ways collaboration happens on large projects and the challenges of handing finished work to a client, who can then shape or change the design in any way they see fit. Finally you’ll hear why Richard believes design jobs are safe from being totally taken over by AI. Before we get into the episode, I love that what you’re about to hear is so different — not better or worse, just different — from the approaches to brand identity design from the first two episodes. You’ll hear that Richard enjoys the problem solving aspect of his role, Parcel thriving in a space where design is directly solving business problems instead of seeing design as art. In contrast, as we heard in Episode 143, Meg Lewis doesn’t love the problem solving aspects of design and their clients arrive after the problem solving is figured out, ready for Meg’s highly-personalized art to be applied to the design. Problem solving first versus art first. I’m so happy to see such diverse approaches (both wildly successful!) described for us here. This episode is part of a guest lecture series in Design as Communication, Bachelor of Brand Design Program, George Brown College School of Design. Let's listen in... About Our Guest: With a background in both academics and art, Richard Nalli-Petta brings his left brain as well as his right to each project. That is, he starts from a place of logic—the foundations of a design—before refining the artful side of it. Add a dash of spontaneous inspiration that Richard says always comes from the most unexpected places and you get a sense of the thoughtfulness that he brings to his work. Whether he’s designing an identity system for an organization with multiple affiliates, or charting the best user experience for a website relaunch, Richard really hits his stride on big, complex projects that have many moving pieces. https://www.parceldesign.com/ Music: Gameshow Brazz - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

It's become a Talk Paper Scissors tradition to feature the incredible work of up-and-coming typeface designers in this space (check out Episode 026 with Veronika & Mary-Anne, as well as Episode 113 with Nate & Sarah), work born from the Advanced Typography I teach at Toronto Metropolitan University. I asked today's guests to chat about their typefaces after reviewing all students submissions. I felt that theirs were innovative, well-executed and most fully-realized submissions I received. Nicole Galindo is a graphic designer based in Toronto, Ontario. She's a recent graduate of the Graphic Communications Management program at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she earned a Bachelor of Technology with a concentration in Publishing, and minors in both Communication Design and French. When she's not at her desk creating new designs for work, you can find her reading (or listening) to some books or out for a walk with her dog. You'll also hear from Cameron Mady who is a recent graduate of the Graphic Communications Management program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Hailing from Brantford, ON, Cameron thrives on curiosity and exploration, and takes pride in blending ambitious and creative ideas with practical applications. A focused and award-winning designer in his university career, Cameron is excited to take on the world of graphic communications and discover what he can offer in a professional environment. Nicole designed a typeface called Dogggo and Cameron a typeface called Perpetua and in the following conversation, you'll get to hear about each typeface. You'll also hear their perfect type pairings, sensory descriptions of each (sight, smell, touch, sound and even taste), the ways they could be transformed into variable fonts, as well as where the typefaces might be taken next (where things go off the rails, in the best way). Let the type geekery begin! Take it away Nicole... About Our Guests: My name is Nicole Galindo and I’m a graphic designer based in Toronto, Ontario. I’m a recent graduate of the Graphic Communications Management program at Toronto Metropolitan University, where I earned my Bachelors of Technology with a concentration in Publishing, and minors in both Communication Design and French. When I’m not at my desk creating new designs for work, you can find me reading (or listening) to some books or out on a walk with my dog. Cameron Mady is a recent graduate of the Graphic Communications Management program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Hailing from Brantford, ON, Cameron thrives on curiosity and exploration, and takes pride in blending ambitious and creative ideas with practical applications. A focused and award winning designer in his university career, Cameron is excited to take on the world of graphic communications and discover what he can offer in a professional environment. Music: Beatboxin' Whistlin' and Clickin' - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. Sound Effect: Short Censor Beep by prueslove via Freesound.org Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

It was a really neat experience getting to speak at PodCamp 2023. I respect this small-in-size, large-in-stature, annual meeting of the minds for a lot of reasons, one of which is its grassroots, and no nonsense approach to being an ‘un-conference’. If someone is attending a session and they don’t feel it’s right for them, they are encouraged to (politely) get up and head to another session where they may find more value. I also appreciate the democratized approach to submitting a session idea and the niche community members it attracts. Years before I started Talk Paper Scissors in 2019, I attended PodCamp with the inkling that I may want to one-day start a podcast of my own and then the year after that, I presented at PodCamp about logo design fundamentals. Coming back a number of years later and having the chance to speak about my podcast and my process has been such a neat full circle moment. My talk was entitled Break All the Rules, and in it I shared the ways I am decidedly non-strategic about how I exist in, produce and market Talk Paper Scissors… and why this is my magic formula. The description reads as follows: “In 2019, Diana dove into the world of podcasting, launching Talk Paper Scissors – a podcast about creativity in graphic communications. (Featured as part of the 2021 Hot Docs Podcast Festival Opening Act in partnership with CBC Podcasts.) By day, Diana teaches students within The Creative School at TMU to know their audience and create compelling visual content. By night, Diana does the exact opposite: she creates podcast content for herself more than for her audience — with no set production schedule, no set show format, no set episode length, no less! — in a decidedly non-visual format. And it’s the best thing she’s ever done. Learn the way Diana uses podcasting as a creative outlet (that sometimes interweaves with her day job), allowing her to explore new topics, speak with interesting people and create a body of work that’s opened doors she didn’t know existed. Be inspired to create your own podcast that breaks all the rules and is uniquely you.” One more thing I want to say before getting into the session recording is that I spoke a lot about my audience (you!) and the fact that I don’t always take your needs into consideration when I create episodes. This is mostly true but I want to assure you creating content not targeted at you is decidedly different than not caring about you. I care about you DEEPLY. I care that you’re here. I care that you listen. I care that you care about these topics and this podcast and our asynchronous, arms length, yet very real, relationship. Finally, you can find my presentation within the show notes. Let’s do it! Here’s Break All the Rules, recorded live at PodCamp 2023. Break All the Rules - Presentation Slides After the episode... After my talk I went out into the hallway and continued the conversation with a couple of like-minded creatives, and I’d like to share a quick story about one of those conversations. He is a multi-passionate creative director who is brimming with ideas but is having trouble committing where to focus his creative energy. As we spoke, he insightfully summarized my approach to creative work far better than I ever had. He articulated that when I have a creative idea, it appears as though I can put down my extraneous idea baggage (referring to off-loading my ideas from my brain into a written document I can come back to later, which I spoke about in the talk), allowing a single idea to take flight because I’m traveling light, with only a carry on. I love this! I took it one step further and countered that, even if I were to lose the change of clothing in my carry-on bag (for example, I somehow left my shoes on the plane), the creative constraint of figuring out how to fashion my shirt into my pants, makes the journey all that much more fun and interesting. It is incredible conversations and spontaneous moments of shared creative exploration like this are the very reason that I love this podcast and this space. Interesting projects with interesting people. I hope that we can all set down our idea baggage, instead focusing on the play, experimentation and finding joy in the journey, Until next time (hopefully!) at Podcamp 2024! Music: Beatboxin' Whistlin' and Clickin' - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Let's do a quick association test. What pairs best with the following? Salt and... pepper! Peanut butter and... jam! Macaroni and... cheese! Art and... science! It's that last perfect pairing that today's episode is all about. I'm speaking with two excitingly talented creatives who work in a STEM organization (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) called Visions of Science here in Toronto. Visions of Science is transforming lives and advancing equity through STEM; providing access, increasing representation and fostering meaningful inclusion. They reach 1000+ youth in 30 communities each year through in-school programming, after-school tutoring, camps and partnerships with major organizations like Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and IBM. In this episode you'll meet Camilo Saenz and Kristin Lewis who are using their talents for graphic design, videography and photography to communicate and accelerate this important organization doing important work. I met Camilo in the Master of Digital Media Program at Toronto Metropolitan University a number of years ago. It's been great to catch up and see the incredible work he's been undertaking as a Senior Content Manager for Visions of Science. It's also been fantastic meeting Kristin and being introduced to her powerful photography that captures movement and stories so strikingly. I'm all about experimentation so I thought it might be interesting to frame our conversation about creative thinking and output through the lens of STEM, as well as highlight important facts and figures about STEM in the Toronto community throughout this episode. Let's listen in... Here are some facts and statistics about barriers to STEM in elementary and middle school: When it comes to access to learning STEM "Middle-class 6th graders have gained 6,000 more learning hours than low-income peers, as estimated by ExpandED Schools (ExpandED Schools)." In terms of lack of identity and belonging in stem,"Students who struggle with their sense of belonging in school score lower in mathematics and science (O'Grady et al, 2021)." Starting with Science... For the identity rebrand of the organization’s visuals, what was your process of discovery, planning, research and crafting a plan? What role did curiosity play? Here's the organization's 'manifesto' WE ARE STEM: Now onto Technology... What are the tools / tech you’re using in your creative practice for the organization? Here are some facts and statistics about academic and behavioural streaming in high school: "Data released in 2013 by the TDSB showed that Black students were three times more likely than their White counterparts to be suspended from school (Rankin et al, 2013)." "Black students were twice as likely to be in applied, and three times more likely to be in essentials [courses] (James & Turner, 2017.)" Now onto Engineering... How do you create for the organization? What is your creative process? Here are some facts and statistics about restrictive financial barriers to STEM and employment obstacles in post-secondary and after graduation: "60% of high-income youth have attended university or taken a course by age 21, compared to 30% of low-income peers (Statistics Canada, 2011)." "16% of Black workers with Canadian bachelor's degrees work in jobs requiring a high school diploma or less, the highest overqualification rate among Canadian-educated racialized groups (Statistics Canada, 2023)." Finally, onto Math... How do you measure the impact of your creative work? Notable Visions of Science Videos: The “Unlikely” Scientist | Eugenia Duodu | TEDxYouth@Toronto Toronto Raptors x LG Canada | Community Heroes: Visions of Science About Our Guests: Camilo Saenz is a graphic designer and a master of digital media from TMU. Most of his career has been as an advertising creative and art director. He arrived in Toronto almost two years ago, and with the hectic yet wonderful experience came his current role as a Sr digital content manager in an inspiring not-for-profit organization. Camilo is into video games, series, books, design, cycling, and pastries! Kristin Lewis is a photographer & multimedia artist hailing from Toronto, ON. For over 12 years, she has been forging her way through different industries with her unique and energetic approach to content capture. She now brings her experience and passion for media production to her role as the Digital Content & Communications Associate with Visions of Science, working to authentically showcase the heartbeat of the organization. Music: Beatboxin' Whistlin' and Clickin' - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Welcome back to the second episode in this 6-part magazine series. Here you’ll meet James Hewes, CEO of FIPP, a global magazine industry organization. Here’s how FIPP describes itself: “Originally formed by a consortium of magazine publishers to enable them to share ideas, the organisation has grown over almost 100 years to include media owners and content creators from across the world.” In this episode you’ll learn how James went from working in banking to making magazines, eventually running the BBC’s international magazine business. James shares macro trends in magazines internationally, including shifting trends that every industry is facing (sustainability, accessibility, privacy), as well as trends specific to the magazine industry (who is going to pay for content, as well as identity: what IS a magazine these days any way and what do you do when you can do everything?!). James explains the ways the traditional magazine advertising model is shifting alongside digital media and the opportunities within this new landscape, including the evolving nature of the core of the magazine business, from advertising to the consumer. James describes how magazine industry trends mirror that of the music industry and the ways in which we may be able to see our future in the music industry’s present. Finally, James shares his thoughts on the future of AI in the media industry and why making magazines is (still) the greatest job in the world. This episode is part of a guest lecture series in GCM 720 Magazine Production & Publishing in The Creative School at TMU and co-hosted by student, Samantha Benezra. Let’s listen in… About Our Guest: James Hewes started his career in media working at BBC Worldwide, the commercial division of the BBC, the UK state broadcaster. He worked in their publishing business, BBC Magazines, from 2001 to 2012 building a track record of success in marketing, digital and print media, events and international business development. He was the launch Publisher of olive magazine and grew BBC Magazines’ licensing portfolio from 8 to 55 editions including 20 editions of Top Gear Magazine. James was also a key member of the team that sold BBC Magazines to private equity in November 2011 for £120m and was Publishing Director for Top Gear, Good Food, Easy Cook and Lonely Planet Magazine, responsible for the brands across print and mobile applications. He was also a Director of the BBC Haymarket Exhibitions joint venture. As Publishing Director of Dubai-based Gulf News Publishing from 2013 to 2016, he had responsibility for more than 30 product areas and launched new brands across digital, live events and print including the group’s first consumer title in Arabic. He was then Interim CEO of The Art Newspaper from 2016-2017 whilst also running his own company, Soho Consulting. He was appointed President & CEO of FIPP in September 2017 and has re-positioned the 100-year old media trade association as a business focused on learning, knowledge sharing, skills development and networking. www.facebook.com/FIPPWorld www.instagram.com/FIPPWorld www.twitter.com/FIPPWorld www.youtube.com/fippworld Music: Where the Sun Set by Ketsa Licensed by Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC). Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Episode Artwork: Canva Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again: magazines, magazines, magazines! I’m thrilled to bring you 6 new episodes recorded over two semesters with the best in the biz! Local visionaries and global leaders share their insights about micro and macro trends in magazines, tips for publishing digitally and in print, as well as creating magazines that push the boundaries of production and content. (You can find 10+ past magazine guest episodes here.) This first episode features Nicola Hamilton, Toronto-based magazine Art Director and independent magazine shop owner. In this episode you’ll hear how she got into the magazine industry and why she started a magazine shop. Nicola demystifies how she decides which magazines to stock and she shares trends in magazine publishing and production. Nicola describes her process as an Art Director, including how she collaborates in making magazines among many stakeholders. Nicola also shares her advice for sourcing inexpensive (even free!) visuals for magazine projects. Finally, she describes the importance of setting the technical foundation of a periodical publication, as well as what ‘pacing’ means and how to design with pacing in mind. And here’s the great news for all magazine makers: Nicola believes that the future belongs to niche publications (that YOU could create!). This episode is part of a guest lecture series in GCM 720 Magazine Production & Publishing in The Creative School at TMU and co-hosted by student, Enza Borson. Let’s listen in… About Our Guest: Nicola Hamilton (she/her) is an independent creative based in Toronto, Canada. She began her career at the beloved, city-weekly The Grid (2011-2014). She’s spent time asChatelaine’s Deputy Art Director (2015-2017) where she helped lead the team through a redesign of both their print and digital properties and asStudio Wyse's Art Director (2017-2020) where she helped redesign, reposition and produce publications for clients such as Xtra,The University of Toronto Magazine, andRyerson University Magazine. Today, Nicola is the Art Director at bothBest Health and Precedent, a part-time design educator, President ofThe Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) and she maintains an artistic practice viaThe Scaries, exploring the emotional realities of being creative. In July 2022, Nicola openedIssues Magazine Shop, a retailer of independent magazines from around the world. Music: Where the Sun Set by Ketsa Licensed by Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC). Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Episode Artwork: Canva Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash