Sthuthi Ramesh is a talented designer, a mother, and co-founder of Nicety Materials, the digital library for physical materials. 

Having worked for some of the top design agencies including Pentagram, Wieden+Kennedy and Browns Design, Sthuthi now runs her own independent practice but, like most people, her path in the design industry has been far from linear. 

It’s taken time to find the right role, at the right agency, that also met her financial and lifestyle needs. From starting out knocking on doors for internships, to securing a full-time position, she later found the flexibility she needed in freelancing after having her first child. 

In today’s episode, we chat about Sthuthi’s career journey, how she got her first job, and her experience of moving from India to Europe, adapting to different cultures, and how the lack of diversity in the design industry keeps us returning to the same historical styles. 

You can see more of Sthuthi’s work at:

• Website: http://sthuthiramesh.com
• Instagram: @sthuthiramesh
• Instagram: @sramesth_designpractice 
• Nicety Materials: https://nicetymaterials.com/ 

You can follow me and get updates on the podcast at: 

• Website: http://narratestudio.co.uk
• Instagram: @narratestudio

My top takeaways from this episode were:

1. There’s such a rich culture of design in the rest of the world, we can find so much inspiration by looking outside of European design styles. 
   
   
2. Finding the studio or agency that’s right for you takes time.  

1. Leverage your network for opportunities, word of mouth can be a great way to hear about openings. 

Marina Willer is a graphic designer, a filmmaker and the first female to become a partner at Pentagram London. She has been an inspiration in my life for many years and as a multi-skilled designer, Marina is consistently recognised as a leading figure in UK design, working on iconic identities for Tate, Southbank Centre and MacMillan Cancer Support. 

As well as having a varied and exciting career Marina is also a mother to twins, putting creativity, play and inspiration at the heart of her family. 

In this episode, Marina shares her career journey, from growing up and studying in Brazil, to her MA at The RCA and working her way up at Wolff Olins and before joining Pentagram as a partner in 2012. 

We chat about some of the challenges she’s faced with feelings of imposter syndrome and how she felt different to her peers, but how this has ultimately pushed her to go further in her work. 

As a creative leader Marina shares her advice to anyone starting out in the design industry, and the traits she looks for in building a team of designers. 

You can see more of Marina work at:

• Website: www.pentagram.com/about/marina-willer 
• Instagram: @marina_willer 

You can follow me and get updates on the podcast at: 

• Website: http://narratestudio.co.uk
• Instagram: @narratestudio

My top takeaways from this episode were:

• Vulnerability can empower you to create new things. 
• There as so many different skills required of designers now, which makes it such an exciting time to be in design. 
• Everyone experiences imposter syndrome in their career. 

Lauren Harewood is a London based freelance Art Director and Designer, who's worked her way up in the industry through positions in some great studios including, Feed Agency and Stereo, and in 2020 made the move to freelancing full time. 

After being made redundant at the beginning of the pandemic Lauren used this time to create work that reflected her personality and passions, leading her to work on some amazing projects such as “Keep Hush” - a campaign to inform and educate on ways to support Black Lives Matter charities and communities.

In this episode, Lauren shares how she got into the industry, some of the challenges she faced being a woman, and a woman of colour in the workplace, and how she is now attracting dream clients and projects by being unapologetically herself.  

For Lauren, her personality and style is her true superpower so we discuss how, with the help of a little self-promotion, you can find the place where you can be yourself and be appreciated for it.

You can see more of Laurens work at:

• Website: http://laurenharewood.com
• Instagram: @lkhare

You can follow me and get updates on the podcast at: 

• Website: http://narratestudio.co.uk
• Instagram: @narratestudio

My top takeaways from this episode were:

• Show who you are with your work and don’t try to change yourself to fit in. 
• Self-promotion is so important to attract the work you want to do. 
• People do want to help, so don’t feel shy about sliding into someones DM’s 

Nidia Dias is a freelance Designer and Art Director whose work focuses on styleframes and look development for motion design. Her signature style has seen her work with top London studios where she has produced work for Apple, Nike and Adobe - she also created the amazing motion piece for this podcast! 

Having studied in Portugal and Sweden Nidia began her career interning with Mainframe in London, which led on to a full-time job where she made some brilliant contacts and friends whose recommendations over the years aided her progress to become an Art Director and to later taking the plunge into freelance work.

Freelancing can be daunting so in this episode, Nidia shares her experience and advice for taking on projects and working in new studios, especially if you’re naturally more introverted.

We also chat about how her network has helped her build self-confidence, what it’s been like to become a Mum working remotely amidst the pandemic, and the career benefits she has found from working on personal projects. 

You can see more of Nidia’s work at:

• Website: https://nidiadias.com/
• Instagram: @nidiadias
• Twitter: @ImNidiaDias 

You can follow me and get updates on the podcast at: 

• Website: http://narratestudio.co.uk
• Instagram: @narratestudio

My top takeaways from this episode were:

• Spark up conversations with studios or people whose work you like to make connections - even if there isn’t a job available. 
• Working on personal projects can help to develop your own style and showcase the work that you enjoy working on. 
• Be humble, reach out and ask for help. 

Welcome to ‘Making It: In Design’, with me, Rachel Long- Smith, Creative Director of Narrate Studio. 

With the concerning lack of gender diversity in the design industry, especially in senior positions, this podcast aims to inspire and encourage women and non-conforming people with the hope to make the design industry a more inclusive and diverse place. 

Sharing their career journey today is the award-winning Caterina Bianchini; Creative Director and Founder of Studio Nari, the creative consultancy and branding studio whose clients include Nike, Apple Music, The V&A and most recently the bold and mesmerising visual identity for the 2021 D&AD New Blood campaign. 

In this episode, Caterina shares how she secured those crucial first freelance clients and in-house roles with some amazing studios, and how always following her gut has lead her to found her own studio, building a collective of talented people and working with bucket list dream clients. 

We chat about some of the barriers Caterina has overcome in her career and her priceless advice for anyone starting out in the design industry. 

If you enjoyed today’s episode then please do share and subscribe.

You can see more work from Caterina at: 

• Website: https://studionari.co.uk
• Instagram: @studionari

You can follow me and get updates on the podcast at: 

• Website: http://narratestudio.co.uk
• Instagram: @narratestudio

My top takeaways from this episode were: 

• As women, this is our time to rise up and to be bold.

• When you reach that OMFG I can’t do it moment, stick with it, endure it, because on the other side of that peak, that’s when it all comes together.

• Follow your gut feeling for what you want for your career. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do.

Welcome to Making It: In Design 

I'm Rachel and I run the graphic design studio, Narrate. 

As a female creative director, I'm pretty concerned with the lack of gender diversity in the design industry, especially when you look at senior positions. 

Even though plenty of women study design, the industry is still overwhelmingly male. 

I want to do something about this so I started this podcast to help inspire and encourage women and non-conforming people, with the hope to make the design industry a more inclusive and diverse place. 

Episode one will be available on 8th March 2021!