AS WE CREATE

Eventhough John Mott went to college to study science, his fascination with film made him continue his aspirations of becoming a director. He made his way to Los Angeles where he fulfilled many production roles and through these experiences, John was developing an eye for dealing with space and set design. Since those formative years, John has been creating environments on many well known productions such as The Americans, Shadow and Bone, 12 Monkeys, and FBI. John also talks about a script he has recently developed telling the story of a family dealing with loss and the search for truth...

Executive creative director Eric Panke takes us through his time at the University of Connecticut which gave him a foundation in graphic design though more importantly developed his appreciation for creative community. We talk about agency life and the various roles and lessons he's learned is his career. Eric also shares his take on the current state of advertising and how things are going at Adams & Knight. 

Marc Asnin gravitated towards photography through the influence of his father and some of his teachers. He takes us through his journey of attending SVA, working at the Village Voice, and how a 31 year personal project documenting his Uncle Charlie lead to international recognition. In recent years, Marc has allowed himself to bare witness in new ways and he shares about his most recent effort, Act One, which is a book bringing together over 100 photographers who's work reflects the complexity, diversity, and contradictions of the first quarter of the 21st century.

Christa Yung was born in Los Angeles where her father worked as a production artist in Hollywood. She loved many of the films her father worked on though her fascination with magazines took more of her attention. Her parents noticed this and steered her towards graphic design. Christa shares about her time at University of Hartford where her love of magazines continued as well as some roles she held after graduation. We also talk about the state of the editorial market and her current role at UConn Magazine.

Despite being from a musical family, Greg Miller found a passion for photography and headed to New York City to attend the School of Visual Arts. While Greg was at SVA, he began shooting assignments for 7 Days Magazine, which was the foundation for his editorial career where he shot for publications such as Time, Life, Rolling Stone, Esquire, and many more. We also talk about his love of large format cameras as well as two personal projects , Unto Dust and Morning Bus.

Angela Chen-Wolf grew up in her families business and it helped shape her work ethic and understanding of commitment. We talk about her creative path through RIT, working at large agencies versus small studios, and how a personal health scare makes you question your priorities. Angela also talks about her role as Design Director at the Yale School of the Environment and the value of organization and efficiency to a creative team.

The world of commercial video production is ever changing and Mike Curry shares the experiences that helped him decide on the kind of work he wanted to produce and where he feels his value lies. We also talk about why Connecticut is a unique market for production and how vital your crew is in the success of the work.

Bob Handelman started on the account side of things at DDB Needem in Chicago before finding his way back east to pursue commercial photography. Bob's early work focused on marketing and communications for colleges and universities and he shares how that work took him around the world. We also talk about the current state of the photography industry as well as his newest venture Americana: Know Thy Neighbor, which will have Bob traveling once again.

Growing up outside of Philadelphia presented many challenges for Kimberly Lewis and she had no choice but to grow up fast. She always found comfort in drawing and shares how she began to understand graphic design and the potential for a career path. Kimberly shares some experiences and lessons she learned after graduation and what lead her to UX design and her current role at NBC Sports.

Pursuing a creative career was not a popular option in Melanie Uribe's home country of Venezuela, though having family in Florida, she was able to attend college in the States and pursue her ambitions of becoming a graphic designer. We discuss her early roles working in editorial and how her love of package design took shape over the years. Melanie also talks about her position at Southern Connecticut State University and the current state of design education.

Matthew Cherry came from a strong musical family and spent his early years playing different instruments before settling on the bass. After finishing his music education and working as a freelance musician, Matthew was diagnosed with a medical condition which forced him to limit his live performing. Still needing to make a living, he had the opportunity to help score a short film and we talk about how that experience began his path into photography. We also talk about how digital affected the imaging world and the current state of Ai and CGI in the creative industry.

Nancy Ruzow grew up being surrounded by the arts and fashion through her parents and eventually developed a fascination for advertising. Nancy shares how she got started working for publishing companies creating ads and when she decided to go off on her own. We talk about the the mindset of running your own studio and how she is currently embracing the tools of Ai. Nancy also talks about Creatives Roundtable, a community effort she has been leading for many years.

Growing up in rural Maine was a great experience for Brian Pike though when it came time to research advertising schools, he took the opportunity to head to the West Coast. Brian shares how he began his career as a copywriter as well as knowing when to push an idea beyond a clients comfort level. We also talk about the current state of advertising as well his role at Mintz & Hoke.

Initially focusing her education on becoming an actor, Ilona Somogyi quickly discovered it was not going to be a good fit. While still having a fascination with theater, she turned back to her seamstress skills instilled by her grandmother. Ilona shares many stories of her career as a freelance costume designer as well as her involvement with the Yale School of Drama. We also hear about the journey Ilona has taken co-founding Ball and Socket Arts.

Reading was something that came to Chris Knopf at a very early age and had him pursue his education in creative writing. Before becoming a published author, Chris shares how his career began working in public relations as a copywriter and what lead to him taking over the creative agency Mintz+Hoke. We also talk about the relationship of strategy and creativity as well as the current state of publishing.

A few career paths were considered before Jeff Jahnke set his sights on architecture and he shares how things went after he served in the Navy. We talk about the creative freedom of architecture and how it can often be suppressed by tradition. He also shares how a longterm project while he was working for Centerbrook, became a foundational element to launching his own firm, Hartford Architecture Partners Inc.

Anne Cubberly always had a love for drawing and creating, though when she experienced a Bread and Puppet performance for the first time, she fell in love with giant puppets. We talk about the many creative chapters of her life before coming back to Connecticut, and how all of those experiences influenced Night Fall and the power of community collaboration.

Anthony Marsilio's fascination of graphic design was inspired by the automotive industry. He began teaching himself, though his self assigned design projects remained a part time effort as he began a career in engineering. While working for a civil engineering firm, they needed to improve their marketing efforts and his part time hobby started to become his full time role. Anthony shares how his creative career unfolded, his willingness to always further his education, and what goes into being a creative lead for Athletic Brewing Company.

John Suscovich is an independent author and marketing professional. After receiving a theater production degree from the University of Connecticut, he moved to New York City to work as a lighting tech for the Howard Stern Show. While in living in New York, John began cycling more and developed a curiosity for nutrition and agriculture. He quit his job at the Stern Show and embarked on a two year cycling trip to bring awareness to where our food comes from and the choices some farmers make. John began farming on his own and also helped start Connecticut's first farm b...

Jeanne Criscola made her way into graphic design through textiles and museum curation. We talk about what lead her to start her own design studio and much of the work she's done over the years, especially with Open Society Foundations. We also discuss the current state of education and the value of creativity.

Brad Collins is the founder of Group C. He shares how his love of science faded in college which eventually lead him to create his own curriculum. We talk about his love of the written word, how Group C came to be, and his methods of listening that help present his clients stories in unique ways.

This is a special posting of a Episode 9 - a conversion with Carissa Decelles from October 2022. Carissa was an award winning designer and a friend whose life was taken from her much too soon. This is a great episode that conveys just how resilient and inspiring she was. 

Thank you Carissa.

Catherine Casalino's love of photography and writing came together when she was exposed to the publishing world after college. We talk about her time at Simon & Schuster and Random House, and how that compares to running her own studio. She also walks us through some recent projects, including her contribution to the award winning film, American Fiction.

Daniel Sheridan is an illustrator and designer. Growing up in the hardcore and metal music scene, it was the visual aesthetic and grit that influenced the style Daniel is known for. We talk about staying motivated, raising a family, and how his love of motorcycles and design come together to produce Dice Magazine.

Magge Gagliardi and Steve Keefe are the principals behind Dead Rabbit Design Co. They share how each of their professional careers began and the collaboration that lead to them moving forward as a team. We talk about some of their clients in the craft beer industry and how technology has impacted creative integrity.

While perusing his next adventure after high school, Richard Sachs traveled abroad to work for Witcomb Cycles in London. Having earned the trust of the companies family, he helped bring the brand to America. As bicycle racing became more popular here in the states, Richard went out on his own and he shares the mindset behind Richard Sachs Cycles and the unique value of a craftsman.

Emily Russo's creative path began after taking one look at a commercial design portfolio in high school. After she finished art school, Emily shares what she learned working at a small boutique agency and how that influenced her own design studio. We also talk about her time at the US Tennis Association and her current role at Blue Buffalo.

Jeremy Staub has come a long way from his beginnings as a one person studio and we talk about his growth and how Box 8 Creative began focusing on hospitality. He also shares some experiences working with new clients, keeping his team inspired, and what went into the recent Box 8 rebrand.

When Tom Francesconi's early dreams of playing in the NBA started to fade, he developed an interest in sports branding and advertising. This began Tom's path into the commercial creative world and he talks about his time at Mullen Lowe, Meta, Gut Agency and his current role at Joan Creative. We also talk about a passion project with the WNBA and the value he sees in mentorship. 

Amanda Roy's childhood was filled with many creative efforts, though her time was spent elsewhere once her professional life began. Amanda shares how she reawakened her artistic side after nearly 20 years and how she is allowing herself to be more vulnerable in how she goes about creating. We also talk about the importance of supporting artists and communities and her role as CEO of The Greater Hartford Arts Council.

In her pursuit to gain more knowledge to become a better artist herself, Margaret Bodell realized her true passion was to better understand other artist's work. After working for well known art collector Sammy Ofer, Margaret needed to step away from the business side of fine art and focus on curating the work of lesser known artists. We talk about running her own gallery, the Outsider Art Fair, and her current role at the William Kent Foundation.

Angela Belt's aspirations of working in politics quickly changed when she realized her authenticity was being compromised. While deciding where she wanted to focus next, a job at Room & Board ignited her appreciation for interior design. We talk about her time at Wayfair, working on a book with her sister, and building her own company.

As the son of a carpenter, Hugh Elliott has been building since he was very young. Eventually, he pursed a career in computers and graphics which had him designing websites, though reproducing similar ideas one after another eventually became stale. Hugh shares how he started connecting his trade craft skills with his technology sense to solve unique problems and help others create new experiences.

Ed Johnetta Miller is an accomplished quilt and fiber artist. Her love of textiles began when her family moved out of the south for a better life in the 1950's. Since then, she has become a respected artist, educator, and social justice advocate with work reflecting the riches and struggles of African and African American people. She has works in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, the Nelson Mandela Museum, and many other international institutions.

Nikita Prokhorov is a letter artist and designer who was influenced by architecture and painting through his Grandfather when he was young. After emigrating from Russia with his family, he shares what lead to his focus in design, his experiences teaching, and why he often keeps the computer off and starts an idea on paper. 

Michael Fielder enlisted in the Navy after high school and that lead to a camera being put into his hands for the first time. We talk about the early days of his career working at the Magnum offices and various newspapers, as well as his ongoing personal project, Working Journal.

Suzanne McKenzie is an entrepreneur, strategist, and designer. A brand has the ability to have social impact and Suzanne shares how her understanding of this came to be. We talk about her time in advertising at Arnold, starting a foundation in memory of a loved one, and how Able Made is creating things responsibly while supporting city-youth empowerment and health education. 

Andrei Kallaur is a designer and creative director.  The design of train cars developed a fascination with typography and color that Andrei has to this day. We talk about his early influences of skateboarding and graffiti culture as well as his career which has included roles at  New York Magazine, The New York Times, and Google.

Michael Ashtrachan is an illustrator, animator and founder of XVIVO. Ever since he could hold a pencil, Michael has been drawing and sketching. His commercial career started with illustration, though once the tools for animation became accessible, it became his primary focus. We talk about how he got into medical animation and the influence art and creativity has in science.

Jillian Cusano and Rosanna Karabetsos are professional dancers and core members of the Dance Collective. For centuries, dance has been an art form often reserved for the elite, whether in the audience or performing. We talk about the evolutions of their careers and their intentions beyond the stage to make dance more inclusive and accessible for all.