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Oen Michael Hammonds is a distinguished design executive, educator, and creative mentor who has helped shape the culture of design at IBM. In this thought-provoking conversation, Oen reflects on his journey from traditional graphic designer to leading design enablement at a global tech company—all while championing inclusivity, mentorship, and problem-solving through empathy. We explore his transition from print to digital, his thoughts on cultivating future-ready creatives, and what it means to lead with heart in the design world.

This is your deep dive into leadership, transformation, and staying human in a tech-driven space.

This episode is for you if:

• You’re transitioning from traditional to digital design

• You want to become a more intentional and empathetic designer

• You’re building a career in UX, product, or service design

• You’re passionate about mentorship and design education

• You want to lead with inclusion, curiosity, and purpose

  
  

Connect with Oen Hammonds:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oenmichaelhammonds
Medium: https://medium.com/@oenmichaelhammonds
IBM Design Blog: https://medium.com/design-ibm

More Podcast Episodes:
https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast

Resources Mentioned:
– IBM Enterprise Design Thinking
– The Designer’s Dilemma (Medium Article)
– Mentorship Models in Creative Industries
– Service Design Toolkit

#OenHammonds #IBMDesign #DesignLeadership #MentorshipMatters #CreativeGrowth #EmpathyInDesign #DigitalDesign #DesignThinking #DesignPodcast #ArtSchoolGradPodcast #BlackDesigners #CreativeCareers #PortfolioTips #UXDesign #AIandDesign

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Judah “Tip” Middleton is a Senior Art Director in the sports industry, author of Free Game: How to Become a Designer in the Sports Industry, and a powerful voice for purpose-driven design. In this motivating episode, Judah shares how she went from designing for her local basketball league to building a creative career in professional sports—while mentoring others to do the same.

We explore her creative mindset, how she uses storytelling to amplify culture, and the strategies that helped her turn passion into a profession. From designing church flyers and AAU posters to leading creative for a major league team, Judah’s journey is proof that there’s no one way to make it—only your way.

Whether you're trying to break into sports design, grow your creative confidence, or build a brand with purpose, this episode is full of free game.

This episode is for you if:

• You want to break into the sports or entertainment design industry

• You’re building a personal brand as a creative

• You’re passionate about storytelling, identity, and representation

• You want real-world advice on networking and staying grounded

• You believe your creativity can open doors—if you stay consistent

Connect with Judah Middleton:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judah-middleton-9213b9176/

More Podcast Episodes:

🎧 https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast

Resources Mentioned:

– Free Game by Judah Middleton
– MLS
– Branding & personal storytelling tips for creatives
– Tools like Canva & Adobe Illustrator
– Networking strategies for emerging designers

#JudahMiddleton #FreeGame #SportsDesign #CreativeStrategist #AtlantaUnitedFC #BlackCreatives #DesignCareerTips #BrandDesign #FaithAndDesign #PurposeDrivenDesign #ArtSchoolGradPodcast #CreativeJourney #ContentForCreators #DesignMentorship #DesignWithImpact

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Tré Seals is a multi-disciplinary designer, typographer, and the founder of Vocal Type—a mission-driven type foundry dedicated to diversifying design by telling untold stories through letterforms. In this inspiring episode, Tré walks us through how surviving two childhood brain tumors shaped his identity, how a single article by Cheryl D. Miller shifted his career forever, and how he’s using typography to amplify culture, protest, and inclusion.

We explore his creative journey—from graffitiing names on index cards in elementary school to creating fonts used by Spike Lee, Nike, and countless grassroots movements. Tré shares his deep passion for research, cultural storytelling, and the power of design to preserve and honor the past while shaping a more inclusive future.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes design is more than aesthetics—it’s activism, identity, and voice.

✔️ You want to turn your personal story into purpose
✔️ You’re curious about typography, protest art, or cultural preservation
✔️ You’re ready to diversify the visual language of your work
✔️ You’re looking for career inspiration from a Black creative leader
✔️ You believe type and design can drive social change

Intro — Who is Tré Seals?
Childhood illness and art as therapy
Selling graffiti-style name cards in 5th grade
Discovering design through struggle and story
Launching Vocal Type and honoring protest movements
Creating Martin, the typeface inspired by MLK and Memphis
The role of Cheryl D. Miller’s “Missing in Action” article
Why type design is cultural storytelling
Creative process and research behind each typeface
Building Studio Seals on family land
How he landed collaborations with Spike Lee and Nike
Advice for young designers who feel unseen
The difference between diversity and inclusion
Quickfire: Fonts, protest signs, and design heroes

What’s next for Vocal Type

🌐 Website: https://www.treseals.com
🔤 Vocal Type: https://vocaltype.co
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/vocaltype.co
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/treseals

More Podcast Episodes:

🎧 https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast

Resources Mentioned:

– Cheryl D. Miller’s “Black Designers: Missing in Action”
– Vocal Type Foundry
– Studio Seals
– Fontself & Glyphs
– Protest Design Archives

#TreSeals #VocalType #BlackTypographer #TypographyDesign #DesignForChange #CreativeStorytelling #DesignActivism #DesignWithPurpose #StudioSeals #BlackDesigners #FontDesign #TypeFoundry #ProtestFonts #ArtSchoolGradPodcast #DiversityInDesign

This episode is for you if: In This Episode: Connect with Tré Seals: More Podcast Episodes: Resources Mentioned:

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Hunter Saxony III is a San Francisco-based calligrapher, installation artist, and conceptual storyteller known for fusing historic letterforms with themes of identity, loss, and Black legacy. In this thought-provoking conversation, Hunter opens up about his journey from Rhode Island’s underground hardcore scene to becoming what he calls “The Last Black Calligrapher in San Francisco.”

We dive into the power of red and black ink, the spiritual and political weight of his work, and how his Nia Wilson series rewrites history—literally. Hunter shares how grief, mysticism, and vintage ephemera inform his visual language and why his work is less about being understood and more about being felt.

Whether you’re interested in conceptual art, sacred storytelling, or using design as a form of resistance—this episode is a masterclass in creating with intention, complexity, and care.

🎧 This episode is for you if: You want to explore calligraphy beyond tradition and into activism. You use art to process grief, identity, and personal history. You’re curious about mixing mysticism, ornamentation, and narrative. You’re inspired by conceptual artists and non-linear storytelling. You want to see how lettering can reclaim and redefine legacy.

⏱️ In This Episode: Intro — Who is Hunter Saxony III?From Rhode Island to SF: A self-taught calligrapher’s journey. Discovering power in letters, punk shows, and poetry. The birth of “The Last Black Calligrapher in SF” Nia Wilson series: memory, mourning, and burning history. Red ink, Black ink: the symbolism behind the palette. Writing on top of time: vintage ephemera and erasure. Legibility, secrecy, and sacred codes. Collaborating through tattoos and community ritual. Living and creating in a changing San Francisco. Success, spirituality, and what’s next.

🖋️ Connect with Hunter Saxony III:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/death_by_a_1000_serifs/Letterform Archive Collection: https://letterformarchive.orgWebsite: https://pocketfullaamethyst.com/press

🎨 More Podcast Episodes:https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast

✨ Resources Mentioned:– Nia Wilson / Say Her Name / No Silence– Letterform Archive– Between You and I Series– Pergamenata & Vellum Techniques– Jenny Holzer, Pina Bausch, Saul Williams (influences)

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/ @artschoolgradpodcast

Ashley Fletcher is a Washington D.C.–based graphic designer, illustrator, and founder of Digitrillnana—a culture-forward art shop celebrating Black joy through prints, cards, and storytelling. In this empowering episode, Ashley opens up about her journey from yearbook spreads to launching her own brand and working full-time at Brookfield Properties. A breast cancer survivor, MICA grad, and passionate creative, Ashley shares how intention, identity, and alignment fuel her work.

We explore her postgrad struggles, how she balances freelance with a 9-to-5, and why rest is part of the process. If you’ve ever questioned your path, this episode will remind you that pivots are part of the plan—and creativity can be both healing and revolutionary.

🎯 This episode is for you if:
✔️ You're navigating burnout, balance, or creative redirection
✔️ You're balancing freelance life with a full-time job
✔️ You want to infuse cultural storytelling into your design work
✔️ You're building your own product line or creative shop
✔️ You believe rest, identity, and joy are part of the design process

📌 In This Episode:
Intro — Who is Ashley Fletcher?
Growing up in a creative household
How yearbook class led to a design career
Switching from business to graphic design
Postgrad depression + freelance struggles
The pivot to MICA and grad school revelations
Building a creative process rooted in intention
Working full-time at Brookfield Properties
Starting Digitrrillnana and her first art print
Being a breast cancer survivor + protecting creative energy
Creative wellness, therapy, and taking breaks
Mentorship, Black design orgs, and AIGA DC
What she's manifesting now
Final advice for emerging creatives

📎 Connect with Ashley Fletcher:
Portfolio: https://ashley-fletcher.com
Shop: https://digitrillnana.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitrillnana/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitrillnana

🎨 More Podcast Episodes:
https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast

📚 Resources Mentioned:
– MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art)
– AIGA DC
– Black Designers Ignite
– Monday.com (project workflow tool)
– Digitrrillnana product line
#AshleyFletcher #Digitrrillnana #BlackDesigners #GraphicDesignPodcast #CreativeJourney #WomenInDesign #ArtSchoolGradPodcast #DesignWithPurpose #CreativeWellness #BreastCancerSurvivor #DesignStorytelling #BlackCreatives #CreativeEntrepreneur #FreelanceDesign #CulturalDesign #DesignHealing

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@artschoolgradpodcast

Terrence Moline is a culture builder, strategist, and founder of AAGD—a national community for African American graphic designers. Based in Austin by way of New Orleans, Terrence leads a design agency rooted in social justice, working with clients like Princeton, the NAACP, and local businesses alike. In this dynamic conversation, he shares how he's using design, technology, and storytelling to challenge norms, build community, and shape the future of creative work—especially for Black designers navigating a rapidly changing industry.

We dive into his approach to AI in the design process, his concerns around equity in emerging tech, and why cultural legacy matters more than ever in media. Whether you're a designer, strategist, or creative entrepreneur, this episode will spark reflection on what it means to lead with purpose and adapt with intention.

This episode is for you if:

• You’re a creative looking to use your work for social impact

• You’re curious (or skeptical) about AI in design

• You want to build or support a creative community of color

• You’re interested in the business of design—beyond just the visuals

• You want to redefine success on your own terms

In This Episode:
Intro — Who is Terrence Moline?
Growing up in New Orleans and early creative roots
The shift to Austin and building a justice-driven design agency
Founding AAGD and creating a community for Black creatives
What it means to be a culture builder
How AI is woven into his design process
Hope, fear, and excitement: Terrence's real thoughts on GenAI
Design as healing: stories, equity, and impact
Shifting from “designer” to “creative professional”

How AAGD helps creatives think beyond industry norms
Revisiting 30-year-old sketchbooks with Adobe Firefly
Advice for young designers

Final thoughts on the future of design and legacy

Connect with Terrence Moline:
Website: https://aagd.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tmoline

More Podcast Episodes:
https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast

Resources Mentioned:
– AAGD: African American Graphic Designers
– Adobe Firefly
– William Gibson’s “The future is already here...” quote
– Ray Kurzweil’s Age of Spiritual Machines
– Tools: ChatGPT, Adobe Creative Cloud

#TerrenceMoline #AAGD #BlackDesigners #DesignAndAI #CreativeEntrepreneur #SocialJusticeDesign #CulturalStorytelling #DesignForImpact #CreativeCommunity #ArtSchoolGradPodcast #MediaForChange #DesignLeadership #AIinDesign #BlackCreatives #CreativeBusiness #GraphicDesignPodcast

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@artschoolgradpodcast

Audrey Pray Jr. is a multidisciplinary designer, creative strategist, and the founder of A2 Collective—a studio and support network that uplifts social movements and creative freelancers. From Nickelodeon intern to global freelancer living between Lima and Maryland, Audrey shares her journey of faith, flexibility, and designing life on her own terms. We dive into the systems that keep her collective running, the realities of life abroad, and how she’s helping a new generation of creatives feel less alone in the work. This is a masterclass in creative leadership, freelancing with integrity, and building a brand rooted in purpose.

Whether you’re dreaming of launching your own studio, navigating freelance life, or craving a deeper connection to your creative values—this episode is for you.

This episode is for you if:
✔ You’re pivoting from 9-to-5 to freelance
✔ You’re building a purpose-driven design business
✔ You’re curious about working abroad or as a digital nomad
✔ You want to lead with faith, strategy, and service
✔ You’re looking for creative sustainability—not just hustle

In This Episode:
Intro — Who is Audrey Pray Jr.?

Growing up creative + building A2 Collective

Breaking into the industry through SCAD & Nickelodeon
Freelancing post-layoff & taking big risks

Living between Peru and the DMV
Studying behavior design in Spanish
Running a remote team & financial sustainability
Faith, purpose, and grounding in business
Freelance red flags and must-know advice
Tools, rituals & creative survival
What success looks like now
What’s next for Audrey and A2

Connect with Audrey Pray Jr.:
Website: https://a2collective.studio
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/audreyprayjr

More Podcast Episodes:
https://bio.site/ArtSchoolGraduatePodcast

Resources Mentioned:
– A2 Collective
– Behavior Design in Spanish
– Building Remote Creative Teams
– Creative Freelancing Systems
– Faith & Entrepreneurship

#AudreyPrayJr #CreativeLeadership #FreelanceDesign #WomenInDesign #BlackCreatives #RemoteWorkLife #ArtWithPurpose #DesignPodcast #A2Collective #CreativeEntrepreneur #LifeAbroad #FaithAndCreativity #CreativeWellness #ArtSchoolGradPodcast

🔥 Watch this episode of The Art School Graduate Podcast featuring Rich Tu – artist, designer, creative director, and host of First Generation Burden.

Want to build a creative career rooted in identity, culture, and purpose?

This episode is for you.

🎧 Rich Tu shares how he went from comic book–obsessed kid to leading design at MTV, Nike, and now Sunday Afternoon. He gets real about being a first-generation Filipino-American in a corporate world that often lacks diversity, and how he uses creativity as a form of resistance, storytelling, and community building.

If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in the creative industry, this conversation will remind you why your voice matters more than ever.

💬 In this robust conversation, we cover:

The immigrant excellence mindset

Navigating Oregon during the Trump election

Turning frustration into podcasting

What makes a great creative leader

The impact of First Generation Burden Using art to create real-world change

Designing the ACLU x Nike collab

Mentorship, identity, and full-circle moments at Adobe AI, new tools, and what scares creatives most

Legacy, gratitude, and building spaces for BIPOC creatives

Quickfire round: comic books, dream collabs, and creative fuel

🎯 This episode is for you if:

🧠 You want to lead with cultural authenticity

🎙️ You’re building a podcast or platform for underrepresented voices

📐 You’re a designer pushing against boundaries and burnout

📈 You’re ready to merge identity with impact

💡 You want real talk on creative leadership, AI, and career longevity

🔗 Connect with Rich:https://richtu.com/https://www.instagram.com/richtu/https://www.firstgenburden.com/

🎧 Subscribe to The Art School Graduate Podcast for more conversations with boundary-breaking creatives

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