Best Surfacedesign Podcasts (2025)

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130: Goodbye for Now 9:08

Play Pause

27d ago9:08

9:08

In this episode, Laura and Nikki share big news about the future of Startist Society. After 4.5 amazing years, we are taking a hiatus, but the community, episodes, and resources aren't going anywhere. Listen to why we are pausing, what we've learned, and how you can stay connected with both of us. READ SHOW NOTES + DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EMAIL MARKETIN…

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129: From Zero to Engaged - Creating an Email List that Works 18:18

6M ago18:18

18:18

Artists often ask, why do I need an email list when I already post on Instagram? Laura and Nikki share the answers: social media platforms can change their rules overnight, limit your reach, or even disappear entirely. Your email list belongs to you – nobody can take it away or stand between you and your audience. Listen in as we talk about how to …

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128: Selfies, Sales, and Sanity - Surviving Social Media as an Artist 20:45

6M ago20:45

20:45

The days when artists had to rely solely on galleries or craft fairs to get their work seen are long gone. Now we're all constantly wondering if we should be posting reels carousels or just give up and become hermits! Social media can feel like a full time job that none of us signed up for. In this episode, Laura and Nikki break down social media s…

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127: Choosing the Best Website Platform for Artists 33:48

7M ago33:48

33:48

In this episode, Nikki and Laura break down the most popular website platforms for artists and creatives. We'll help you evaluate features, integrations, and costs to choose the best option for your needs, whether you want to sell your work online, create a stunning portfolio or manage your art business. Plus, we'll share a handy comparison chart t…

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126: What Every Artist Website Needs 41:42

7M ago41:42

41:42

In this episode, Nikki and Laura dive into the must-have elements for any artist's website. Whether you're just starting out or revamping your online presence, we break down exactly what you need to showcase your work, connect with your audience and make sales! READ SHOW NOTES & DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE ARTIST WEBSITE ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST: startistsociet…

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125: Beyond the Logo - Branding Essentials for Artists 15:53

8M ago15:53

15:53

In this episode, Laura and Nikki talk about the importance of branding for artists - beyond just a logo. They provide some great practical tips for building a brand identity and take you through three different levels of branding investment: DIY, mid-tier, and professional - based on wherever you are at on your business journey. READ SHOW NOTES & A…

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124: 10 Creative Tips to Maximize your Art Supplies 16:41

8M ago16:41

16:41

In this episode Nikki and Laura tackle the ever-present temptation artists face—buying new supplies—and discuss why embracing the materials you already own can be a game-changer for your creativity and budget. We break down five compelling reasons why using your existing stash benefits both your art and your wallet, followed by ten practical tips t…

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123: From Tech-Timid to Tech-Savvy: Facing Your Technology Fears 13:43

9M ago13:43

13:43

Technology can feel intimidating, but it doesn't have to hold you back from growing your creative business. In this episode, Nikki and Laura share practical strategies and mindset shifts to help artists and creatives overcome their tech fears. From starting small and embracing imperfection to utilizing online resources and celebrating small wins, w…

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The Benefits And Challenges of Working From Home as An Artist 16:29

9M ago16:29

16:29

I've been working from home for years, and while I absolutely love it, I've also had to figure out how to make it work for me. When I first started, I was so motivated—it felt amazing to do what I love! But as my life has changed, so have my routines, and I've learned a lot about what it really takes to stay inspired and productive. In this episode…

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122: Getting Started in Surface Design with Bonnie Christine 43:04

9M ago43:04

43:04

We're ridiculously excited to share this week's episode with you. Why? Because we got to sit down with none other than Bonnie Christine—surface pattern designer extraordinaire, business powerhouse, and one of the best online educators out there. Bonnie is a completely self-taught designer who has created at least 16 fabric collections for Art Galle…

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121: Online Courses Worth Your Time and Money 24:25

10M ago24:25

24:25

Thinking about taking an online course but not sure which ones are actually worth your time and money? We've taken a lot over the years—some amazing, some… not so much. In this episode, we break down the best online learning platforms, memberships, and in-depth courses that have truly helped us grow as artists and creative entrepreneurs. Be sure to…

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The Key To Standing Out As A Surface Pattern Designer In a Crowded Market 15:47

10M ago15:47

15:47

It's true that the surface pattern design market may seem oversaturated with many talented designers and that it could make it more difficult to sell your designs... But it's also true that more opportunities are available than ever before because of how crowded the market has become -- and in this episode of the Design and Shine podcast, I share e…

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120: Money Matters for Artists: Spending, Saving, and Growing Your Income 38:26

10M ago38:26

38:26

Money doesn't have to be scary—or boring! In this episode, Nikki and Laura share practical, relatable tips to help creative entrepreneurs take control of their finances. From tracking expenses to maximizing income and tackling debt, we're covering all the essentials to make managing your money feel less daunting and more empowering. STARTIST SOCIET…

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The Importance of Diversifying Your Income as a Surface Pattern Designer 18:13

10M ago18:13

18:13

Are you relying on just ONE source of income? If so, it's fair to say you're taking a risk - the past few years with all that's happened in the world have definitely taught us that! Things like: The unpredictable nature of industry trends, especially with the shift in technology and the introduction of AI Uncertainty in the world (with things like …

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119: From Busy to Balanced: Our Plan to Make 2025 the Best Year Yet 43:22

11M ago43:22

43:22

In this episode, Nikki and Laura kick off the new year with a deep dive into their planning process for 2025. We reflect on our personal and creative wins and struggles from 2024, share the lessons we've learned, and discuss our goals for the year ahead. From building habits to embracing the chaos of creative business, we outline actionable steps f…

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What Can Help You Become a Successful Surface Pattern Designer in 2025 10:13

11M ago10:13

10:13

Happy New Year! In case you did not achieve your goals last year or are not feeling as confident about your ability to become successful this New Year, I've created a new Design & Shine podcast episode to help you get into a more empowered and positive mindset. In this episode, I share my beliefs about what it REALLY takes to become a successful su…

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Will AI Replace Surface Pattern Designers? 13:11

11M ago13:11

13:11

If you're like many surface pattern designers I know, you may be worried about the impact of AI - will it replace us? Is there any way to compete with it? Will we lose business because of it? You're not alone if you're worried - this is a super hot topic at the moment, so I wanted to come in this week on the Design & Shine podcast to share my views…

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How To Pitch Your Surface Pattern Design To Companies 15:57

12M ago15:57

15:57

I'll be honest—pitching your surface pattern designs to companies can feel downright terrifying. I've been there and I know how difficult it can be to hit send on an email! It's intimidating to put your work out into the world and face the possibility of rejection. But every designer feels that way, and you're not alone! In this episode of the Desi…

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Why Your 'Why' is the Key to Thriving in Business 7:36

12M ago7:36

7:36

There's one thing that successful surface pattern design business owners have that unsuccessful ones who give up trying to succeed almost ALWAYS have: a 'WHY.'' In this episode of the Design & Shine podcast, I talk about why having a 'why' you choose to have a business at all is so critical to your ability to succeed. I share my personal 'why' and …

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How I Became a Self-Employed Surface Pattern Designer 19:14

1y ago19:14

19:14

If you've ever wondered how to become a successfully self-employed surface pattern designer and course creator, this episode of the Design & Shine podcast is for you! I share my personal journey on how I got started as an employee to becoming a university teacher, and then on to self-employment as an online course creator. Listen to this episode to…

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How to Choose Colours That Will Help Your Surface Pattern Designs Sell 14:14

1y ago14:14

14:14

If you're struggling to make your color palettes work, this episode is for YOU! In this episode of the Design & Shine Podcast, I'm breaking down the BIGGEST mistakes designers make with color and sharing my top tips to help you create stunning, cohesive palettes that POP! Listen to this episode to learn: The importance of colour in design and the p…

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How I Avoided Burnout And Renewed Joy In My Business 11:57

1y ago11:57

11:57

Last year I came very close to experiencing burnout in my surface pattern design business... I'd got to the point where things had begun to feel too heavy, hard, and demanding. Everything seemed to be taking me further and further away from the things that mattered the most to me, from my daily art practice to time with my family. When I started to…

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118: 5 Tips for Getting Started in Wholesale with Heather Bourque 7:24

1+ y ago7:24

7:24

In our last episode, we introduced you to Heather Bourque of Paper and Wings, an artist and illustrator that sells physical products via wholesale. Did we mention she does this all on her own while still having time to travel the world each year? Heather is back this week to share her five best tips on getting started with a wholesale art business.…

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117: Getting started in Wholesale with Heather Bourque 50:41

1+ y ago50:41

50:41

In this episode, we continue our accountability group series by introducing you to Heather Bourque, an artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada, who illustrates her love of coastal living and travel through her wholesale and retail online shop, Paper and Wings. We travel deep into Heather's world of creating and distributing wholesale products al…

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116: Getting Your Artwork Seen with Elizabeth Silver 46:53

1+ y ago46:53

46:53

In episode 49, we introduced you to Elizabeth Silver, a surface pattern designer and educator who is the creator of a fantastic course called Start Your Surface Pattern Business. This week, Elizabeth is back to talk to us about reasons you might not be getting your art in front of potential paying clients. We know you'll love Elizabeth's frank, no …

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115: 5 Tips to Improve your Artwork and Designs 11:46

1+ y ago11:46

11:46

In this week's episode, Laura and Nikki share 5 quick tips to help improve your artwork and take it to the next level. We discuss strategies that can help elevate your artwork and set you apart from the crowd and share some really fun tools, websites and products that can help with implementing these techniques! STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE P…

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114: Maria Brophy's 5 Tips for Achieving Success with your Art 10:01

2y ago10:01

10:01

In our last episode, we introduced you to Maria Brophy, an author, teacher, art consultant, agent and brand manager who wrote the incredible book Art Money Success. This week, Maria is back to share her 5 best tips for achieving success with your art. STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES & FREE PDF TIPS DOWNLOAD: startistsociety.com/mariastips/ JOIN THE STA…

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113: Art, Money, Success with Maria Brophy 1:18:58

2y ago1:18:58

1:18:58

In this week's episode, Laura and Nikki interview Maria Brophy, the author of Art Money Success. Maria discusses her journey from corporate cubicle life to becoming a successful art business owner and coach. She is a proven expert at marketing, licensing, and selling artwork, having played a key role in growing husband Drew Brophy's successful art …

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112: Presenting your Art Business Professionally 19:43

2y ago19:43

19:43

In this week's episode, Laura and Nikki explore the basics of professionally presenting your art business - both online and in person. We cover everything from communication etiquette to curating your portfolio, creating artist statements and a consistent brand identity, prepping physical artwork for galleries and more. We know you'll walk away wit…

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111: Photographing Your Work 29:53

2y ago29:53

29:53

This week, Laura and Nikki do a deep dive into getting professional high resolution images of your artwork. Do you need a fancy camera or will a phone camera do? How do you prep your space and art for the best images? What are key things you should know before hitting the shutter button to ensure you get clear, well-lit photos? When are scans usefu…

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110: A New Year: Looking Back and Looking Forward 37:24

2y ago37:24

37:24

Grab a cup of coffee (or bourbon) and join Laura & Nikki as they review what went well last year, what could have gone better, and what their plans are for the upcoming year (both for their personal/professional lives and for the Startist Society podcast). STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/anewyear/ JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP…

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End of The Year Reflections 14:05

2y ago14:05

14:05

As 2023 comes to a close, I reflect back on the huge changes that I made in my business this year in this final podcast episode before I take an extended summer break at the beach with my family and new puppy. I share my process of looking back to assess my goals, how I question my progress, and why I believe it's so important to take time to do th…

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109: Unconventional Ways to Sell Your Art 25:19

2y ago25:19

25:19

In this episode, Laura and Nikki dive into the deep sea of art sales, but not in the way that you might think. They take you off the beaten path, exploring 12 unconventional, out-of-the-box methods to help you sell your art and turn your passion into profit. If you've ever felt stuck or unsure of how to get your art into the world, this episode is …

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Surviving To Thriving As An Independent Creative 10:32

2y ago10:32

10:32

When I left full-time employment as a surface pattern designer, I could not understand why I found it so incredibly difficult to design with the same confidence and ease as I did for my clients... Despite years of design experience and confidence working to a design brief, when I decided to work for myself I immediately fell into a ''surviving crea…

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108: Closing the Creative Loop: Finishing What You Started 26:51

2y ago26:51

26:51

We talk a lot about just getting started. But what about finishing? Do you have trouble finishing projects? Do you have a million half done or barely started projects lying around the studio? Today, Nikki and Laura dive deep into the world of unfinished projects, sharing their personal stories and advice to help you muster the inspiration and motiv…

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How Your Hidden Limiting Beliefs May Be Sabotaging Your Creative Success 11:10

2y ago11:10

11:10

Recently, my family and I invited a new member into the family - a PUPPY!!! His name is Juno. And while it's been a LOT of fun these last few weeks getting to know him, it hasn't been as much fun training him not to wee in the house! 😅 But it has been interesting to watch him learn. It's made me reflect on how - with anything new we learn - our…

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107: Charly Clements' 3 Tips for Building an Engaged Audience 14:46

2y ago14:46

14:46

In our last episode, we introduced you to Charly Clements, an illustrator and mentor who licenses her art to clients all around the world, is a top teacher on Skillshare, and has a great new course called Out of This World Portraits. She does all of this while traveling the world. This week she is back to give us her top tips on building an engaged…

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How Nurturing Self-Compassion Inspires Creativity 10:22

2y ago10:22

10:22

While our creativity is a beautiful expression of our own personal unique gifts and ideas, it can also carry with it a lot of things that can end up hindering our progress... Things like criticism, self-doubt, and perfectionism. So in this week's Design & Shine podcast episode, I explore why it's important to cultivate and nurture self-compassion. …

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106: Building an Audience and Community with Charly Clements 1:03:19

2y ago1:03:19

1:03:19

Charly Clements is an illustrator and mentor who has built a thriving illustration business, licensing her art to amazing clients all around the world, and has taught tens of thousands of students through her online classes as a top teacher on Skillshare and through her new course, Out of This World Portraits. She is the founder of Facetober and ha…

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Staying Persistent Despite Failure And Rejection 11:27

2y ago11:27

11:27

If you love what you're creating but you're facing a lot of failures, rejections, resistance, and you're hearing ''no thank-you'' so often, you may start to wonder how you're going to keep going... How are you going to stay persistent if you're constantly facing obstacles? This is what I want to explore with you in this episode: The power of stayin…

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105: Elli Milan's Tips for Combatting Perfectionism 14:33

2y ago14:33

14:33

In episode 104, we introduced you to Elli Milan, an artist, educator, speaker and founding owner of Milan Art Institute and Art Social. If you haven't had a chance to listen to that episode yet, definitely go back and check it out. Elli is back to share her 10 best tips on getting past perfectionism as an artist and entrepreneur. MILAN ART INSTITUT…

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How Gratitude Can Help You Thrive As A Creative 9:51

2y ago9:51

9:51

I believe many creatives underestimate how helpful gratitude can be toward helping them reach success... It's a simple mindset shift that can make a BIG difference - if you know how to use it in how you approach your creative work. I share several ways you can start practicing gratitude in your creative business in this week's Design & Shine podcas…

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104: Beating Perfectionism with Elli Milan 1:12:36

2y ago1:12:36

1:12:36

Today's guest is Elli Milan, an artist, author, educator, and founding owner of Milan Art Institute and Art Social – an online art education program, social learning, and art patronage platform. She has been a successful artist since 1996, selling over 10,000 pieces of original art. She is passionate about empowering artists and has transformed the…

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The 3 Different Learning Styles 13:21

2y ago13:21

13:21

Are you a Visual, Auditory, or Kinesthetic learner? Not sure what those are? Listen to this episode of The Design & Shine podcast to find out! I dive into what these 3 different learning styles mean and share how to tell which one you may be. Knowing which one is your predominant learning style may help you get better outcomes with your creative wo…

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How Understanding Your Subconscious Mind Can Help You Become a Successful Creative 10:51

2y ago10:51

10:51

I used to struggle to show up online in the way that I knew I needed to for my business... I consciously knew I needed to create videos, take selfies, and be visible to my audience... But subconsciously, the idea of showing up online made me feel vulnerable, exposed, and unsafe. And I wasn't even aware that this was the case until I started to addr…

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What To Do If You Worry Your Creative Work Isn't Unique Enough 12:35

2y ago12:35

12:35

Do you worry that your creative work is just not all that unique? And do you worry that it'll never stand out and allow you to have the thriving creative career that you dream about?😣 It's a challenging belief, but what I've noticed lately is that it's the most common limiting belief among creative entrepreneurs. So in this episode of the Design & …

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103: To Trend or Not To Trend? 23:18

2y ago23:18

23:18

A lot of us become artists because we want to express ourselves, we have something to say and sometimes we want to stand out from the crowd. But we often see a lot of work in the art and design worlds that looks alike. Why is that? Are people following trends because they think they'll sell? Are they copying others because they don't have their own…

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The Importance of Embracing Imperfection 11:20

2y ago11:20

11:20

Are you putting a lot of pressure on yourself to make things PERFECT? Many creatives I know get stuck on trying to make even the smallest design details perfect. It slows down their progress as a creative designer and as a business owner. So in this Design & Shine podcast episode, I share a few tips on how to overcome perfectionism including: Launc…

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How to Overcome Procrastination 10:07

2+ y ago10:07

10:07

In this episode, we unravel what procrastination really is, revealing its surprising connection to fear. I'll explain how procrastination might be rooted in your apprehensions about failure, judgment, or even success. I share practical strategies to conquer procrastination: break tasks into bite-sized chunks to tackle overwhelm and embrace imperfec…

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102: How to Avoid Art Scams 20:07

2+ y ago20:07

20:07

As artists who are putting ourselves and our work online hoping to make connections and sales, we can be really vulnerable to all kinds of scams, because we are being very optimistic in thinking that people are really interested in our art. It's important to be aware of the types of scams that exist and what you can do to avoid becoming a victim to…